Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-03
WORLDS
Occupies War Investigation
Boards Attention.
Alleged Facts Of Establishment and
Management Of Camp Wikoff.
Cites Specific Instances Of Abuse and Gives
Names Of Witnesses.

Washington, D. c., Oct. 2, 1S9S.-The
war investigating committee devoted
Its time, Saturday, largely to the con-
sideration of a statement filed by Mr.
Nelson Hersh, on behalf of the New
Yorls World, giving what he styles "A
record of facts concerning the estab-
lishment of Camp Wikoff, and it's man.
agement, together with specific in
stances of abuses charged to have
existed. dates, number of sick in hos
pitfalls, deaths, ETC."
The Statement was made in response
to the general invitation from the COM
mission.
The specifications cover 81 pages Of
typewriter matter, taking up the
movement of the Santiago troops after
the surrender of the Spanish at that
place and before the breaking out OF
yellow fever there in July.
1t is asserted that at the time Mon
tauk Point was selected at the site for
the camp it was "a barren waste" The
details of the selection of the camp
site are given. as also of The trans
portation of troops, and it is asserted
that when the first detachment of 27J
troops arrived, on the Stth of August,
"t'he camp was not ready 10 receive
them, and they slept under their
blankets and in the open air, as no
tents had arrived. "''T7his,'' it is added,
was II days after it had been decided
to establish the camp
Continuing, THE assertion is made
that by the 10Th of August THE sick
were reported suffering from want of
proper tents We're without floors and
with only their blankets between the
sick men and the ground: and THAT a
glass of sour milk apiece was the only
nourishment the sick received in "a
hours.
The war department is charged with
frequent change of plans, and it is
asserted that General Young was given
only six days for the preparation of
the camp before the arrival of troops,
when two weeks time was necessary,
Which caused great confusion
On the 18th of August. DR.. Edison visit
ed the camp and found that the 400
troops there were almost wholly depen-
dent upon body of water without inlet
their drinking water. This pond received
the drainage from the camp. and the doc
tor found the water to contain 90 grains
of salt to the gallon. This condition, he
said, caused disease and rendered the
pond constant menace to the men.
BY the 30th of August, there were 10000
men in camp ana 1900 in the hospital, with
many unable to secure admission from
the transports. The regulars We're re-
ported to be suffering for the necessaries
of life, and had received no pay for three
months. Contract surgeons were report
ed living at the expense of patients.
After the doctors had lunched," says
the account, ''25 empty Apollinaris bot
ties were counted on the table. said to
have been diverted from hospital stores"
Particulars are given of the death in
his tent of Private Hugh Parrett, on Aug
Is, and 1t is asserted that DR.. Tabor re-
fused him permission to enter the hos
pital, on the ground that he was not sick.
The assertion is made that when, on
the 5th of September, DIR. Lee went to
Camp Wikoff with special train to take
sick soldiers to the Brooklyn hospitals,
he was unable to get more than Is men
to the train, on account of the lack of
which were being used to
carry sightseers around the camp. While
hundreds of sick soldiers were waiting to
be transferred to boats and trains, a
dozen ambulances stood at the depot,
filled with laughing men and women,
who We're seeing the camp with officers
friends
After this incident Gen. Young gave or
ders that the ambulances were to be used
only for the transportation of the sick
A list of witnesses forwarded is as fol-
lows: Gen. Joseph Wheeler, Gen. Young,
Col. Forwood, Maj. Brown, surgeon;
Chief Surgeon Sem, from the Red Cross;
Miss Melene, Mrs. Walworth, Dr. Cyrus
Edison, DR.. S. H. Doty, health officer
New York City; DR.. W.T. Jenkins, health
New YORK; William Smith,
banker; Surgeon Linn, 18th Infantry;
Surgeon Ames, 10th Infantry.
A large number of names of witnesses
S also suggested in the Parrett case, and
here is a general request that correspon-
tents and reporters of the World shall
be called.
The commission directed that reply
be forwarded to Mr.. Hersh, informing
1im that the statements should have
careful consideration.
The war investigation commission
will resume it's inquiry, tomorrow, but
| full attendance of members is not
expected, until Tuesday. No important
work will be taken up until all ar.
present. Gen. Wheeler has arrived
lere and has expressed willingness to
70 before the commission, Tuesday.
lie will. therefore, be the first witness
Examined.