Evening journal., 1898-08-25
ALGER AT MONTAUK
Secretary Of War Inspects
Camp Wikoff.
PLEASED WITH THE CONDITIONS.
Water Good and Health of Soldiers I'm
provinG-The secretnry's Interest In
the AIen-Furlough Tor "A Sick
Massachusetts Volunteer.

tary OF war, came TO Camp Wikon yes
terday TO Investigate the conditions
here, numerous complaints Of which
had reached Washington He lost no
time upon his arrival but plunged into
the work at once.
Secretary Of War Alger stepped from
President Baldwins private car at half
past II o'clock and was met by General
Wheeler and his STAFF. Secretary Alger
and the commanding general Of Camp
Wikoff shook hands and exchanged cor
dial greetings. There was no great
ceremony. and the secretarys reception
seemed almost as though he had re-
quested that there should not be.
Secretary Alger was clad in a mod
est suit of tweed, and he wore a black
derby hat.
An escort. composed Of a squad Of
cavalrymen from Troop 70, Second cav
airy, commanded by a sergeant. was
drawn up at the railroad station, and
when the secretary stepped from the
train there was a flash of steel IN the
sunlight as the sabers In the hands of
the veterans Of Santiago came to "pre
sent"
General Wheelers carriage was in
waiting to take the party through the
camp. This conveyance is an open two
seated vehicle, drawn 10y pair of good
looking bays guided by a coloFed sol
dier.
Secretary Alger and General Wheeler
were accompanied by Major Hopkins Of
the latter's staff. General Wheeler wore
his sword. a short coat with clusters Of
three buttons each down the front.
brown canvas trousers and leggings. He
was dressed just as he was on the first
day he set foot IN Camp WiSom and
looked just as tanned and weather
beaten.
The secretary was carried at once to
General Wheeler's headquarters. which
are in tent just over the crest OF a
hill and out Of sight from tho station
platform. Here lunch was served, and
then began tour Of the camp.
The detention camp and hospital were
first visited Here Secretary Alger was
met by General Randall, who IS I'm COM
mand. At the hospital, which Is on the
crest OF a hill, just beyond the railroad
station, the secretary Of war began his
work. He seemed greatly interested
and inquired of all he met how they felt
and how they were being treated.
From the hospital the party. accom-
panied by the cavalry escort, went to
the detention camp and looked over the
regiments stationed there. II was at the
camp of the Thirty fourth Michigan vol
unteers that Secretary Alger evlnced
particular interest AS the carriage
stopped IN 'front.' Of the camp the men
came to attention" and Secretary AL
ger General Wheeler and Major Hop
kins alighted. General Randall and Cap
tain Sewell accompanied the visitors.
The men OF the Michigan regiment
seemed glad 10 see Secretary Alger, and
he seemed to reciprocate their feelings.
There was no cheering. The two COM
panies OF Michigan volunteers noticed
most closely by Secretary Alger were E
and T.. These are made up of men from
Houghton and Iron Mountain.
Lieutenant Charles II. Hendrickson Of
Company Il met the secretary and well
coined him. The lieutenant then accom-
panied him through several OF the COM
pany streets. Secretary Alger shook
hands with the soldiers gathered to
greet him. IL was long row Of hands
extended, and once or twice there SEEM
ed 70 be a hesitation on the part of the
secretary of war to grasp a hand that
had been put forth. but It was only a
passing look Of weariness.
In the camp Of the Massachusetts men
a pathetic incident occurred, one re-
minding of the little acts of kindness
performed by President Lincoln in the
civil war. When Secretary Alger got
out Of the carriage at the regimental
headquarters, he was met by Colonel
Clark The two shook hands. and then
the secretary's eye began to wander
about the camp. In front of the adju-
tants tent was a poor fellow, hardly
more than a boy. leaning against a
standard, probably for supp0rt His
back was turned as the secretary ap-
preached in the carriage, but as the
head of the war department was shak-
ing hands with Colonel Clark his eye
caught a glimpse of a leaden cheek and
a stubhy beard,
The man had on a worn uniform and
was hatless. Beside him. facing the
secretary, was another man, older and
In civilians clothes. There was no hesl-
tation on the part Of the secretary. Evil
IDENTIFY here was case he wanted TO in
vestigate himself Dropping Colone
Clarks hand. Secretary Alger strode tC
the hatless man.
"Are you sick. my man?" asked thC
secretary, coming up suddenly from be-
hind. The man turned and Secretary
Aiger saw, perhaps for the first time
the race or a man upon Wnom the nara
ships of the Cuban campaign had made
great inroads. There were a few mo
ments Of conversation. and then th'
Massachusetts soldier went into the ad
jutants tent soon he came out again
claspihg a paper in his hand. He wal
asked what 1t was and with tears II
his eyes. he said "Furlough"
Secretary Alger. in consequence OF tn
bad weather. abandoned the idea o
sleeping ia General Wheeler's camp AM
betook himself to President Baldwin
private car. Seen there last evening
after inspecting the camp. he said:
Il am very agreeably surprised at tn
conditions 1 find here. With such
large number Of men much confusion
might have been expected. II is esti
mated that there are LOO men in tn
hospitals today. / md that the litch
ems OF the general hospital and the sink
need fixing up.
"A large detail Of men has been mad
and they win put them in perfect orde
tomorrow. The sick men seem TO b
very cheerful. / saw some few who WEI
very ill., / spoke to some men in N
detention hospital and went throug
wards A to d in the general hospital.
shall finish my general inspection C
morrow I am very agreeably surprise