The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-26
WAR INVESTIGATION,
Volunteer Surgeon Called Do WIN BY
Gen. Wilson.

Volunteer Surgeon Called Do WIN BY
Gen Wilson.
An Tnspector General at Chckamauea
Says 1t Was Impossible to Enforce
Discipline As Courts Wouldn't Punish
Offenders.
Admission, Ala, October 25.-Dr. R. B.
Boss, assistant surgeon in the first in
fantry. was the first witness before the
war investigation commission today. He
was with this regiment and with the
fourth infantry in Cuba. He arrived at
Santiago on the 10th OF July. He found
the medical supplies short and was I'M
able to secure any OF them for a few Gays
until he learned how to get them from
the division hospital. There was suffic-
iency of quinine, but shortage of NOR
phine However, he had all of this latter
remedy that was absolutely necessary.
He was able to secure hospital stores,
such as food and delicacies by s'rustling"
for them. first from the Red Cross society
and then going to Santiago for them. He
made a requisition on the chief surgeon
for these supplies. but had been unable
to secure them because they were not
there. However, he had no serious illness
in the command.
DR.. Conner asked if the government
could not have gotten these supplies to
Santiago as promptly as the Red Cross,
and DR. Boss replied that while he had
no Information he thought it could have
| been done SO He left Santiago with the
fourth infantry and went to Montauk
point on the Seneca. When they left Cuba
| he said the command was call broken.
up and every man of the command
was sick on the way north. The doctor
himself was sick and in the detention
hospital at Montauk, and he testified to
the careful conduct of that institution,
saying the supplies were ample and the
attention all that could be desired.
Col Fife of the third Tennessee, hav-
ing made request to supplement- his state
ment of yesterday, said the sinks were
very near the tents and that it was i'm
possible to remove them farther owing
to the proximity of other regiments
Nevertheless tbs sinks were carefully
looked after and his regiment had been
commander for the condition of this
camp. He characterized as false and
malicious some charges made against his
regiment by Chattanooga musician
named Hunt, who had been with his
regiment for time.
q Other witnesses examined were Lieut..
Reed of the fourth Wisconsin, Lieut. West
Of the third Alabama and Lieut.. HALEY
of the third Tennessee.
Lieut.. West, quarterlnaster of his regi-
ment, said the supplies were ample and
excellent, but Lieut.. Reed complained
somewhat of the meat supplied before
the regiment left Wisconsin.
Lieut.. HALEY said there had been few
complaints that the rations were not
sufficient, but he thought the complaint
was caused by the return of men on fur
Tough.
Other witnesses of the forenoon session
were Fountain Ragland and Edward
Alabama; H. G. LeInke, a quartermaster
sergeant of the fourth Wisconsin; Con-
gresham Colson, colonel of the fourth
Kentucky. and Lieut. Col. Cabell Of the
second Arkansas. Col Cabell said in
reply to question put by DR.. Conner, that
he had observed a condition Of aHairs at
the hospital of the second division OF the
third army corps in June, which he con-
sidered horrible. He had himself seen
one sick man lying In the rain without
the protection of even tent and he had
been Informed by other officers that sew
He thought the doctors were honest
enough, but that thsy did not know how
to give supplies. Mule drivers had been
used for nurses and he had been reliably
informed that many of them were In the
habit of getting drunk and on this &C.
count neglected their patients.
He said that DR.. Soheoler was the d.
vision surgeon at the time. Col Cabell
is lieutenant in the regular army and
his testimony made an evident impress
sion upon the commission.
Major Charlss B. King surgeon of the
fourth Wisconsin regiment, was one of
rhe first witnesses of the afternoon. DIR.
King said the medical supplies OF his
regiment were insufficient and that there
was /. sufficient quantity of food. but
said some of the men would not eat 1t,
preferring to buy food for themselves.
Gen. Wilson asked If the men had
ever complained to him as surgeon OF
the regiment, and Mr. King replied that
they had.
"what did you say to thema" asked
the General.
"I .old them to go to the devil and eat
what they had" he replied.
81 think that very improper reply
for you to have made, - said General
Wilson, and he declined to continde the
examination.
Major Benson, who was inspector gen.
eral of the First division, Third corps,
at Chickamauga, said 1T had been impos.
sible to enforce sanitary regulations at
Chickamauga because when men were ar
rested the courts would not punish the m.
Captain Fremont, who was adjutant
general of the Second division, Third
corps, detailed the difficulties attending
the govern ment of the hospital Of t hat
division. He said that when attendan is
were complained to concerning neglect, it
was not uncommon for them to swear at
the compliments. Dr.. Fremont said DIR.
Hubbard, who was at one time executiv We
officer Of the hospital, was tyrannical ard
overbearing. After the examination of
several other witnesses the commission
adjourned to meet at Huntsville, tomor-
ow, leaving here at p. m.
EOI1RTEEN MICROBES KILLED