Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-10-25
FREE PORTO RICO.
(Continued from page ~


Nevertheless his men were taken sick.
Major Vickers also complained that
the drinking water was poor.
Asked as to the compentency of the
surgeons at the hospital, he said there
was one man in the hospital whose |
proneness to profanity untitled him for
Hubbard, surgeon of the 9th New
York. His profanity was of such a
villainous character" said Major
Vickers. "as to pretty nearly make me
sick and know it could not have had
a pleasant affect upon the patients"
Liuet. Col. Bisbee, in command of the
LIST Infantry. told the story of the
transportation of his regiment to San
tiago, described the fighting about
Santiago, spoke of his experience in
Cuba, of the return to Montauk Point
and OF the stay at that place and the
transfer south. Asked if the landing
at Santigo could have been accom-
plished if opposed. he replied: The
facilities were so poor that l think not,
at least should say if I had been on
shore no enemy would have been per-
mitted to land. / canot say how 1t
was with the Soaniards."
He said there was considerable diff
Guilty in getting food while in front OF
Santiago but the soldiers had enough.
He said If there had been more to eat
the men would have probably been
sicker. He thought the rations con-
tanned too much fat meat for the eli
mate. Col. Bisbee stated for that for
himself and 16 men were the only men,
bers of his regiment who had not been
i'll at some time during the Santiago
campaign.
Col. Bisbee did not believe there was
a sufficient number of doctors in the
Cuban campaign. Speaking generally
OF the Cuban experience, he expressed
the opinion that the supplies had been
as liberal as could have been reason
ably expected. Col. Bisbee said he
had not complained of the voyage
north. He said that distress signal
had been put out for food while they
Law out at sea and when some vessel
came alongside he said he had called
out to those on board to bring them
food. He stated in explanation that
the food was wanted for the officers
mess.
"The men had enough. such as it
was" he said After this and while at
Montauk they got more than they
needed. 1--WE got it from the people,
from New York Relief Associations
and citizens. They sent us everything
including whiskey and champagne, far
more than we wanted" He said he
knew of no deprivation at Montauk.
..Iyyl.. n
into a house. but that was ALL
Major Dempsey of the I'd Regular In
fantry, covered very much the same
ground as Col. Bisbee. He said that
his command had never during the
Santiago campaign, suffered for want
of supplies. Men had sometimes ut
night felt the want of covering, but not
for food Major Dempsey said the on
ly deficiency he had discovered at Mon
tauk was in the matter of transporta-
ton facilities.
The members of the two regiments OF
regulars stationed here that were eX-
amined were Capt. Waring of the 1st'
Lieut. LutZ of the I'd; Qcartermaster
Sergeant KatZ of the 1st; Private FEEL
tus of the 1st: Quartermaster Sergeant
Stahl of the I'd: and Private ii.
Cunchell of the I'd. All testified that
while there was d deficiency in the ra-
tions issued while the troops were in
the trenches near Santiago, there was
no deal of suffering on the part of the
men on this account.
Col. James p. Fife of the Sd Tennes-
see. whose degiment had been camped
at Chickamauga as part of the lst d.
vision of the Sd Army Corps, previous
to removal here. said that canteeh
had been maintained in his regiment
and beer in large quantities had been
sold and most of the receipts amount"
ing to $500 or $500 per day, of the can
teen were from beer.
Did you consider it proper for your
regiment to maintain general beel
garden for all the camp" asked D1
Connor, reading from letter as to his
authority. Col. Fife answered: No
but that beer was there to be sold.
He denied that beer was sold to be
carried away except to officers and ad'
vocated the sale of beer at canteens az
protection against more serious IN
dulRence in whiskey. He expressed tine
opiniou that Chickamauga was an ex
cellent camp site. but he considered the
water supply bad as it was arranged
He thought a pipe line should hav'
heen run to the camp from Crawfisf
springs.
1t is now thought that the commls
sion will leave for Huntsville, tomof
row night.