La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-09-17
Soldiers Die of Neglect.



Montauk Point. N. Y, will give an idea
OF the conditions prevailing in Camp
Wikoff. and of the things suffered by
the troops while on the transports:
Camp WIkoff, Montauk Point. n. Y.
Aug. 20.-Three transports heavily la
den with suffering, ill-cared-for SOL
diers have arrived and disclosed a
condition that is terrible commen
tary on the management of the war
department. Gaunt. disease-worn and
wounded men tottered or were carried
down the gangplank only to find that
little provision had been made for the
care Of the suffering heroes. The num-
ber of the sufferers here is close to
1000, and more are expected to arrive
at any hour. and there are accommo-
dations for only 500.
When the conditions on the Mobile
became known the surgeons were al
most frantic On board were nearly
1,G00 ailirg men. some torn by Mauser
bullets and others racked by fever.
Few could walk unaided, and they
needed the most careful nursing, but
there was no place for them. On the
Seneca we're seventy-three sick and
on the Comanche ia. These men had
been packed on board the transports.
almost any extremity being resorted
to that they might leave the deadly
climate Of Santiago. 1t was known
that tender care near home was all
that could save many lives. so the men
bore the privations on the transports
in silence. Conditions on the Mobile,
however, became menace to life. ow-
Ing to overcrowding and the enormous
sick list Gen. Young. who acts as ex-
ecutive head of the camp. ordered the
soldiers sent ashore at once. His ac-
tion was significant. for the war de-
partment returned no answer to
stream OF kilograms beseeching for
help.
1T may cost $4,000. and have no
authority to order this done, but we
must save these men. am sure
Washington will uphold me. Anyway.
the American people will" he added.
In the minds of many arose thoughts
of the Spanish prisoners, and Of Ger
vera. well fed. wined and dined, while
the conquerors were little better off
than galley slaves. Cervera is ap-
plauded at every move. but silence and
deadly neglect were the lot of the he
roes of Santiago. Every ambulance In
camp was brought into use, but each
of the vehicles could carry only four
or five, and consequently they proved
utterly Inadequate. Sentries kept back
friends who crowded up. Members of
shn al
efforts TO help the men.
In obedience to the order of DR.. Ma
gruder soup and stimulants were serv-
ed to the wrecks of humanity that
drifted ashore. Into the Red Cross
tents the weak men were taken and
there they were cared for as tenderly
as was possible. Tents. however. were
poor substitutes for a regular hospi-
tai. The agonies suffered at Santiago
and on the trip made the victims light,
and they were easily carried by the
stretcher-bearers. 1t seemed harvest
of DEATH Many evidently had only a
few hours of life within their worn
bodies.
The voyage was one of horror, ten
men having died after leaving San
tiago. Half the sufferers were unable
without aid to leave the stretchers.
The nurses, accustomed as they are
to narrowing sights. said they had
never seen anything to compare with
the condition OF these soldiers. Some
were SO weak that 1t was thought to
be unsafe to give them stimulants.
Many were unable after the long pc
riod OF neglect to partake of food. An
other awful problem confronts the
physicians, for there are hundreds of
men on the transports who must be
cared for at once or death will claim
them. II brought to shore there will
be no place for these stricken soldiers.
The surgeons and nurses here are do
ing their utmost. Physicians and at
tendants wiring their hands when ask
ed what more they can do. The de-
barkation is being watched by Gen.
Young and Gen. Wheeler. Rain fell az
the soldiers who were called we'll tot
tered along behind the ambulances.
They were often ankle deep in mud.
but all attendants were too busy tl
~iva them Attention