Evening star., 1898-10-05

ways plenty of clean linen for the beds
after that He had never seen bed in
the hospital supplied with anything except
clean linen
The charge that the we'll supplying the
water for Camp Wikof was beside a stag
rant and filthy pond was read to the wit
ness.
Cen Wheeler said this well was 400 yards
from this pond or lake, but that matter had
been looked into very carefully and 1t was
believed that there was no danger OF con-
tamination from that source. The civil en-
gineers thought the location was safe
one. and did hot think there could be any
leaking from the lake into the well, at
least for year. one OF the engineers
thought il was not a perfect arrangement,
but all the others were satisfied with 1t.
Even if there had been leakage he thought
the liberation through the soil through
which IL would have had to pass would
have rendered it harmless He had eN-
amined the location of this well very care
fully and was satisfied that it was per
fectly safe one.
The charge that ambulances were used
al Camp Wikoff by visitors, friends of the
officers. looking around the camp was
called to Gen. Wheeler's attention. He
replied that he hal been told that ambu-
lances we're 80 used and had given an or
der against such practice. and he thought
there was no repetition of it.
Rev. DIR. Newton Contradicted.
The statement by Rev. DR.. Heber Newton
was read to Gen. Wheeler The witness
said there was no reason fer the severe
charges about the lack of care for the sick
at his camp. OF the criticism that camps
for the reception of sick soldiers should
have been provided long before the return
of the troops. Gen. Wheeler said that such
action would not have been regarded by
the country as busnesslike. He referred TO
the way the war was preciDitated upon the
country, and said that when they went TO
Cuba il was not possible to anticipate that
they would return so soon. When they left
for Cuba. he said, Gen. Miles had addressed
the officers and told them that they would
probably be in Cuba two years That was
what they expected.
DR. Connor asked Gen. Wheeler whether
II was expected that yellow fever would
break out in Cuba
The witness said yelIcw fever was ex-
pected.
The medical officers" he said. gave us
to understand that % per cent of the army
would have to go through yellow fever and
that quite a percentage of that number
would die.
Testifying regarding the quantities of sup
plies at MOntauk. the witness said there
were at the camp 10000 common tents so
hospital tents. 40 flies, 10000 wall tents
and Loco wall flies.
How large an army would those tents
have supplied ordinarily?" Gen. Wheeler
was asked.
He replied that the tentage was sufficient
The witness was askeI by Gen. Wilson
whether he had ever heard of 4 surgeon
nurse or hOsDital attendant at Camp WI
kOf being intoxica ted.
He replied that case, a surgeon in
the regular army. whose name he could
not recall had been charged by a visitor to
the camp with being Intoxicated. He at
once called the matter to the attention of
Col ForwOOd. who said he had heard the
same report. It was not possible to get
sufficient evidence to make out a case
against the surgeon. and for that reason
he was not court-martialed. He was re-
ueved from duty. That was the only case
of intOxication he had heard Of in the hos
pital service.
Speaking of the medical department in
reply To a question. he said that from Sur
genn General Sternbery down every effort
was made to care for the sick. SDckfr
OF the work Of rurses, he said seventeen
men nurses had come 10 the camp. and be-
cause they could not get such quarters as
they wanted they refused TO go to work
and went home. The women nurses he
said. put up with every inconvenience in
order to be hear the sick and to nurse
them.
Gen. Wilson asked Cen Wheeler whether
II was true. as he had heard it stated that
green coffee had teel given the soldiers
III Cuba
The witness replied that he had never
heard of such thing having Seen done
Capt. HOwell-"Did You notice any ir-
reguiarities in the handling of supplies in
Cuba2'
Gen. WHecisr-"This irregularitv When
supplies Were taken in Cuba thav were
marked '-xDended' at once so that they
could be distributed without 1eIay 10 both
the soldiers and to the starving Cubans''
Charges Made With Good Intentions
or the criticisms that had been made OF
Camp Wlkon. Gen. Wheeler said that re
thought such charges had been made with
The best interticn.
Il want to say he said. that espOcialIy
the ladies. and the ne l. too. were actuatsi
by the very hest impulses in making tncir
ststencnts''
People had. he said. visited the camp and
nae seen much suffering. and they th0ua.,t
there was dan ger of sickness from the wa-
ter supply and for other reasons and rhay
n,Sde their statements believing that even
II not true they would lead TO investigation
ana that they might result In preventing
trC uble.
The witnass as asked whether lie saw
evidences Of ineffcIeEcy and bad service IS
places from civil life.
Gen. Wheeler replied that he had not. 81
i2f as NJ mad observed. the appointments
from civil life had beer good ones ana .be
zen had done their duty well.
In reply TO question ny Capt Howell
Gen. Wheeler said ths Spanish soldiers suf
fered as much from sickness as the Amer
leans.
il was nearly l o'clock when Gen. Wheel
e. finished his Testimony.
Gen. BOyntOn Describes Camn
Thomas.
When ths ar investigating commission
reGssembIed at clock Gen. H. V Boyn-
ton was placed on the stand and testified
regarding Camp Thomas. Chickamarga
Park. CD He said he had gone on duty
there July as an army officer. and later
was detailed to look after the water sup-
ply. and more recently was placed In com
-n2nd OF the camp
Gen. Boyator said that the largest num-
ber Of volunteers in camp there at any one
time was about 5000. He did NOT know
the exact number.
He was asked by Gen. McCook to de-
scribe the Character Of the site in reference
90 us Use As camp for a large number of
soldiers.