The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-11-25
AT MONTAUK POINT.
Witnesses Testify Concerning the
Conditions at Camp Wikoff.
PLENTY OF BEDS AND MEDICINE.
DIR. Forwood Makes Out That Nothing
Was Needed-Gen. Young Thinks the
Soldiers Were Treated Too Much
Like Babies.


Washington, Nov 49, The war in
vestigating commission adjourned at
four o'clock yesterday to meet at the
Fifth Avenue hotel, in New York, at
ten o'clock to-day. After concluding
the work in New York the commission
will proceed to Boston and, returning,
will stop at Philadelphia to make Ger.
tain inquiries there. 1t is also expect
ed that a number of witnesses will be
called after the return to Washing ton
and IL the commission does not 20 to
Cuba, some persons there will be asked
to come here. Col DENLY will remain
in Washington while the other mem
bers of the commission are absent and
will take the testimony of such persons
as may ask to be heard.
DIR. Forwood continued his testimony
before the war investigating commit.
tee yesterday concerning conditions at
Montauk point, where he was chief
army surgeon. He said that from the be-
ginning to the end of the history of the
general hospital at Camp Wikof there
was never a time when there were not
from so to 500 vacant beds. Many pa
tients were sent away to hospitals in
neighboring cities, largely in response
to public clamor. The patients taken
away were largely typhoid cases and
were selected chiefly because it was
believed not wise to allow typhoid
cases to accumulate at Montauk. He
declared there had been a sufficiency
of medicines and medical supplies at
all times-a wasteful abundance, in
fact.
DIR. Connor read letter from Mai
M. w. Wood, a regular army surgeon,
dated at Montauk in August, con-
planning that there was pressing
want of medical supplies, and that the
camp was in a deplorable condition.
DIR. Forwood said that Dr. Wood was
disappointed because he did not get a
leave of absence Immediately after
arriving from Cuba, which he had
asked for, Notwithstanding his services
were needed and he was in good physi-
cal condition. Gen. Wheeler had re-
fused to grant this request From
that time" said DIR. Forwood, "he was
constantly kicking and buckinR. He
was disgruntled and disloyal, and
found fault with everything For in
stance. he said the we'll water was
polluted, declaring he would not take
a drink of it for IS"
DIR. Forwood declared that the COM
plants concerning the purity Of the
water at Montauk had originated with
men who had filters and distilling APP
paratus for sale. The water was pure
and plentiful. He said the transporta-
ton facilities of the camp were poor
and that often the vehicles received
were not complete in their equipment.
The witness said he had annulled the
contracts of two or three contract
surgeons because of incompe tency. but
that he knew Of no case of neglect on
the part of physicians of a character to
compromise the welfare of the pa
tients.
The army rations were supplement
ed by everything that could be found
in the larder of the Waldorf Astoria,
including roast turkey, pheasants,
squads, lambs, sheep, pigs, game of
Gil kinds, pate de fois, mineral waters,
the finest champagnes and liquors.
At one time he had noticed eight bar
rels Of brandy and large number of
cases of wine. There was so much Apol-
linaris water that it was in the way,
and when a nurse came for a bottle
they would offer he's case. In con-
clusion, DR.. Forwood said that many
patients who had been removed by
their friends had often died, and that
in many instances their deaths were
due to the kindness of those who had
taken them in charge.
Maj. Gen. $. b. Young was before
the commission a its afternoon session,
relating in detail his experience at
Santiago and vicinity and afterward
at Montauk. He detailed the difficult
ties of the preparation of the camp.
He said it had been impossible to get
in floors and that he had not consid-
cred them necessary, either for health
or comfort. ~ gave them lumber and
hammers and nails, however, and
told them to make themselves floors
| If they wanted them. | thought
Nhey were being treated too much
/ like babies" lie regarded the COM
missary supplies, he said, as abundant,
and that enough had been allowed to
spoil to feed I, 500 men daily. The hos
pital and quartermaster stores were
also ample. lie had never in all his
experience seen army hospitals so well
supplied with medicines and stores of
all kinds
Gen Young concluded his testimony
with the statement that the soldiers
were far better cared for than they
had been in the civil war
INDIANS GET A BIG JUDGMENT.