The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-18
SANTIAGO HERO EXAMINED
GEN. S. b. YOUNG'S ACCOUNT OF THE
CAPTURE OF La QUAsIMAs.
Cubans Rendered No Aid-SoIdiers
Treated Like Babies When They
Arrived at Camp WiIoR.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE war inves-
tigation commission adjourned at o'clock
to-day to meet at the Fifth-avenue Hotel,
in New York, at 10 o'clock tomorrow, and
General Dodge asked the Associated Press
to request witnesses who have matters to
bring to the attention of the board to re-
port at that point. He stated, in the same
connection, that letters had been received
from about a hundred persons in the vicinity
of New York, but said that he did not know
whether all of these would appear as wit
nesses. After concluding the work in New
York the commission will proceed to Boston
and on returning will stop at Philadelphia
to make certain inquiries there. 1t is also
expected that number of witnesses will be
called after the return to Washington and
if the comission does not go to Cuba some
persons there will be asked to come here.
Colonel DENLY will remain in Washington
while the other members of the commission
absent and will take the testimony of
such persons as may ask to be heard.
DR.. ForwOod continued his testimony be-
fore the commission to-day concerning
conditions at Montauk Point, where he was
chief army surgeon. He said that from the
beginning to the end of the history of the
never time when there were not from fifty
to five hundred vacant beds. Many patients
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 be-
cause it was believed not wise to allow
typhoid cases to accumulate at Montauk.
Another reason was the necessity of ex-
tending the hospital accommodations. Dur
ing the first thirty days of the history of
the camp 5000 patients were treated, and
it would have been out of the question to
take care of them all in the camp hospital.
A WASTEFUL ABUNDANCE.
Speaking of the nurses, he said there was
a considerable number of men who had
been trained in the hospitals before the
female nurses arrived. This was limited
training but it rendered the men much
more efficient than they otherwise would
have been. He declared there had been a
sufficiency of medicines and medical sup
plies at all times-a wasteful abundance, in
fact. From first to last during the history
of the camp ffty-four carloads were re-
ceived. Notwithstanding this fact, there
was complaint of the scarcity of medical
supplies and medicines, due largely to the
fact that the doctors often required pro-
prietary medicines, which were not kept
on hand. No acquisitions were required in
getting medicines.
Dr. Conner read a letter from Mai. A. W.
Wood. a regular army surgeon, dated at
Montauk in August, complaining that there
was a pressing want of medical supplies and
that the camp was in a deplorable condi-
ton. DR.. Forwood said that DR.. Wood was
disappointed because he did not get q leave
of absence Immediately after arriving from
Cuba, which he had asked for, nOtwith-
standing his services We're needed and he
was in good physical condition. General
Wheeler had refused to grant this request.
From that time,' said DIR. Forwood, 9he
was constantly kicking and bucking. He
was disgruntled and disloyal, and found
fault with everything. For instance. he said
the we'll water was polluted, declaring he
would not take drink of it for $5." A
dispatch was read from General Wheeler
saying that DR.. Wood had failed to secure
medicines only because he had not sent
for them.
THE TRUTH EXPUNGED.
Dr. Forwood declared that the complaints
concerning the purity of the water at Mon
tauk had originated with men who had
filters and distilling apparatus for sale. The
water was pure and plentiful. He said the
transportation facilities of the camp were
poor and that often the vehicles received
We're not complete in their equipment The
witness said he had annulled the contracts
Of two or three contract surgeons because
of incompetency, but that he knew of no
case of neglect on the part Of physicians or
nurses of a character to compromise the
welfare Of the patients.
Dr. Forward said many physicians had
come to the camp at the instance OF the
newspapers, generally for a compensation
of $50. Among these was DR.. Lee, who was
q personal friend of his and he had told
the doctor to look the camp over and crit
icise whenever he found occasion for criti-
cism The doctor had written his article,
making parts of it very hattering, but he
was very much disgusted after the appear
ance of the matter to find that all the COM
plimentary portioa of it had been expunged.
DIR. Edson's predictions as TO the camp had
not been realized. DR.. Simpson had spoken
of the conduct of the kitchens. AS matter
of fact the kitchens were in the most ex-
pert hands Miss Helen Gould had supplied
a number of chefs, and most OF these were
from the kitchens of the wealthiest people
of New York city. He had talked with one
OF them, who had been with w. II. Van
derbilt for more than three years. AS a
matter of fact, hospitals never We're so
abundantly supplied. The army rations were
supplemented by everything that could be
found In the larder of the Waldorf-Astoria,
including roast turkey, pheasants, squads.
lambs. sheep. pigs. game of all kinds. pate
de fole gras, mineral waters. the finest
champagnes and liquors. At one time he had
noticed eight barrels OF brandy and a large