Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-10-19

sions with tbs general staff officers of
the Seventh army corps and al the
! third hearing the testimony of officers
and men of the Second South Carolina
regiment.
The subcommittee, consi sting OF
General Wilson and Captain Howell
appointed TO investigate the selection of
Fernandina as camp, returned and
reported their approval of the selection.
They made special inquiry into the re-
port that the camp had been located
there for the purpose OF enhancing the
value OF land owned by son of Score
tary Alger, going through the county
records as part OF their work. They
failed TO ind mis- name III any of these
documents and their investigation con-
vinced them that he had never owned
any real estate in that vicinity or had
been in any way interested in any.
Chief Surgeon Maus. before the main
body, said there was little sickness until
July. AT first he had trouble in getting
acquisitions flied at Tampa, but they
were promptly filed when made 70
Washington. He had never seen such
utter disregard of expense in caring for
sick soldiers. He also said the Red
Cross society had given so much that &c
was unnecessary to ask the government
for supplies. He thought typhoid had
been introduced to the camp by Missis-
sippi and Virginia troops Shallow
wells and surface drainage had done
much to increase the scourge. He also
thought the flies had done much to dis
seminate fever. From the beginning
very strict attention had been given to
the sinks. Despite the strict sanitation,
the fever broke out. Dr.. Maus said he
had found it difficult to prevail upon
surgeons in the volunteer service to
learn the administrative duties of their
positions. In the early part of the war
they neglected sanitation.
Dr.. Maus said that in the history of
the camp there had been 284 deaths out
of 81 900 men and that about SO per
cent OF the deaths had been from fever
He thought the fever was now decreas-
ing. He mentioned enc instance IN
which serious sickness had followed the
use of tainted meat and said he had
heard of a few other instances III which
poor meat had been issued. Dr. Conner
quoted O report from Colonel Guild, in
spector general, saying that but for the
action OF Une Red Gross society the sick
would have been without essential sup
plies for two months. 'sIhat state
ment." said DR.. Maus, lis utterly false.
The government would have supplied
them if the Red Cross had mott
DR.. Maus was questioned in regard to
the camp at Miami. He said he had
Investigated it and found it to be I'M
suitable on account of the water, which
analysis had shown to be impure. He
also thought Tampa unsuited to large
army camp.
Colonel Oliver Z. Wood, chief COM
missary at Camp Cuba Libre, unaer
General Lee, was before the commits
sion. He had occupied this position
since May Il and he had been able dur
ing all this time TO fully and completely
meet all requisions made upon him for
supplies and there had never been any
lack of them. AS rule also, the quail
ity was excellent.
Captain Chauncey Y. Baker, chief
quartermaster, had been i'll Jackson
vile from the beginning of the camp
on May p, but at that time was quar-
termaster for the Second corps. He
SAID that when he arrived the command
was short of all kinds of stores and
that he had been unable in the begin
ming to meet all acquisitions for sup
plies, but he thought it was due to sup
plying so large an army in so short
time.
Explaining General Lawton's selec-
ton of the first camp here, he said it
was due to the fact that the railroad
company could offer facilities, and to
the additional fact that water could be
secured conveniently. The site was
low, and the men were moved when the
rainy season began. General Lawton
had expected the troops to be ordered
almost Immediately to Cuba.
Colonel Guild, inspector general,
said he had found the officers of the
volunteer forces willing to accept sug-
gestions. He had also made frequent
inspections of the hospitals. In the be-
ginning there was a lack of govern
ment supplies for these institutions
But the deficiency had been supplied
by the Red Cross The witness testi-
fed to the devotion of the medical de-
partment.
Colonel Guild said that he had never
found case of deprivation due to the
failure of the government TO furnish
proper supplies. He was also unable TO
recall any case in which there had been
any suffering in hospital on account
| of neglect and was satisfied all that
was practicable had been done for the
| sick.
Asked if he was still Of the opinion
| that there would have been a shortage
OF supplies Tor the sick but for the great
activity OF the led Cross, Colonel Guild
said ne had changed his opinion some
what, as he had since learned that steps
might have been taken to secure gov
ernmeng supplies, but he was still of
the opinion that there would have been
delay
Th7lau lana board of health report showed