The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-12
MRS. LOGAN ar MoNTAUK
She Writes the President the Truth
Others Were Afraid to Tell


Youngstown, o., Sept. 12.-Mrs. Cen
era1 Logan, who came here from Mon
tauk on account of the illness of her
son, Major John A. Logan, was inter-
methods at Montauk. Mrs. Logan was
at MOntauk from the time the trans
ports from Cuba commenced to arrive
until a few days ago, and she said her
self there was little that went on that
she did not see.
Mrs. Logan said that she IS just as
much a friend of Secretary Alger as she
ever was, and thinks he has done as
well as any other man could have done
in his position, so far as taking care Of
the army'S sick is concerned. She said
that ever since Secretary Alger's first
visit to MOntauk Point he has done
wonderfully we'll in the way of putting
matters in proper shape there.
Surgeon General Sternberg, Mrs. LO-
gan said, is largely to blame for the
bad state of affairs that existed at
Montauk Point for some time on ac-
count of his permitting his scientific
principles to supersede practical ideas.
Continuing, Mrs. Logan said:
Il was at MOntauk and saw most
everything that went on. do not think
the newspaper reports of the affairs
were exaggerated. The whole trouble
was caused by delay in the prepara-
tions to receive the sick soldiers sent
from Santiago.
'aThe whole idea at Santiago seemed
to be to get away from there. Every
transport that came along was prompt
" loaded with all it could carry and
started for MOntauk and soon they de-
scended on Montauk like an avalanche.
Montauk was not prepared. The place
selected for the camp was several miles
from any place of supplies.
There were not enough officers and
although they all saw what was COM
ing they were afraid to complain, I
think or had fear of being caShiered,
as they do that sort of thing, you know.
One officer does not like to say any
oh her
was it not you who first got after
Secretary AIger and the President, and
stirred them up through the newspa-
pers'' asked the correspondent. Mrs.
Logan smiled and said:
''We1l I did not mean to be taken just
that way. I did write an appeal and
signed my name, because I thought the
urgency of the situation demanded it,
and although I have not told 1t before,
I feel free to confess that made a per
sonal appeal to the president and to
Secretary Alger to do something quick
ly at Montauk, and they did,
'sI know the president and secretary
were deeply touched when the facts
were laid before them, and I am sure
that, had they been apprised before CT
the real condition of affairs, they would
have taken stringent measures to make
things right.
"After the secretary's first visit Mon
tauk was in a peculiar way. There were
nearly 80 goo soldiers there, and sup
plies commenced coming in at a lively
rate and there were not enough people
to distribute them. I heard Secretary
AIger order that anything that was
needed should be gotte1 at once with
out red tape.
Too much cannot be said for the Red
Cross society. 1t was Surgeon General
Sternbergs stubborn resistance to the
Red Cross nurses that caused a lot of
disaster that might have been avoided.
DR.. Brown of Buffalo and Colonel VIII
son are two men that deserve heaps OF
blessings for being equal to the situa-
ton. They saw what to do and did it,