The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-21


the food given to the men and that IL
was satisfactory to him. He said, how
ever, that he did not ordinarily inspect
the meats Of the men.
Sergt. A. Z. Lorenzon Of the same
company admitted that there was some
complaint among the men. but he
thought the complaints were due to the
fact that the men were homesick.
Colonel Taylor of the 4th regiment
was the first witness before the war in
vestigation commission at the afternoon
session to-day. He said he had no COM
plant whatever to make concerning any
department OF the government and he
knew of no case of wilful neglect.
Lieutenant Morrow. acting commits
sary OF the 3rd Nebraska, Colonel Bry-
ans regiment, testified to the general
good character of the commissary sup
plies. He mentioned one or two in
stances when poor bacon had been re-
ceived and said there were occasional
complaints from the men. though not of
a serious character. Colonel w. j. Bry-
an was next called.
He asked to be excused from testify
ing. requesting that his lieutenant be
examined In his stead. You will, I
have no doubt. understand my reasons
for the request" he said
Il think the request very proper and
reasonable" responded Governor Bea-
yer, and as the entire commission as
sented to this concession, Colonel Bry-
an was excused with the request to
send up his lieutenant colonel.
w. t. Durbin Of the 10th Indiana,
spoke especially of the grounds of the
3rd division hospital. saying they had
for time been very poorly kept. There
had. however. been a vast Improvement
since DIR. Clendennin had succeeded DIR
Jesurem of the Rough Riders. Colonel
Durbin also said there had been one
or two complaints of neglect of his men
at the hospital.
Colonel Letch Hardin of the 9Th Mis-
souri, also that the grounds of the 3rd
division hospital had not been well
kept.
DIR. Alexander Kent. pastor of the
Episcopal church at Washington and
feld agent at Jacksonville for the Red
Cross, was questioned concerning the
operations of the Red Cross at this
point. He said he had been received
very cordially by the army surgeons
and he had co-operated with them. He
had noticed the absence of sheets and
pillows at the End division hospital in
It's early history. This was I'm mid-sum-
mer and many men lay uncovered on
account of the short supply OF blankets.
He supplied the deficiency. There was
also at that time a shortage of tents |
and food suitable to typhoid patients. |
He had undertaken to supply the de- |
ficiency and had distributed two car |
loads of the necessary delicacies. 1T |
seemed" he said, las IL the hospital |
was arranged upon a smaller scale than |
was demanded, and as a consequence, |
here was a constant demand upon the |
Red Cross to supply the deficiency"
Or. Kent said he had heard many COM |
plants concerning misconduct at the |
hospitals. and many of them were ap-
well vouched for, but they had |
not generally proved well founded when |
investigated.
Replying to a question. he said he
thought IL had been very difficult to get |
medical men of sufficient admfnistra-
i've ability to manage such institutions
Is the division hospitals.
Before the female nurses were secur-
ID the nurses, who were men Of the hos
)ital corps, were not capable. They
we're not intelligent as a class, and
While some of them were, doggedly
atihful, they failed to meet the require
nents. They did not. for instance, seem
o regard II as of a consequence IL flies
we're crawling in and out of a sick
mans mouth with impunity and he had
Is many as six cases of this kind at
me time. Since the trained nurses
we're secured the sick were better cared
or than at home.
Lieutenant Colonel Vifquain. a vet
ran Of the civil war and a graduate
II the military school of Brussels, of
he 3rd Nebraska, said the regiment
vas excellently equipped. except that
he tentage was poor. He also said the
uality of the clothing was bad. The
'ork had also been wormy at times and
he beef tainted. but these been ex-
hanged. He thought the camp entirely
90 much crowded.
Other witnesses examined at the af-
ernoon session were Lieutenant Jones,
of the 4th Virginia; Pri-
ate Allen o. White, OF the same reg
nent; Private S. c. Thompson of the
rd Nebraska; Lieutenant Freeman,
of the 161st Indiana: Com
,issary Sergeant Morse, of the 16lst
indiana; Jane r. Pourie. a company
sergeant of the 9Th Missou-
!. and Private James T. James, of the
tn Missouri.
All these witnesses expressed them
elves as satisfied with their treatment.
he commissary officers said the rations
Tere abundant, but that occasionally
ne fresh meats were tainted, owing to
he heat. The privates found no fault.
II saying they had enough to eat and
enerally that the food was good.