The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-22
col. WHOLLEY'S STATEMENT.
Says Col. RedinEtOn Exaggerated
Conditions at Vancouver.

VANCOUVER. Wash, June 2l.-The ar
ticle in last Sundays Post-inteilgencer
signed by ]. Watermelon Redington ana
purporting to give an account OF the con-
dition Of the Third battalion OF Washing
ton volunteers now In barracks at this
place, has created considerable stir among
the soldiers, and especially among the OFF,
GERS, and Col. Wholley is of the opinion
that many Of the statements made BY the
writer of the article are calculated to call
down upon him undeserved criticism
In the first place Col. Wholley is now.
and has been since his arrival mere, IN
charge of the post of Vancouver barracks.
and any criticism upon the condition Of af
fairs here must necessarily faI npon his
shoulders Your correspondent visited Col
Who,ley today at his headquarters. He
stated to your correspondent that he feit
that great wrong and injustice had been
done himself and the men OF his COM
uiand; that while 1t was evident Mr.
Redington had only attempted 10 be hui
morous. he had in fact cast odium over
the entire command With this comment
he asked the correspondent to accompany
him through the kitchen and dining room
Of every company. to prove that the men
were well cared for.
1t was just a. the noon hour and this
afforded an excellent opportunity to inves-
tigate. The first company visited had
green peas boiling on a big range. also
cabbage. and big tank OF vegetable soup.
In the oven a generous supply of pota-
toes and big pan of good meat were
roasting. Over the meat an excellent
gravy had been poured. a tank Of coffee.
The best quality government Java. was
prepared. and there was milk and sugar to
so with 1t. Bread baked in the govern
rnent bakery was scattered over the table
in a sufficient quantity and Of good quail
lily. Taken altogether this was considered
by the cook as an average meal
This meal Of course was not served with
pies. cakes and buildings, but soldiers do
not expect these. and DO not usually get
them. The preparations for the midday
meal were about the same in the other
companies. although in one quarter cher
ries, butter and pickles were added 10 The
bill Of fare In the bakery was a big
stock of Walla Walla -four and the oven
was filed with good bread. Everything
was as neat and tidy and much cleaner In
many respects than the ordinary restaur-
ants.
1t was the custom ~ the soldiers Of the
Fourteenth United States regulars to cub
tivate company gardens in the govern
fnent grounds and these were turned over
IN the Third battalion upon its arrival
here, aGording the men a good supply Of
fresh vegetables. OF course when the boys
arrived here everything was turned t0psy-
teenth Infantry. but It did not take them
long 10 get Strengthened out.
As 10 the beds, the boys have each a
single woven wire mattress, Il wool mat
tress. a feather pillow and blankets. The
hunks are four feet apart, with q window
on each side and are not bad = aces to
sleep
AS 10 uniforms. Il Is n fact that a num-
Ter Of The men are not yet uniformed but
the quaTtermaster. who Is "A regular army
officer. IS issuing them just as fast as ne
can get them
As 30 the fatigue work which Col Red
inEtcn dubbed "servila and rneniai" the
post Of Vancouver barracks contains ete
acres. a. under care. probably r. houses
ard reads and sidewalks and many other
improvements that must he looked after
The government property hare VIII foot
~ close "a a million dollars in value. be-
sides a large quantity OF records. ord
nance, af1arierfuaster and cornmiSsary
stores. horses. wagons. etc. All this ia IN
der The care o. col Whoissy The families
Of TIE officers q the Fourteenth infantry
ara stationed here, but this fac; makes re
more work f5r ihe men. Tho Is szf4e must
- moved. Of course. bat no eol3ier does
th.s Ua.@sS he So SRI the ella guard fatiessa
90 has come Of guard more than twenty
fozy aozsvs previous. The soldiers do this
70 LED al 9r.li duty. and no complaint ia
heard from this quarter
Go. ao!i@T sad MS men were receiving
exreb..a; instruction from the work hsfry
dome as tSis post The soldiers ~ 4he
Third battalion are dong no more ana
soTrs less. work fhan Was dome nv use.
Fourteenth infantry. As % sha cAe~e.
tnat i1s nen are Splitting woad FOR ms
Nlves and families at the post col Wnoi-
les stated that orly prisoners we're ford
- do us N0rk. A. . sa wsng wool ehera
ar seyegal w0od saws owned bv ths gov
tramert. operated by civilians. ard WOOD
Il stove lengths Il Ia g1esf 10 the kitchen
ia1rs ~ cisi.lsa dTaygas-.
Col Wholly and fh@ officers - hss eprn-
rssa7a i ss tyae. 5ia not draw a gtsg,
months pay, while the enlisted sssez, s~sx
aay from tbs date OF ensassusns. bs. ths.