The age-herald., 1898-08-02
E~ q a - NasS TO MOVE E FROM
 THE DEATH TRAP Boys Rejoicing Oyer the Preparations
 to Leave Miami. THE TROOPS MAY GO NORTH Secretary Of War Alger Bitter Towards
 His Critics. UNFORTUNATE SELECTION OF CAMPS Some of the Real Conditions at Camp Miami Major Archinard Writes a Letter Explod-
 ing Some Fallacies.
THE TROOPS MAY GO NORTH
UNFORTUNATE SELECTION OF CAMPS
BY sEwELL HAGGARD

Bureau of the Age-Herald, at Colonel Higdon's Headquarters, Camp First Ala bama Volunteers, Miami. Fla, August l. The troops here are prepared to move. Secretary Alger has given the order of preparation, but the destination is yet in doubt.
 The boys haven't much choice as to where they go. Any place will be better than doing duty for H. M. Flagler walk ing au.,rlisements. As one hardy Texan roughly expressed it, if the men main here much longer they will be well adapted for labels poison boxes. When the u oops leave Miami there will be almost as much rejoicing as would be expected from division striking tents to go to the front.
 Miami is a well advertised hamlet This is what Flagler intended but 1t is not quite certain whether the tone of the ad yertisement is pleasing to his ear. The press has taken a strong hand in rescuing the volunteers from this pest hole. This brought high officials from Texas and Louisiana here to make a personal inspec- tiJn. Adjutant General Jumel, of Louis jana, spent two days in camp. Upon leay- ing he remarked that if man offered his Dlru dogsa drink of Miami water he would
 
 The Alabama boys have felt a little piqued that some representative from their home state did not come down to see their co..,.itlor. Governor Johnston, however, as noticed by the papers has joined other gov ernors in protesting against the camp.
 The dispatches of the Associated Press sent out of here are very rosy-hued and the special correspondents are lambasted for a so-called exageration of the situa- tion. The correspondent of the Jackson vile papers which labors along under the heavy name of the Times-Union and Citi- zen represents the Associated Press. This man is lodged at the Royal Palm and en- joys all the luxuries possible in this out of the way nook. A controlling interest in the paper with the top-heavy caption is owned by Flagler These facts are enough to dis pei the mystery of the beautiful stories of the health-giving qualities of Miami cli- mate and everylode water.
 I have heard of but one man in the six regiments here who defends the can % and who actually telegraphed to Birmingham that the reports in The Age-Herald of the large sick list were untrue. This was done in the face of the overwhelming testimony to the contrary. The man is to be pitied fl rso lightly valueing his own safety He's an officer, more's the pity. lieutenant in splendid company, more horrifying yet.
 Something of the Camp Site
  they were assigned to a spot of ground covered with palmetto bushes and rocks. For days they were worked hard, clearing this. Nothing but dynamite availed against the rocks. When the ground was clear sand several inches in depth was left. This, in itself, would not form an ideal camp site. But just when this was accom- plished the sick list began increasing every day. Typhoid fever showed itself. Sur geons began searching for a cause and they found it in the water. Straightway of f1cers and physicians began condemning the place. Then Mr. Flagler assumed the defensive, but the odds were against him.
 Officers condemned the government in the strongest terms possible for landing the soldiers in death-trap. They cannot be quoted for obvious reasons.
 One officer. however, became so indig nant that when talking to a superior off, cer he said in so many words what he thought and followed 1t up with a com munication to his brigade commander.
 A Man Unafraid
 This man is Major Archinard, surgeon of the Second Louisiana. In offical letter to General Gordon he explodes some falla- cies and reviews the situation in the fol- lowing terse style:
 Brigadir-General Gordon Second Brigade, First Division First Army Corps
 Sir-Four days ago l called upon Major Appel. the chief surgeon of the division, and showed him reports of analysists, both chemical and meteorological, condemn ing the water supplied to the soldiers, and