The times., 1898-10-14
DAMAGING ADMISSIONS.
Recent Events Rume the Peace of
AlKer Relief WOrkers

The session of the Alger Relief Com
mission was enlivened yesterday by the
publication of a sensational interview in
various newspapers with Major Seaman,
surgeon, who had Just returned from
Cuba and Porto Rico
Major Seaman declared in his inter-
view that 30 per cent of the deaths at
Santiago were due to maladministration
and incompetency. He had discovered
new disease-Algerian fever, and in his
judgment II was more deadly than ty-
phoid.
OF course the commission could do
nothing less than summon Major Sea-
man to Washington Immediately TO give
his testimony, and dispatch was ac-
cordingly sent to the major to come here
at once. He replied that he would be on
hand this morning.
Major Seaman's testimony, II II backs
up his interview, will sadly shock the
sensitive nerves of Gen. Dodge and some
of his fellow relief workers.
The morning session of the commits
sion yesterday was taken up with the
examination of Lieut.. Col. Hoff, chief
surgeon of volunteers at Camp Thomas.
Col. Hon did not appear TO think that
the War Department was deserving OF
much criticism although he admitted
that the men in his camp were from
three to six weeks without sufficient
medicines, tentage food and other equip
ment Apparently he did not seem to
think that there was anything very
strange about this.
In the afternoon the commission held
an executive session for the purpose, 1t
is alleged, of arranging some plan by
which Major Seamon and his testimony
may be sidetracked. However, If Chair
man Dodge should attempt to put any
such scheme into execution some lively
developments may be expected.
Lieut. Col. Hoff was the only witness
examined yesterday. Before entering the
volunteer service he was surgeon in the
regular army, with the rank of major
He Joined the Third Army Corps in May
and remained with it after 1t went to
Anniston. Ala. He Is now under orders
to proceed to Porto Rico.
Col. Hon said that the camps at Chick
amauga were in as good sanitary condi-
tion as the peculiar circumstances per-
mitted.
/ THE Third Corps was camped," he tes-
titled, ION a soil OF clay and sand-more
clay than sand. Under this was a solid
rock. and owing to their condition 1t
were dug, because it was impossible un-
til later when we blasted the rock
did everything possible for improving the
sanitary conditions in the Third Corps
rode along the lines every day and
posted the officers who were required 10
give instruction as to camp sanitation
Orders were given to have sinks burned
out three times a day. but the men did
not obey all the regulations. The medical
~s.rt1c IN grr
regulations. Orders were given compel
ing the use OF the sinks. but men disre-
garded the orders. This caused the spread
of disease, particularly typhoid fever
Then the responsibility. inquired Mr.
Beaver, rests with the individual SOL
dier?"
1T does" answered Col. Hon.
Speaking of the supply of medicines. he
said: AT the time OF the arrival OF the
troops there was not full supply. The
! surgeon generals office, though, antici-
pated this and had teIegraphed to the
governors of States to send supplies with
their regiments There was a shortage of
supplies as the troops arrived, but later
the supply of medicines was ample. All
regiments did not come prepared as re-
| quested, and this resulted in lack of ma
terial Requisitions were sent to me for
medicines but / did not know whether
| they were for immediate use or for plac-
| ing in store.
col Hartsock, deputy surgeon general
| OF the army, was the surgeon in charge
| of the entire camp. The prevailing dis
eases were dysentery, malarial fever. and
/ typhoid fever. The first case Of typhoid
in the Third Corps developed in the First
! Mississippi Regiment about two or three
weeks after the regiment reached the
camp,
Typhoid fever patients Col Hoff con-
| tinued. were treated in division hospit-
ais. These hospitals properly speaking
/ are arranged for transportation with the
| column of troops. and are to be put up
when column halts. At Camp Thomas.
however, the division hospitals became
| field hospitals. and were constructed on a
more permanent basis. The ordinary ca
pacity was 200 beds, but sometimes this
| capacity was doubled, and at one time
trebled In the First Division there were
300 and in the Second Division 800 beds
| This increase did not mean the crowding
of beds in the regular space of a hos
pital, but meant corresponding, increase
of tentage. II is true that there were
| more men in a tent than there should
have been. The regulations provide for
only six. but frequently there We're
eight.
Col. Hoff admitted that there was a
| necessity at one time for the placing of
| men on beds on the floor through the
| lack of a sufficient number OF cots. This
was true only on one or two occasions.
he said. Regarding the Letter hospital,
he said that il was principally for dan
| gerously i'll soldiers, but while 1t did eX-
cellent work and was well provided with
supplies. it was not large enough TO ac-
! commodate all the men TO be sent there.
| Mr. Woodbury. inquired closely into the
shortage of medicines. Col. Hoff said
that 1t was several weeks before requisi-
| tions were honored. His corps was sew
eral weeks short of medicine.
What specific medicine was there a
shortage OF, quinine?" asked Mr.. Wood
bury.
There was, but when acquisitions We're
not honored l got authority from the
surgeon general to make purchases" Col.
Hoff replied.
How soon did you get this authority?''
About the middle of June"
WAS there any difficulty in obtaining
medicine on account of improper requisi-
tions being sent back?'
"Requisitions were returned for cOrrec-
| ton. but | do not know that any one
| suffered
Col. Hoff said that there was some diff
ficulty also in getting tentage. This lasted
for several weeks Mr.. Woodbury. called
the attention of the witness who said that
tents were on hand at all times, to be
| given out on requisition. Col. Hof was
asked If proper acquisitions had been
made. He replied in the affirmative. He
| admitted that on some occasions few
men were obliged to lie outdoors on ac-
count of insufficient tentage. He said