Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-08
Makes a Visit of Five Hours
to Camp WikoH, Mon.
tauk Point.
SICK SOLDIERS VISITED.
The President Addresses the Troops,
Thanking Them For Their Services
Soldiers Whose Posts Arc East of
the Mississippi to be Sent Home
rs Soon as Iossible.

President Mckinley in the camp here yes
to-day. lie was bareheaded most of the
time, visiting the sick in the hospital and
Inspecting the much-taked-of well.
He addressed the assembled infantry
men, reviewed the cavalrymen, expressed
his opinion of the camp to the reporters
and issued an order directing the soldiers
TO return to their stations east of the Mis-
Sissppi.
With the President were Nice-President
Hobart, Secretary of War Algcr, Attorney
General Griggs, Senator Proctor of Yer
mont, Brg. Ten. t,agan, commssary Of
the army, Brig. Gen. Ludington, quarter
master of the army; Col Henry liecker,
and Secretaries to the President Porter
and Cortcyou.
Tho ladies of the party were Mrs. Al
ger and Miss liecker, Il daughter of Col.
1lcCker.
Gen. Wheeler, his staff, and nearly every
officer of prominence in the camp met the
President at the station, except Gen. SHAFT
ter, who is still in detention, and Gen.
Young who fell and broke an arm Friday
night.
After greetings and introductions on the
railway platform, the President took Gen.
Wheelcrs arm and went to a carriage.
Col. Theodore Roosevelt Of the Rough
Riders was among group of horscmen
nearby. Mr.. Mckinley saw him, got out
OF the carriage and spoke to him. Col.
Roosevelt ha stily dsmounted and wrost
lngoved he might shake hands
President Mckinley drove to Gen. SHAFT
ter's tent in the detention camp. The gem
eral, who was flushed and weak from Il
mild case of malarial fever was in full
uniform, sitting in IL chair at the door of
the tent. He tried to rise, but tho Prcsi-
dent said Stay where you are, general.
Tou are entitled 10 rest" The President
congratulated Gen. Shafter on the San
tiago campaign and after few minutes
rest proceeded to the general hospital.
The soldiers, recently arrived on trans
ports and detained in the detention sec
ton of the camp, lined up irrogularly on
each side of the road and cheered. Presi-
dent Mckinley took off his straw hat then
and scarcely put it on for more than Il
minute or two at "a time during the re-
mainder of his progress through the camp.
Miss Wheeler, daughter of the general,
happened to be in the first row of the hos
pital tents and she showed the President
through the division. Gen. Wheeler an
- nounced in each ward: Boys, the Presi-
dent has come to see you" Some of them
elept on unconscious some listessly rails
ed upon their elbows, others feebly clap
ped their hands. The President gently
shook hands with many, and at every cot
he paused an instant, and if he saw the
sick man looking at him he bowed in a
direct and personal way.
In the second ward the President MI
tered, Sergeant John A Alexander, Com
pdny ID, LIST Illinois, who has fever. was
rather startled ny hearing Gen. Wheeler
announce the President. The sergeant
lalf-raised up on his cot. President Me-
l<iuley, attracted by the movement, took
Nlexanders hand and said: II am sorry
to see you so sick; | hope that YOU are
getting better"
do you wish for anything" inquired
Gen. Wheeler.
mo. I have everything good for me-
guess Alexander replied, YEARLY, but
] wish l were home
Il nope that may soon get You
there" said the President lie had many
such bits Of talk with the men. and seem
ed to be in no hurry. He almost outwoie
THE patience of all his party by his slow
progress through ward after ward.
When seemingly all the wards of the
general hospital had been inspected and
1.-THE President was about to get into a
carriage, Attorney General Grlsgs detaln-
ed him Miss Wheeler has told me-" said
Me, of Il Lieut. Prado, who is in tent
eback here by himself, and he Is in n dy-
Sng condition. He has asked about your
Nomng, and Miss Wheeler has promised
that you shall see him"
certainly let us go to him." Mr.. Nc
1iinley said The others Of the party dis
hreetly remained outside the tent. The
president reappeared with the nurse Il
9nnute or two later. His eyes were moist
end downcast.
Inc udv was not. Inc IreSluent wore
o black frock coat, with a waistcoat The
terspiration streamed from his face lie
proceeded to the infantry plain, as 1t Is
talled. The men of the 9th Massachu-
tetts the 9TH Illinois, and the Sth Ohio,
}he 18th, 2lst ED and 10th infantry were
assembled without arms. About 900 men
}tood in close order. Gen. Wheeler said:
The President OF our great country
Nas come here to greet the soldiers who
marched so gallantly up San Juan hill
Yuly |. He comes here to express the ma.
lions thanks to these brave men. / wish
40 tell you that when the President sent
1ne here two weeks ago, to command this
camp. he enjoned me in the most en-
phatic language that should, without re-
gard to expense, exercise any and every
authority necessary to make comfortable
this body of brave men, who by their
courage have raised this republic to the
highest position among the great nations
of the earth. | have the honor and pleas
ure of introducing to you the President
pf the United States"
President Mckinley said:
Gen. Wheeler, soldiers of Camp Wlkoff,
soldiers of the 9TH army corps: ] trust
that you will put you hats on. / am glad
TO meet you. | am honored to stand be-
fore you to-day. ] bring YOU the graft
tude of the nation, to whose history you
have added, by your valor a new and
glorious page. You have come home, af-
ter two months of severe campaigning,
which has embraced assault, siege and
battle, so brilliant In achievement, so far
reaching in results, as to command the
unstinted praise of all your countrymeN
You had the brunt of the battle on land
You bore yourselves with supreme cour-
age and your personal bravery, never be-
fore exceled anywhere, has won the adj
miraton of your fellow-citizens and the
genuine respect of all mankind, while
your endurance, under peculiar trial and
Suffprinn has piVpn added IN
your herolsm.
of Porto Rico under the restless army
commander, Maj.-Gen. Miles. and behind
you, to proceed at moments summons,
were more than 100000 of your comrades,
ready to support you, disappointed that
the opportunity which you had did not
come to them, yet filled with pride at your
we'll earned fame and rejoicing upon your
signal victories. You were on the line of
battle; they, no less than you, were In
the line of duty. All have served their
country in Its need all will serve 1t as
long as they may be required, and all will
forever have the thanks and regard of
grateful people.
We cannot bid you welcome here to-day
without our hearts going out to the heroes
of Manila, on sea and land, whose SER
vices and sacrifices whose courage and
consistency In that far distant field of oper-
ations have never been surpassed by any
soldiers or sailors the world over.
TO the army and the navy, to the ma
rines. to the regulars. TO the volunteers,
and to that Providence which has watch