The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-04
VISITS THE
HEROES OF
SANTIAGO
Observation-Disclosures
Five Hours at Camp
Wikoff.

CAMP WIKOFF, MONTAUK
POINT, Sept. 3.-President Mckinley
spent five hours in the camp to-day,
bareheaded most of the time, visiting
the sick in the hospitals and inspecting
the well in their environments. He
made a speech to the assembled infan-
trymen, reviewed the cavalrymen. ex-
pressed his opinion of the camp to the
reporters and issued an order directing
the regiments to return to their sta
tions east of the Mississippi.
With the President were Vice Presi
dent Hobart, Secretary Alger, Attorney
General Griggs, Senator Redfield Proc
tor of Vermont, Brigadier General Ea-
gan, commissary general of the army;
Brigadier General Ludington, quarter
master of the army; Colonel Hecker and
Secretaries to the President Porter and
Cortelyou. The ladies of the party
were Mrs. Alger and Miss Hecker,
daughter of Colonel Hecker. General
Wheeler, his staff and nearly every Of
ficer of prominence in the camp met
the President at the station, except
General Shafter, who is still in deten-
ton. and General Young, who fell and
broke his arm last night. After greet
ines and introductions on the railway
platform, the President took General
Wheeler's arm and went to car
riage.
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt of the
Rough Riders was among group of
horsemen near by. Mr.. Mckinley saw
him and got out of the carriage to
speak to him. Colonel Roosevelt has
tily dismounted and tussled with
gauntlet for fifteen seconds, so that
ungloyed he might shake hands. The
column of carriages wound up a hill
escorted by the Third Cavalry Regi-
ment and the mounted band of the
Sixth Cavalry. The party paused
moment on the hill and the President
looked out on the wide undulating
cape, water bounding each side and
whitened on the levels and hilltops by
the tents of $4,000 men, laid out in
geometric lines.
Mr.. Mckinley drove to General Shat
ter's tent in the detention camp. The
general, who was flushed and weak
from a mild case Of malarial fever, was
in full uniform, sitting in chair at the
door of the tent. He tried to rise, but
Mr.. Mckinley said: Stay where you
are. general You are entitled to rest "
Shafter on the Santiago campaign, and
after full minutes rest proceeded to
the general hospital
The soldiers recently arrived on the
TRANSPORTS and detained In the deten-
ton section of the camp lined up lr-
regularly on each side.cf the room and
cheared Mr.. Mckinley took off his
straw hat then, and scarcely more than
MT IT on for more than minute or
two at a time during the remainder of
his nroeress through the camp. Miss
wheeler. a daughter Of the general,
bannened to be in the first row Of the
hospital tents, and she showed the
President through her division.
General Wheeler announced in each
ward. "Boys. the President has come
70 see you." or Soldiers, the President
of the United States.
some of the soldiers slept uncon-
scious some listlessly raised upon their
elbows, others feebly clapped their
hands
with many and at every cot ne paused
w instant. and If he saw the sick man
looking at him ne po"eo III d uiiec' anu
personal way.
In the second ward the President en-
+arad Sergeant John A. Alexander,
Company D, First Illinois, who has a
fever. was rather startled to hear Cen
eral wheeler announce the President
The sergeant half raised up on his cot.
Mr. Mckinley, attracted by the move
ment. took Alexander's hands and said:
AT am sorry to see you SO sick. l hope
that YOU are getting better"
"Thank you, think | shall get well"
"Do YOU wish for anything" inquired
General Wheeler
mo. I have everything good for me.
I guess" Alexander replied YEARLY;
s.but wish / were home
II hope that we may soon get you
there said Mr.. Mckinley. He had
many such bits Of talk with the men,
and seemed to be in no hurry. He al
most outwore the patience of all his
party by his slow going through ward