The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-04

condition On the division hospital at
Chickamauga,
NJ jor f. f. Helhurn of the second
Kentucky, now mustered out. testified
that the death list of his reaiment was
twenty six, most Of whom died at home
on furloughs.
The sickness at Chiokamauga increased
very rapidly. He knew that there was
shortage of cots in the hospital as well as
of tents.
In answer to questions by DR.. Conner
be stated that he served on n commission
appointed on account OF complaint of
the colonel of the first Arkansas, to in
yestigate the division hospital.
DR.. Ward, the witness and Major john
son formed the commission. This COM
mission was appointed in the latter part
of August and reported about September
7th.
The patients were then being removed
to the hospital and the hospital was In
chaotic condition. The SINKS were as
close as so feet from the wards and were
in an unclean condition. There was
dumping ground where other refuse WAS
thrown. There was gully running right
through the site. The sick were in fairly
GOOD condition. The commission 200 or
800 witnesses including commander.
chaplain, privates hospital corps, nurses
and visitors. The commission found I'M
necessary SuAoIllS pcCauso VI iaCk VI
tents and of cots SO that patients were ex
posed TO the rain and compelled to lie on
the ground.
This was the fault of the quarter
master department.. acquisitions were
not filled for from two to ten days and in
some Instances were not filled at all. The
only complaint against the medical corps
was in the case of one Major Hubbard,
who required the sick to stand at atten-
ton while attending sick calls. The
medical corps was not neglectful but was
disheartened because of inability to get
supplies, medicine and proper nurses.
The witness cited an instance of ther.
mometer given to an derby to be USED
for taking the temperature of patients
and when asked for 1t the next day he
said he didn't know what 1t was good for
and had given 1t away. AS instances of
neglect the witness said his commission
had much testimony that patients were
allowed to remain filthy in their beds and
were actually fiy-blown.
The evidence before the commission
showed that the medical officers were CON-
scientious and did their utmost to remedy
the evils prevailing in the hospitals. The
witness read the statement OF Major
Smith and of Col. Hof made to his com
mission. That of the former was s,ath-
ing arraignment of the inetficiency of the
supply department..
Il also complained bitterly of the in
competency Of the lrses. The witness
on being asked his own opinion about the
great amount of sickness at Chickamauga
said he thought that two thirds CT it was
due to negligence from themselves. In
his own command, men who were
temperate and reasonably careful Of their
health, kept healthy. Many of them
drank stale beer after drills and would lie
about, cooling off suddenly. There was q
vast amount of .unwholesome food and
drink sold by hucksters until they were
prohibited. The witness cited the 9Th and
9Th New York regiments, which had can
teens and he said that almost the entire
regiment were stricken by disease This
witness also read the statement OF Capt.
Charles Price of this second Kentucky
who told of hearing shrieks from the
New York ward and upon Investigating
he found that Major Hubbard was trying
major was brutal Price interferedf and
Hubbard said it was the only way to
humor patient. The only explanation
he gave was that the patient refused to
take the medicine.
The reading was at this point inter-
ruted by the appearance of Captain Price
and he was examined. He testified that
hospital to see one of his men who was
i'll with measles, he was informed that
the patient had been detailed to carry
water. The measles wards were packed,
the men being wedged in like sardines.
The same was true Of the typhoid and
malariaI wards. The witness in describing
the action of Major Hubbard said that he
choked the patient and forcibly pressed
him down on the cot. He then caught
the patients hands and thgn wrenched
them until the poor man shrieked with
pain. At this point the witness said 60
Hubbard: II do not know your name or
rank, but this brutality must STOP"
Hubbard did not stop, out said some
thing about showing q patient how to re-
fuse taking medicine.
Captain Price said he made it point
to 90 every day to the hospital to see
about the treatment of the men of his
company and he found that as a result of
his visits his men were not permitted to
suffer.
WATER SUPPLY AT FAULT.
Camp Meade, Middletown, Pa, Novem-
Der 3.-The war investigation commission
began business at the Lochiel hotel this
morning with three members present,
Genrals Beaver and Wilson and Captain
Howell This afternoon they visited
Camp Meade and were shown around by
General Young. The only witness this
evening Was Captain Frank N. Moore of
the ninth Pennsylvania, who gave testi-
mony concerning the condition of things
at the Cbickamauga camp. Eighty-two
men of Moore's company were sick at one
time and three of his men died from
typhoid fever, one of whom was his
brother. He asoribed his death partly to
the noises at Lett hospital. He criticised
the food supply and complained of the
lack of medical supplies. He thought the
water supply and filthy cess pools were
responsible for the epidemic of typhoid.
Many days his company only had q barrel
and q half of water and this had to be
hauled over four miles.
The board will separate here tomorrow
and reassemble next week for visits to
Philadelphia, New York and Boston.
BARGE LAUNCHED AT BATH.
Path Novam her 1.-The nav four mas