The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-10-11

NAASoS lAltS SG IttyS were LleIely ShlIllllSil- es' It was not until the 10th and the llth that they fought in earnest. They were In the trenches before Santiago on the two latter days.
 Private Miller said that the newspa- pers hadn't told half the truth about the sufferings of the American soldiers and the inadequate provision that was made for their maintenance while fight ing in Cuba. For days they had no food but hard tack and coffee. The lat ter didn't deserve it's name. Private Miller called it brown water. Even this scanty provision, barely enough to keep body and soul together, was not given them regularly. For few days at time they were given no food at all.
 SOLDIERS GO CRAZY.
 Private Miller's statement in regard to the treatment of sick soldiers corro- borated the worst that has been said in the papers and shows that the corres- pondents did not exaggerate the facts, It was nothing unusual for an army surgeon to administer eighteen grains of quinine three times day, making f1fty-four grains for the entire day to fever-stricken soldiers. These eXces- sive doses of the drug had the effect of making the soldiers crazy and some of them stark mad. One poor fellow, who was the victim of an overdose of qui- nine, was found saluting and speaking to a mule with deferential respect, he thinking that the animal was an off, cer. If one could forget for a moment hIr 10 fp1- low and the criminal incOmpetency which was responsible for his deplora- ble condition, the scene in the Flaming of the Shrew," where Katherine, the subdued wife, is made to show an af- lection for the donkey, might be re- called. He (Private Miller) was also victim of too much quinine. His brain | was affected for time and he began to | tear down tents until he was stopped | by his comrades and led back to his l tent. He had a falling out with "doc- tor' which nearly got him into trouble. The doctor" had been serving as nurse in the hospital when he found fa- vor with the ruling powers, and was I suddenly promoted to the position of | surgeon of the regiment. He had no i qualifications for the position other | than the experience which he had as nurse The doctor" gave him eighteen | grains of quinine to take. He refused ] to take the quinine and told the doctor | that he could not regard him as being | competent to prescribe for sick men. /, You were a nurse yesterday and you are a surgeon to-day-how's that?" was the question which Private Miller put to the newly-fiedged surgeon, to the latters embarrassment. The sur geon threatened to have him court martialed, but his threat was never car ried out. Perhaps the surgeon would have found some difficulty in proving his right to the title of M. D. before a court-martial, if he were asked to do so. | Flow many did you lose by sick 1 ness?" asked the reporter
 To this question Private Miller replied | that he believed the number had been set down at three thousand. He said it i was do1eful thing to hear every morn ing the volleys shot over the graves of soldiers who had died during the night | The firing became so frequent and had such disturbing effect on the sick sol diers that it was finally decided to dis continue the firing of volleys. The sol- diers, raclzed with pain on their beds, | would listen with expressions of horror to the volley firing, thinking, perhaps, that on the morrow there would be a volley fired over their newly made graves. When he Private Miller) was wounded twice in one day he would have bled to death but for the timely assistance rendered him by an Irish comrade whose drollery and rich brogue were a constant source of amusement. He did not see a doctor for five days after he was wounded! Private Miller said that men were appointed surgeons who knew nothing about medicine, and who weren't fit to prescribe for sick people.
 Did you see General Shafter during the fighting?"
 This query brought a smile, eXpres
 sive of supreme contempt, on the face of Private Miller "See General Shaf-
 ter? No. He was five miles away. He
 did not come once within the firing lines,' replied Private Miller.
 That was hardly encouraging to the
 men in the trenches?"
 "Why, it was customary for the men in the trenches to sing out to each oth- CT: "When will Shafter get off his perch?'" Private Miller replied. "Did the officers allow you to speak , so disrespectfully of your commanding general?''
 '"They did. They would smile when
 they heard the men talk so of Shafter.
 WHEELER WAS THE IDOL.
 Private Miller said that General
 Wheeler was the idol of the army There was not man who would not willingly lay down his life to defend
 General Wheeler. He recalled the fact that General Wheeler, though sick ir , the hospital, insisted on being carried on a litter to the firing line to encourage
 the men.
 ROOSEVELT'S BRAVERY.
 Private Miller said there was nc
 doubt that Colonel Theodore Roosevelt of the Rough Riders had proven him.
 self to be very brave man. He let l his men up the San Juan Hill number !, of yards in advance, and exposed him. f self to Spanish bullets. The men i'm o plored Roosevelt not to be so daring an(
 to take care of himself, but he wouldn' t 5 He continued many yards in front O t them, until victory was assured. Int