The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-30
Session OF w ar
BoardBegins
STRONG TESTIMONY


Boston. Nov. 23.--After an TN expected
delay Of day caused by the storm the
war Investigating commission at les,
began its sessions here ibis morning Al
$50 o'clock. in a parlor suite at the
Parker House. Those OF The commits
sion present were Ex-Governor II. g.
Woodbury. Of Vermont, Gen. john N
Wilson, L. s. A. Cen. James a. Beaver
Of Pennsylvania. Gen. Alexander No
Cook, L. 5. A. retired, and Col Jas.
A. Sexton. Gen. Grenvile NJ. Dodg= Of
Iowa, president Of the commission, and
Capt. Evan P Howell NJ Georgia have
NOT arrived yet. bat are supposed to be
on the way from New York. Cen. Nc
Cook acted as president.
The board did not begin to take testi-
mony until 1l.3O o'clock as it was iu
executive session for two hours befQl -
hand
The first witness was Leonard w.
Johnson Of North Cambridge. VINO
signed a contract as nurse, August %.
His examination was conducted by
Commissioner Howell.
After Commissioner Howell had read
the contract signed between johnson
and Mai. y. s. Jarvis brigade surgeon.
New York, Mr.. Johnson said: The
charges I wish to make at-. who is
sued orders on the City Of Berlin. the
transport on which ] came back fraia
Porto Rico. / had been an attendant
in one Of the hospitals there. suffering
from malaria. rheumatism and dysen-
terry. / left Ponce on the day ! got PAID
$6l, and came on the transport Berlin.
Mr.. Johnson, in answer 20 questions
stated that he did not know vs. no the
captain was, but Capt Swartz was ia
immediate charge. under the captain
Of the vessel
After being taken sick. said the
witness. Major Palmer. 7 think IL
was sent word 10 headquarters. and ]
was relieved from duty and / as siel,
until sent to Ponce. Forty Of US were
sent down. and going there 0-e were oV-
dered to be sent home. The order re-
iieving me Of duty had not been can
celed and I was sick when going ou
board. After getting away from the
port, whether sick or not. we wee
compelled to 60 to work ana look after
The sick patients on board.
No one had been put aboard who
was not supposed to be able 70 take
care Of himself but we had to look 4f-
ter them. a Mr. Saunders and myself
had to look after Y sick men with the
assistance OF some Of the other men
sometimes. We mad orders 10 put these
men to work or we would be put i'm
irons. and that if they or we did rot
Work we would be put ashore ct san
tiago
Nj Saunders was in charge Of the
dieting and / was in charge Of the mod.
lclnes. | gave the sick men all the
medicine prescribed by the doctor Two
were very sick out Of the = that need
% assistance. We had to stay up with
them most Of The night although we
were sick ourselves.
The witness said that the vessel was
well supplied with medicines.
The next witness was Dr.. William
H. Prescott Of Marlboro street. Dr.
prescott testified that he had been sent
by the Massachusetts Volunteer Aid
Association to Camp Wikoh in charge
Of the distribution Of supplies to the
Massachusetts, soldiers DR. Conner
asked him to state that were the con
ditions he found there. the difficulties
ne had to encounter and the obstruc-
tons. If any, thrown in his way. either
~ caring for the men or sending them
away
Il left Boston on Aug. 10" SAID Dr.
Prescott. arriving at Montauk Point
on the nth. We were taken in charge
DIV Capt. Chase, the provost marshal
who took me to the general hospital
introducing me to col Ferwood
asked for the establishment Of a diet
Kitchen. and was told that none was
necessary After nv arrival a pbvsi.
clan was assigned to three wards. escr
containing about 35 patients l found
the hosplta in d great deal of confu.
sion. A few doctors, fewer nurses anC
an insufiiciency Of medical supplies"
in reply to question as regards tbs
capabilities Of the doctors in perform
ing their duties. the witness said: Tn,
doctors averaged as well as they do il
any large city. There We're some DOOl
men. but as soon as it was found ou
that they We're so, they were sen,
away There were very good mel
also. up to the average or about tn,
average. in any large city. / should say
The nurses and Sisters of Charity di,
their work thoroughly and conscienti
ously. There was not a sufficient mum
Der Of nurses when / went there first
put II gradually improved, until before
went away, there were plenty. TIL
hospital corps men were not efficient
The majority of the male nurses VIII
came from the different cities We're no
efficient They cared more for thei
own comfort than they did for The sicI
men.
TO whom do you refer when Vol
speak Of the man in charge?' aske,
Commissioner Howell ITO col. w. r
Forwood,' replied m Prescott
Continuing, he said The men il
charge Of the different departments o.
the general hospital were good. abb,
men, and had good deal Of executiv,
ability. The food was good. At frs
there was difficulty in getting a suf
Gent supply Of it for the officers n
charge Of the camp But that wa,
partly due to the fact that the officers
were so busy that they could not val
until the food was ready for them. Il
explanation of that, would say tina
there was only one kitchen in which t,
cook for the patients, who numbered
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