The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-08
COMMISSIONERS AT CHICAGO.
THREE MEMBERS OF BOARD EN-
AIMING WITNESSES THERE.


DIR. schOoIer Criticises the COndf-
lions at Camp Thomas, the Lack OF
Medical Supplies, Facilities for
Caring for the Sick, ana IncOmpc-
tency of the Nurses-Dr. Ward Con-
siders Gen. BOynton Responsible
for the Conditions Existing Mt
Chiclxumauga.
Chicago, Nov. 7.-Gen, Dodge, Col. Sex
ton and DR.. Common of. che war invests
eating commission, arrived in Chicago to-
day, and Immediately began the exami-
nation Of witnesses at the Auditorium Ho-
tel
DR.. Lewis Schooler of DesMoines, Ia,
was the first Witness. From June to
July II DR.. Schooler- was stationed at
Camp Thomas as ochief surgeon of The
Second Division, Thine Corps. Questioned
by DR.. Conner, he said that during the
time he was there the sanitary condl-
tions in the hospitals were moi very good;
that the sinks in the whole division were
bad owing principally to the character
of the ground and the discipline was rath-
er lax
'At the opening" DIR. schooler said,
there were practically no facilities for
the care of the sick; we were short of
medicines and had no apparatus by which
the stewards could prepare the medicines
that we had. The reglmehtal hospitals,
all but one or two, were as poorly sup
piled with medicines as the division hospl-
-! ct
but they were generally disapproved at
the camp headquarters. The supply de-
partment had certain hours for issuing
supplies, and at other times nothing could
be obtained. There was scarcity of beds
in the hospitals. At one time practically
half our nursing force were sick or In
the guard house for INSTRUMENTATION"
DR.. Connor-Why was not a demand
made by somebody that better or more
nurses should be sent 10 that place?
DIR. Schooler-I DON'T know l wrote the
surgeon general once protesting against
the difficulty of securing. supplies. Part
of the blame rested upon the Guartermas-
ters department.
DIR. Milo B. Ward of Kansas City, who
was brigade surgeon at Camp Thomas
from July u to Sept. 10, also testified TO
the lack of medicine as weA as lack of
atN6AtlOi ~ the Sdth.- lie Was particularly
severe in his criticism of Corps Surgeon
Hoff and Division Surgeon Jenny of the
Second Division, Third Corps. He charged
that they neglected their duties,
In reply TO further questions DR.. Ward
said: THE necessities were not available
from the army supplies, and had il not
been for the Red Cross some Of the SOL
diers would have starved. Requisition af-
ter requisition was forwarded and yet no
,saA4a f
competent and indifferent, though some
were more faithful than others. This was
not remedied because we had to obey army
regulations as to detailing men for nurs-
ing duty.
The location of the hospital was ex-
tremeiy bad in my Judgment and the water
also was never in condition so that we felt
safe drinking water Ind that there was
no provision for boiling it. There was
never plate, saucer or dish boiled all
the time i was there 'isYan 9ysn 1oet
When asked as to his opinion as to the
responsibility of the conditions at Camp
Thomas, DIR. Ward said: For the condl-
lion of the camp, first the man who in
sisted that the camp was perfect, and
that the hospital was well run. That man
was Gen. Boynton."
Dr. Connor-Had Gen. Boynton anything
to do with the quartermaSter or commits
sary departments?
DR. Ward-I say he was responsible for
keeping the army there when that army
ought not TO have been kept there. The
want of supplies was due-to the fact that
the quartermaster' and commissary de-
partments We're not bounded enough for
supplies-not followed DIP enough
A number of other witnesses were ex-
amined. but no new points were brought
out.