The record-union., 1898-09-04
The President Meetslthe Heroes Of
Santiago.
Was Much Pleased to Observe the Splendid
Spirit of the Men.
Gratified at the Care of the Sick In
the Hospitals and by Those in
Charge-The Hospital Service
Well Adapted for the Rapid
Recovery of the Sick.

Recovery of the Sick.
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 cantons. He made a speech
TO the assembled infantrymen, reviewed
the cavalrymen, expressed his opinion
of the camp to the reporters, and issued
an order directing the regiments to re-
turn to their stations east of the Mis-
sissippi
With the President were Vice Presi-
dent Hobart, Secretary Alger, Attorney
General Gibbons, Brigadier General
Eagan, General LudingtOn, Colonel
Henry HeCker and Secretaries to the
President Porter and Cortelyou. The
ladies of the party Were Mrs. Alger and
Miss Hecker, a daughter of Colonel
Hecker.
General Wheeler, his staff and nearly
every oliver Of prominence in the camp
met the President at the station. ex-
cept General Shafter, who is still in
detention, and General Young, who fell
and broke his arm last night
After greetings and introductions on
the railway platform, the President
took General Wheeler's arm and went
to a carriage.
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt of the
Rough Riders was among a group of
horsemen near by. Mr. Mckinley saw
him, and got out of the carriage 10
speak to him. Colonel Roosevelt hast
lily dismounted and tussed with a
gauntlet for fifteen seconds. so that un-
gloved he might shake hands.
The column of carriages wound up
the hill, escorted by the Third Cavalry
and the mounted band of the Sixth
Cavalry. The party paused a moment
on the hill, and the President looked
out of the window and saw the land
scape.
President Mckinley drove to General
Skaters tent in the detention camp
The General, who was flushed ami
weak from a mild case of malarial fe-
Yer, was in full uniform, sitting in a
chair at the door of the tent He tried
to rise, but Mr.. Mckinley said: Stay
where you are, General. You are en-
titled TO rest"
The President congratulated General
Shafter on the Santiago campaign. and
dIttl d lew minutes rest proceeded TO
the general hospital.
The soldiers recently arrived in trans
ports and detained in the detention sec
tion of the camp lined up irregularly
on each side of the road and cheeled.
Mr. Mckinley took off his straw hat
then, and scarcely more than put it on
for more than a minute or two al a
time during the remainder of his prog
ress through the camp.
Miss Wheeler, a daughter of the
General, happened to be in the first
row Of the hospital tents, and she
showed the President through her di-
vision.
General Wheeler announced in each
ward: Boys, the President has come
to see you; or: Soldiers. the Presi-
dent of the United States"
Some of the soldiers slept. uncon-
scious, some lstlessly raised upon
their elbows; others feebly clapped
their hands President Mckinley gen
tly shook hands with many, and at
every cot he paused an instant, and if
he saw the sick man looking at him he
bowed in a direct and personal way
In the second ward. when the Presi-
dent entered, Sergeant John A. Alexan-
OSi, 1OIilp pdIiy ~ It list 44llIOlS, VINO u15
a fever, was rather startled to hear
General Wheeler announce the Presi-
dent The Sergeant half raised upon
his cot. Mr.. Mckinley, attracted by
the movement, took Alexander's hands
and said: Il am sorry to see you so
sick. / hope that you are getting bet
ter
Thank you; I think 1 shall get we'll"
do you wish for anything?" asked
General Wheeler.
No, have everything good for me-
guess" Alexander replied feebly; "bu,
l wish l were home"
Il 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 almost outwore the patience of all
his party by his slow going through
ward after ward.
When seemingly all wards Of the gen
eral hospital had been gone through
the President was about to get into n
carriage, when Attorney General
Griggs detained him.
Miss Wheeler has told me" said he,
"of a Lieutenant who is in a tent back
here by himself and he is in a dying
condition. He asked about your COM
ing. and Miss Wheeler has promised
that you shall see him
Certainly. Let US go to him." Mr..
Mckinley said.
The others OF the party discreetly re-
maiEed outside the tent The President
reappeared with the nurse a minute or
two alter. His eyes were moist and
downcast.
AS ii was inconvenient to go back TO
the doors of the long tents. Mr.. Nc
Kinley would go through the frame
ward at the heads of the tents and
jump down. The general hospital IS On
a slope. and the nights increased at
each ward. At Ward + the jump was
nearly six feet. Mr.. Mckinley took it.
Vice President Hobart, who is a bulky
man, hesitated Il balk here. Can't
go over this hurdle he said. Neither
would Secretary Alger. who had taken
all the jumps until then. but General
Wheeler sprang lightly up.
The day was hot. Mr.. Mckinley wore
a black frock coat with a waistcoat.
The perspiration streamed from his
face A glass of appolinaris was of
fered to him, but he declined to drink,