The news & observer., 1898-09-04
General Wheeler Takes Him
Through the Hospitals.
"BOYS, THE PRESIDENT"
M'KINLEY'S SPEECH OF THANKS
TO NATIONS DEFENDERS.
MISS WHEELER TAKES HIM THR0' A WARD
The President Visited Sick, Reviewed Caval-
rymen and Ordered Regulars from
East of the Mississippi to
Their Stations.

Their Stations.
Camp Wikoff, Montauk, l.. l., Septem-
Der 3.-President Mckinley spent five
hours in the camp to-day, bare-headed
most of the time, visiting the sick in the
hospitals and inspecting the well in their
environments. He made a speech to the
assembled infantrymen, reviewed the cav
alignment, expressed his opinion of the
camp to the reporters and issued an order
directing the regulars to return to their
stations east of the Mississippi
With the President were Vice-Presi-
dent Hobart. Secretary of War Alger
Attorney General Griggs, Senator Red
field Proctor, of Vermont; Brigadier Gen
eral Eagan, Commissary OF the Army
Brigadier General Luddington, Quarter
master of the Army: Colonel Henry
Hecker and Secretarys 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 Off
Ger of prominence in the camp met the
President at the station except 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. Col0nel
Theodore Roosevelt, of the Rough Riders.
was among the group of horsemen near
by Mr.. Mckinley saw him and got ont
of the carriage to speak to him. Colo
mel Roosevelt hastily dismounted and
tusseled with a gauntlet for fifteen see
cnds so that ungloved he might shake
hands. The column of carriages wound
up hill. escorted by the Third cavalry
regiment and the mounted band of the
Sixth cavalry. The party paused me-
ment on the hill and the President looked
out ON the wide, undulating cape, water
bound on either side and Whitened on
the levels and hill tops by the tents
of $4,000 men. laid out in geometric lines.
Mr.. Mckinley drove to General Shat
ter's tent in the detention camp. The
General, who was flushed and weak from
n mild case of malarial fever, was III
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 entitled to rest"
The President congratulated Genera.
Shdfter on the Santiago campaign. an'i
after a few minutes rest proceeded to
the general hospital. The soldiers recent
ly arrived on transports and detained
in the detention section Of the camp lined
up irreguarly on each side OF the road
and cheered. Mr.. Mckinley took off his
straw hat then, and scarcely put it Oh
for more than a minute or two at a
time during the remainder of his progress
time during the remainedf of his progress
through the camp. Miss Wheeler. a
daughter of the General, happened to be
i'm the first row of the hospital tents
and she showed the President through
her division. General Wheeler announ-
ced in each ward
Boys. the President has come to sec
YOU or ''Soldiers, the President of the
United States"
Some of the soldiers slept Oh uncon-
scious, some listlessly raised upon their
elbows, others feebly clapped their hands
Mr.. Mckinley gently snooi hands with
many, and at every cot he paused IN
instant and if he saw The >icn man
looking at him he bowed IN direct
and personal way.
In the second ward tha President
entered, Sergeant John \. Alexander
Company ID, First Illinois. who has q
fever, was rather startled by hearing
General Wheeler announce the President
The Sergeant half raised up on his cot
Mr. Mckinley, attracted by the move
ment took AleXander's hand and sail.
Il am sorry to see you so sick. / hope
that you are getting better"
'"Thank you. | think | shall get well.
fop nCgt
General Wheeler.
mo. / have everything good for me,
guess" Alexander replied wearily; "bu
| wish ] were home"
II hone that we may soon get yol
there" said Mr.. Mckinley.
He had many such bits of talk will
the men. and seemed to be in no hurry
He almost outwore the patience of all hi'
party by his slow-going through ware
after ward When seemingly all tn
wards of the general hospital had beCl
gone through and the Pesident was about
to get into carriage, Attorney Genera
Griggs, detained him.
Miss Wheeler has told me-" said he
''of a Lieutenant Prado, who is in TEN
back here by himself and he is in q
dying condition. He has asked abont
your coming. 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
mained outside the tent The Presiden
appeared with the nurse Il minute d
two later. His eyes were moist and down
cast.
As it was inconyenient to go back t.