The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-22

ATLANTA, Ga, Oct. '21?-The war
investigation committee Grived here
over the Southern railroad at 10 o'clock
today and after callingEupon Gen. Pen
nington, in command of the depart
ment, proceeded to Fort Mcpherson
The only work to be done here is In
connection with the hospital at the
fort. The commissioners examined only
two witnesses here. They were Mai
Taylor, surgeon in charge of the, gem
eral military hospital here, and Rev.
Nave, chaplain Of that institution
Both appeared at the afternoon ses-
sion Of the committee. Maj. Taylor
stated the history of the hospital from
its inception. He said that recently he
had had no difficulty in securing sup
plies, as he had been given carte
blanche to purchase them. This au,
thority had not, however. been given
until the 1st of August, whereas it had
been asked for as early as the 25th Of
June. He had in the beginning Of the
camps history had considerable diff
Guilty in getting them approved by the
authorities at Washington. One re-
QUESTION made ON the 10Th of May and
another on the Gath of June had not
been entirely filled until very recently
These acquisitions had been made upon
the New York supply depot, while all
that were made on the ST! Louis depot
had been promptly filled. One hundred
and sixteen cots ordered in the begin
ming Of the season had only arrived
DAY or two since, and they were not
needed now. -. -,-.,
DR.. Taylor had, on account of delay
In filling these acquisitions, been COM
PEELED to call upon the surgeon general
for portion Of his special fund and
had thus prevented any suffering
among patients. Among the articles in
Which there was delay in delivery was
bed linen. DR.. Taylor said he had
found the go cents day Communication
fund more than sufficient to furnish
food for the sick men, and he express
ed the opinion that 40 cents per day
would be sufficient for the purpose of
supplying food. DR.. Taylor stated in
reply to a question, that he considered
Atlanta an excellent place for hos
pttal, because Of the convenience in
reaching the place from the seaports of
the Southeast; because the climate was
mild and yet cold enough to prevent
Infection, and also because Of the excel
lent water supply. He said that a
large proportion Of his patients had
been received from Tampa, but that
some had come from Jacksonville,
Chickamauga and other points. He
also said that many had. been sent
E6IG WIlO were HUI III CQIQIIlOn 10 De
removed, as many Of them were ty-
phoid fever patients, and in such cases
repOse was a prime necessity Many
patients had died soon after arrival.
VANDALS IN CAMP.
Rev. Nave, post chaplain at Fort
Mcpherson, said he had visited every
patient who had been in the hospital
ard that he had never heard single
complaint from a man who was pos
sessed Of his reason, while, on the
contrary, he had heard many express
stems of gratitude and commentator
for the excellent conduct Of the hos
pital. Mr.. Nave expressed the opinion
that in the conduct of military hos
pitfalls generally there was too little
care Of the clothes and other property
OF patients. The custom is to put q
sick mans clothing under his pillow
when he enters hospital. and Mr..
Nave said that a man often never
again sees either his clothing or arti-
cles that may be left In. the pockets.
He had known of many instances In
which men were brought here with
no clothes except their night shirts,
and he himself had secured through
private help no fewer than 100 suits
for such men as had lost their clothes.
I'm word, the thieving which has
DeeH going on ana the petty pecula-
tons which have been praoticed upon
soldiers" said he, often tifles by their
comrades, has been one ofqthe saddest
features Of the wars 60 10
While the bodies os9pafients were
carefully guarded, theft property was
not, yet these articles were often, the
chaplain said, very sacred to the pa
tient in case Of his recovery, and to
his friends and relatives in case of his
death.
Replying to a question from Gen.
Wilson, Chaplain Nava Sid ne had
seen some Of the surgeons, at the hos
pital under the influence Of liquor but
not to a sufficient extent to interfere
with the proper performance of their
duties. so s,D,
The commission left, at II, O'Clock to-
night for Admission. After one or two
days spent there the ecoramittee will
proceed to Huntsville and Chattanooga.
Mr.. Skemp for the Senate.
w. H. Skemp, of Carlton county has been
named by the Legislative committee for the
Fifty-second District as the Union candidate
for the state senate