The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-19

government was negligent. but because
they could be utilized.
DR.. Maus was questioned in regard to the
camp at Miami. He said he had investigated
1t and found il to be unsuitable on account
Of the water, which analysis had shown to
be impure. He also thought Tampa unSuited
10 a large camp. He said. In response TO
criticism from Jacksonville woman, that
General Lee had given the most careful 1T
1ention TO the hospitals; that he made fire.
quent visits TO the sick men and did much
TO cheer them up. Mrs. Gordon, wife of Gen.
W. w. Gordon In relation to the hospital
at Miami sent a letter in which she made
serious charges among others one to the
effect that hospital nurse had become in
toxicated and set fire to a patients bed,
burning him somewhat, and another that
flies were often found crawling into the
mouths of dying patients. Dr. Maus had q
report from DIR. Villas. in charge of the hos
pital read admitting the statement con-
corning the burning of the patients bed.
but denying all others. DIR. Maus expressed
the opinion that tho charges were exagger-
NO LACK OF SUPPLIES.
Colonel Oliver Z. Wood. chief commissary
at Camp Cuba Libre, under General Lee.
was before the commission at its afternoon
session. He had occupied this position
since the 21st of May. and he had been able
during all this time to fully and completely
meet all acquisitions made upon him for sup
plies. and there had never been any lack
excellent. At first there had been trouble
with the bacon, and about 10000 pounds OF
At had been spoiled and therefore con-
oemned and ordered destroyed There had
also been weevis in some of the hard bread,
but 1t had never been issued when found to
be bad All the fresh beef was brought to
the camp In refrigerator cars. As rule this
LteAt VAS excellent and in cars where the
meat was not good the contractors had re-
placed it without requiring official condeIn-
nation. Yet it was necessary either to COOK
refrigerator meat or put ii OH ice In order
TO preysnt its spelling in this climate.
In this connection Colonel Wood read
letter he had written to General Lee in re-
Spouse 10 a complaint made by Col. w. j.
Bryan concerning the beef. In this letter he
due to the almost criminal negligence of
regiment and company officers. He said
also IN the letter that the beef must be in
spected when issued; that his inspection
must be final and after this no complaint
could be entertained.
Capt. chauneey V. Baker chief quarter
master, was also examined during the aft
ernOon. He had been in Jacksonville from
the beginning of the camp. on the 21st of
May. but at that time was quartermaster
for the Second Corps. He said that when
ne arrived the command was short of all
kinds of stores. and that he had been I'M
able at the beginning to meet all acquisitions
for supplies when made by the regiments as
they arrived. There had. for instance, been
some trouble in securing tentage. There was
also shortage in clothing, and in most cases
he had assumed the responsibility of maxi
ing purchases, and his course had afterward
been approved. The first clothing received
was not of good quality, but 1t afterward
improved However the men WERE as
rule. glad enough to get anything: and there
manifested a disposition to be satisfied with
whatever they received. Captain Baker said
that he attributed whatever delay had been
experienced to the necessity of equipping so
large army in so brief time, and he
thought that under the circumstances ii
was no greater than was to have been ex-
Explaining General Lawtons selection of
the first camp here, he said it was due to
the fact that the railroad company could
offer facilities and TO the additional fact
that water could be secured conveniently.
The site was low and the men were moved
when the rainy season began. General Law
ton had expected the troops to be ordered
almost Immediately to Cuba and this cir
cumstance controlled him entirely in the Sc
lection of the site for the first encampment.
lie said that the volunteer regimental quar-
termasters all worked hard to learn their
business and that their service had been
satisfactory.
THE INSPECTORS TESTIMONY.
Captain Baker was followed by Col. Curtis
Guild, jr.. inspector general of the corps.
Colonel Guild said he had been on duty
IN Jacksonville since June 1. He said he
had made it his business to make an early
morning inspection of the camp each day
with regard to sanitation, and he knew
this had been the custom of others in his
department. He had also invented a form
of weekly report which had given excellent
satisfaction. Colonel Guild said he had
found the officers of the volunteer forces
willing TO accept suggestions and in many
cases no had been thanked for them,. He
had also made frequent inspections of the
hospitals In the beginning there was a
lack of government supplies for these in
situations But the deficiency had been sup
piled by the Red Cross. The witness tes-
titled to the devotion of the medical depart
ment, and in referring to the interest of
al in the care of the sick, he instanced the
fact that in the recent cyclone here, not a
single hospital tent had been blown down.
in some instances in this emergency entire
brigades turned out to protect the hospitals
and hold them down.
Colonel Guild mentioned some cases in
which goods had been received in poor con-
dition. In one case a large lot of canned
beef had been received, which was putrid
but the contractors had replaced it with
acceptable goods. The second New Jersey
had suffered on account of the frequent
changes OF the commissary and they APP
peared to experience the want of food be-
cause or the ignorance Of the officers of the
regiment. Colonel Guild said that he had
never found case of deprivation due to
the failure of the government to furnish
proper supplies. He also unable to
recall any case in which there had been any
suffering in a hospital on account of neglect
and was satisfied all that was practicable
had been done for the sick. Colonel Guild
had In an official report expressed the opin-
ion that one attendant to six patients was
not sufficient, but he said this opinion was
based upon the infamed condition of the
public mind. but he believed that as a rule
the attendants could not give the proper
attention.
Asked if he was still of the opinion that
there would have been a shortage of sup
plies for the sick but for the activity of
the Red Cross: Colonel Guild said he had
changed his opinion somewhat; that he had
since learned that steps might have been
taken to secure government supplies, but he
was still of the opinion that there would
have been delay. Here the commission ad-
jOurned for dinner.