The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-31

Special fIom q Staff Correspondent.
Camp Alger, May 3O.-Thc official
news Of the bcttling-up Of the Spanish
feet was promulgated in a general Or
der from Corps headquarters late this
afternoon. Accompanying it was a
suggestion from General Graham that
it be transmitted to the men at mess.
This was done and as may be believed,
il caused a big wave OF enthusiasm to
o'crsprcad the dreary camp
Impromptu Memorial Day services
were held at the reviewing stand at 4
o'clock this afternoon Chaplain f. y.
II. Hoyt, of the Sixth, Pennsylvania,
acted as master Of ceremonies and
made the opening prayer Addresses
were delivered by Major J. f. Fee Of
the one Hundred and FlftyNinth In
diana, and Father Tom Sherman, chap
lain Of the Fourth, Missouri. There
was singing by the soldiers and apprO-
pirate music by the combined bands.
President Mckinley today enjoincd
General Graham from carrying out the
arduous daily routine on the Sabbath.
He insisted that an hour should be al
lowed for church. Last Sunday church
was held during the soldiers recreation
hour.
Praise God, from whom all bless
ings now," sang six hundred truly
thankful soldier lads at . o'clock last
night. Remarkable to say, it was "A
Cloudburst that evoked the doXology.
Cloudbursts are not usually provoca-
tive of pious pcans of praise, but here
was an exception.
The Thirteenth had been in this
sunny, perspiring southland just ten
days Water, as previously mentioned,
is not one of the things in which this
place abounds. Ten days of sun and
tent with water not any too plentiful
for cooking and drinking purposes,
produces a condition Of things slight
ly antagonistic to the next thing to
Godliness. With this condition of
things existing and great big warm
drops of water coming down in buck
etsful-wc draw the curtain.
There are no cots in the Thirteenth's $
hospital this morning. In fact, there is
no Thrteenths hospital nor any other
hospital excepting the division hospi-
tails. The old regimental hospitals are
now nothing more than dispensaries.
The division hospitals were opened
yesterday and hereafter all patients
must be taken there for treatment.
The hospital of the First division is
located near Brigadier General Geunth-
ers headquarters at Woodburn Manor
house. 1t is contained in five large
tents erected in pretty part of what
was formerly the manor garden and
is well equipped.
Surgeon Major Struckard, of the
one Hundred and Fifty-ninth Indiana,
a West Point graduate, has been ap-
pointed chief surgeon. Major Parke
was nominated'for the position by Sur
geon General Grard, but when it was
learned a headquarters that there was
a West Pointer among the surgeons,
Major Parke's nomination was with
drawn and Major Struckards name
substituted.
1t would seem that the hospital stew
ards are going to win their fight. Their
Hat refusal to submit to being reduced
to the rank of private and Colonel
Girard's decree that they would have
10 accept their discharges if they did
not submit, threatened serious results.
but now the surgeon general informs
them that he believes their cause is
just and does not see how the war de-
partment can well refuse to acknowl-
edge their claims. He said he would
submit the matterto Colonel Stembcrg.
the general-in-ch of the army sur
geons, with a recommendation that the
stewards be taken into the division
hospital service at the rank and nay
at which they We're mustered in. DR..
George Merriman, the efficient steward
of the Thirteenth who led the revolt
against the threatened imposition, is
being warmly congratulated by all the
stewards Of the division on the success
with which their efforts have thus far
been crowned. II, J, Duffy.