The times., 1898-10-19
STIRRING THEWHITEVASH
Alger Relief Workers Hear
FairyTaies at Jacksonville.
TROOPS GAVE FOOD AWAY
is Listened 10 HnpturousIy-He
Gives the Lie to Col. Guild-A Dis
course on Free VIII With Refer
ence to Patronixins the Red Cross
or the Govern mcnt.

Jacksonville, Fla, Oct. lS.-The Alger
Relief Commission has not been idle since
leaving Washington. While en- route TO
Florida 1t mapped out plan of work and
on arrival here the camp was inspected
without delay. Today four witnesses were
examined and tonight Col. Wylie c. Jones,
of the Second South Carolina. was given
hearing. He brought with him num-
ber of officers and several privates, who
were called as witnesses. The Second
South Carolina and the First Louisiana
regiments leave here tomorrow for Sa-
vannah and the commission desired to
hear Col Jones before his departure. Ses-
sions have been held on the train, but the
Commission has decided to accept the in
vitation of the mayor of Jacksonville to
have hearings in the city hall. The testi-
mony today has covered considerable
ground. Col. Maus. chief surgeon of the
Seventh Army Corps, described the con-
ditions in hospitals; Col Wood. chief COM
missary, testified about the food supply;
Capt. Baker, acting chief quartermaster,
related his experience in establishing
quartermaster's depot and furnishing
equipments and Col. Guild told of his du-
ties as inspector general of the Seventh
Army Corps
The statements furnish a history of
Gen. Lees corps since its organization,
but only a small percentage of the wit
nesses to be summoned have been heard
Gen. Wilson and Capt. Howell, the spe-
cial committee appointed to go to Fer
nandina, returned tonight. Capt. Howell
said to The Times correspondent:
We found IL an excellent place for a
camp. The ground is good and there is
nothing objectionable. We have also ex-
amined the court records and have a
certificate from the county clerk that
shows without the shadow of a doubt
that Capt. Fred Alger never owned an
inch of ground there or in the vicinity.
In fact, no one by the name of Alger
ever owned any property there or was
ever interested in any way, directly or
indirectly. We will submit a complete
report to the commission, showing the
results of our trip.
In his testimony today, Col. Maus said:
"0f course, the men in camp did not
have such luXuries al the beginning Of
the war as now, but the way they have
been cared for would be a surprise to the
civilized world. No army was better pro-
vided and no army sick better provided.
There are 800 female nurses in the employ
of the hospital service and they are COM
fortably provided for. There has been
lavish expenditure of money for the care
of the sick. ! never saw men fed so well.
The Red Cross has furnished an unl!ln-
tied amount of money to aid wherever
wanted. Whenever they wanted any hing
all ! had to do was to ask for it. Sup
plies were also obtained By the comn.uta-
ton of rations. but this soon caused
glut IN the market of Jacksonville. and
bacon sold for only cents a pound, while
flour and other foods were so generously
furnished the soldiers that they had
more than they could eat and had to give
1t away"
Referring to the typhoid fever epi-
demic, Col Maus asserted that typhoid
fever was brought to Camp Cuba Libre
from State camps by the Second Missis-
sippi, Second Virginia, Fourth Virginia,
and Second Illinois regiments. He charg
ed that he had little success in teaching
regimental surgeons administrative duty.
Congress made no provision for that.
1t was ignored entirely, and we had TO
take enlisted men Tor that service"
Dr. Connor referred to a report made
by Col Guild, the hospital inspector, who
complained about lack of mattresses and
scarcity of microscopes, the latter TO be
used for the examination of bacilli.
Col Maus said he regarded the micro
scopes as of little use, although there
were three in their camp.
THAT charge amounts TO nothing, ne
said.
He also said that the sick of the com
mand would have had to go without
certain supplies except for the Red
Cross" remarked DR.. Connor.
That is false. The United States Gov
ernment would have furnished everything
/ wanted had 1 asked for it. / chose,
though, to get supplies from the Red
Cross rather than ask the Government
for them" answered Col. Maus.
He explained that there were enough
mattresses. Some men did not want them.
Col Maus was questioned as TO state
ment made by Capt. Jones. chaplain of the
Second New Jersey, who made charges
about the condition of the food and the
alleged neglect of the sick. Col Maus
replied that the company officers were
negligent of their men. One captain LETT
his company to shift for itself and went
to New Jersey. officers of the regiment,
he charged would ride around and expect
the chief commissary TO furnish the food
and have it cooked for their men. The
officer mentioned was about to be court
martialed. but was mustered out. The
Commission insisted upon having the cap
tain's name and Col. Maus explained that
n t1-n1Ild