Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-10-13
WAR INVESTIGATION.
Commission Examines Capt. Culver,
Dr.. Hysell and Maj. Gallagher.
Pies and CHICKEN UIWHOLESONE.


Washington, Oct II. The war in.
vestigation commission had three wit.
nesses before it yesterday-Capt Gull
yer, Of Grigsby's rough riders; DR..
Hysell, chief surgeon Of the Second
division, located at Camp Thomas, and
Maj Gallagher, who was in charge Of
various commissary depots in the San.
tiago campaign. Capt. J. v. Culver,
was the first witness. He had been
stationed at Camp Thomas, Chicka-
manga, from May until he was mus
tered out on September II. The food
generally was abundant and good.
Capt Culver stated that at one time %
Of his men were sick. He thought the
proportion not excessive, no greater
than during the first days Of the civil
war, and until the men learned to de.
pend upon the army ration and not TO
20 outside for food. He thought the
pies sold To the men were unwhole.
some, and also said that much stale
fried chicken was sold 10 them. In
conclusion, Capt Culver said he had
no complaint to make Of treatment,
except in the location Of his troop in
the woods. He had protested against
this location.
Capt Culver was followed by DR..
Hysell, who was chief surgeon Of the
second division Of the First army
corps, and who was located at Camp
Thomas from June I to August 81. He
had been surgeon In the civil war
and since then said he had been in
general practice. All the early cases
Of typhoid were treated In the regi.
mental hospitals, when typhoid and
suspicious cases were isolated, and the
men were we'll attended BY physicians
and nurses. There had been 1,lOO
cases Of all kinds Of diseases treated
In the hospitals and Is deaths
DR.. Hysell thought typhoid fever had
been imported into the camp from the
outside and that it had been due to the
failure TO properly cover the sinks. He
did not think 1t possible effectually to
isolate typhoid fever cases, as typhoid
was SO difficult to detect In its early
stages. All reasonable precautions
had been taken in locating the camp
to prevent the development OF disease.
He admitted that, in case Of another
war, by the experience Of the past,
more effective means could be pro-
vided
At the afternoon session the com.
mission examined Maj Hugh J. Gala.
CHER. He had served as depot COM
missary at Siboney, San Juan and
Santiago, and recently occupied this
position at Montauk point. At ST.
honey, he said, the rations were for.
warded almost as rapidly as landed.
Only very small quantities could be
accumulated, yet the commissary, dur.
ing Its stay at Siboney, had been able
to meet all requirement. made upon 1t
for provisions by the troops, and none
Of them was ever refused He heard no
complaint Of lack Of rations, as the
commissary was able to forward about
10000 rations per day.
From Siboney the depot was re.
moved to Ell Paso, seven miles inland.
At this point there were never enough
rstions on hand for even q day ahead
and It was impossible to fill all requisi.
tons There was shortage in coffee
and sugar, which continued for two
or three days, because Of the high surf
atSiboney. All the rstions were good,
but in some cases the hard bread would
be injured by sudden showers. When
this happened the bread was thrown
aside and not issued. Some potatoes,
onions, tomatoes and canned beef had
been thrown away at Santiago, being
spoiled.
Col. DENLY pressed for information
% to the shortage Of coffee and sugar.
Maj. Gallagher stated there were
probably two days when the men were
without these articles A storm was
the cause Of this deficiency, but II
there had been sufiiciency Of light.
ers, this deficiency would not have oc.
Cured. The major said there was not,
to his knowledge, shortage in any
other article Of food during the cam.
paign. Mr.. DENLY told him there was
complaint Of deficiency covering .
months time, but Mr.. Gallagher said
he knew nothing Of it
Suppose" asked Gen. McCook, this
shortage Of rations had lasted for
seven days instead Of one, what would
have been the RESULT" I'VE probably
would have had to face back" replied
Maj Gallagher. "Men cannot fight on
short rations."
Mai Gallagher said the commissarv
supply at Montauk was abundant and
good while he was at that point