The times., 1898-09-19
Monroe Forgy. Insane and For
gotten, in st. Elizabeth's.
He is BUT ONE OF MANY
This Country Boy Was ForsnlSen by
No Provision Was Made for His
Care-The Mother lis i'm Ignorance
of His Sad Plight.


Hidden away behind the high walls and
barred windows of st. Elizabeth the
Government Hospital for the Insane, near
Washington. are thirty-five men who
wear the uniform of the United States
army Over a score of these are men
who volunteered when the call for troops
was made. and who spent months In camp
in some part of the country. Their names
cannot be learned. and little anent their
condition is made public. save that they
became insane while in camp and were
sent to this asylum.
II is probable that nothing would have
ever been discovered relating to the cir
cumstances which caused these men to
become insane save for the pitiful case
of one volunteer who was carried TO the
Government asylum, pronounced insane,
and placed in a ward at St. Elizabeth.
Sans mind, sans clothing. sans medi-
cine, sans care, this army wreck lay for
weeks in Camp Thomas and babbled fool
ishness until his comrades were sickened.
And now he lies in an insane asylum
where his identity is barely known.
The Case of Monroe Forsy.
This case is Private Monroe Forgy,
of Company B, Third Kentucky Volun-
teer Infantry. The Third Kentucky Regi-
ment was stationed at Camp Thomas for
over a month and while there Forgy be-
came ILL., He was allowed to lie around
quarters for a week until ne sick
enough to go to bed" and The lonely
! agony. the lack of food AMI nursing
whitened his hair and affected his brain.
According TO reliable statements made
by those who were with Forgy, the la
ter was suddenly carried to the division
hospital because ais condition was terri
BILE and here his regiment lost all trace
Of him.
The Third Kentucky was ordered away
from Camp Thomas and no provision
was made for Forgy. He lay in cot.
forgotten and unclaimed. His surgeons
had made no statement regarding his
case. nor had they left anything by
means of whica he might be identified.
The friendless volunteer came in for a
passing glance now and then. but no one
seemed TO know who he was or the nature
OF his complaint. Gradually his actions
became suspicious and his talk rambling.
and finally he became offensive because
of his painful babble and moaning.
Delayed Attention.
Some officers of the First Pennsylvania
Regiment called the attention Of the med
ical authorities TO Forgy's condition and
stated that il was d shame to let the poor
fellow go crazy for lack of attention
Forgy was then looked at, pronounced
insane. and. ordered TO the Government
asylum at Washington He was again
forgotten for two days, when, through
the effo-ts of the same officers of the
FRS Pennsylvania. transportation was
procured. and detail made from that
regiment TO accompany the insane vol
unteer.
Forgy had no clothes, so an old uni
form was provided him. He boarded the
train for Washington on August II and
was accompanied by Private Hammer and
Corporal Ward. both of the First Penn
sylvania.
No Food Provided.
Forgy was penniless, nor could any ra-
tions be obtained for him owing to the
bullheadedness of the commssary depart
ment As an actual fact. he would have
starved during the long journey but for
the kindness of his comrades, who bought
| purses, and the generosity of passengers
on the train. whose sympathies were en-
| listed, 20 keep the sufferer alive.
One Washington man who was on the
/ train said that this was the most dis
graceful thing he had ever witnessed, and
| wondered that this man was ever allowed
out Of his bed.
Staring Into Space.
Forgy did not speak once during the
| long trip. but sat and moaned and stared
into vacancy.
| He was given but slight examination
at the asylum, as his condition was ap-
parent. An inventory of his clothing
| showed that ne was admitted with an an
cient suit of army clothes. which must
have been worn for months, and rubber
poncho. for which he exhibited great af-
fection. His shoes were worn out and his
socks were little better than nothing
Forgy was admitted to the asylum on
the night of August 1S and he might
have been dead for aught that could be
learned of him. The Times reporter dis
covered that his home is in Butler Coun-
| ty, Ky. II is apparent that his relatives
know nothing Of his whereabouts.
Iron-Bound Secrecy
| A Times reporter went TO the Govern
ment Asylum for the Insane yesterday to
learn something regarding Forgy's con-
! dition. From the iron-bound secrecy and
dumb fear observed in that institution
when anything regarding the condition
| of these insane volunteers is broached.
| il would seem as though the War De-
| partment had determined to keep this
phase of camp horror away from the in
| QuiSitiye outside world
After several fruitless attempts to get
past the big gate, the reporter was in
formed that he could not gain admittance
unless he was related to Forgy. After
much persistence and delay the gate was
passed and an attendant was sent to bring
Forgy TO the hallway. IN Ine meantime
another attendant diligently inquired the
reporters business, and when informed,
| asked if he (the reporter) was related to
Forsy. Being answered In the negative
and upon discovering the mission of the
visitor, the attendant became greatly ex-
cited and rushed off to inform 1.-The doc
tor
Sight of the Victim.
While hunting the doctor the other at
tendant returned with poor, yellow,
shivering object, clothed in a soldiers
suit, which fitted him like flowing robe.
This was Forgy.
You are from Company. B. Third Ken
| tucky?" asked the reporter.
The poor, wasted form frightened up at
the sound of "i3, Third Kentucky" and
he muttered ..B, Third Kentucky" and
| nodded.
Have you a mother living in Butler
county,
Mother, yes. mother
Just then the excited attendant return