Evening journal., 1898-08-18
AT MONTAUK POINT.
General Wheeler to Succeed
Young In Command.
FIVE YELLOW FEVER CASES IN CAMP.
Rosgh Riders From Jersey City Arrive.
Colonel Woodward Explains Trouble
In the Sixth Observation-Disclosures
Cavalry on the Natteawan.

Cavalry on the Matteawan.
CAMP WIKOFF, MONTAUK POINT,
n. Y, Aug. 1S.-One soldier died in the
detention camp yesterday. He had fever,
but whether it was yellow fever or ma
larial fever is not definitely known.
There are five yellow fever cases in the
detention hospital and two suspects,
which might bring the number up to
seven.
Word was received at the camp yes
terday that General Wheeler has been
appointed commandant to succeed Gen
eral Young. He will remain in charge
until the arrival of General Shafter
There are now about 5000 troops In
Camp Wikoff, and they are mostly in
camps of detention and in tents about
the many sand dunes Additional troops
are arriving daily at the camp. They
are being received by railroad and from
transports in Fort Pond bay This
morning the four troops of the Rough
Riders who had been stopping in Jer-
sey City for some days got into camp
over the Long Island road. They form
Troop / and detachments Of Troops A,
d and X, in all about 1853 men. AS the
soldiers reached the shore they received
an enthusiastic welcome. The First
cavalry regiment and part of the Fourth
artillery regiment came here from San
tiago on the Matteawan, which is now
unloading.
Six trained nurses have arrived from
New York for the Red Cross work. They
were conveyed to the general hospital,
where they are to exercise their skill
upon $50 men who are in the hospital
with various diseases
General Heinzman has been placed in
charge Of the internal economy at the
hospital, and DIR. Ira c. Brown is the
executive officer. Dr. Winters, U. S. A.,
has been detailed in charge of the de-
tention camp.
A long distance telephone has been
put in the detention hospital, and COM
munication between there and the regu-
lar camp is possible. Soldiers who are
well may make inquiries about sick
friends now by telephone. None is al
lowed to visit the detention camp.
Regarding the troubles of the Sixth
Massachusetts volunteers in Porto Rico
reported in the press dispatches from
the front, Colonel Woodward has made
a statement for himself and staff. Colo
mel Woodward is inquarantine here. and
with him are Lieutenant George II. Cha
pin, Major G. H. Taylor. Captain G. A.
Goodall and Chaplain w. +. Desscault
all of the Sixth Massachusetts.
THE regiment started from Newport
News for Porto Rico on the St. Paul
he said. I'VE were on board the vesse
IS days. We landed at Guanica anc
started for Yauco. and thence to Ponce
in all a distance Of about p miles. Th'
men completed the march In three days
carrying heavy loads in the hot sun
1T Is true that the men OF the Massa
chusetts regiment struggled and fell be
hind, but no more than those of the 9th
er volunteer regiments. The first day o
the march we made but five miles Tha
evening General Garretson, in command
of the division. cautioned me abou
stragglers, saying that must keep my
men in line. The next day we made ter
miles. The men dropped behind wors,
than ever At least two-thirds of then
fell behind and could not keep up.
General Garretson told me that nigh
to take the stragglers out and shoe
them. Some of them were my friends
and former companions I told Genera
Garretson so and said could not do It,
THE third day the Sixth Massachu
setts arrived in Ponce, the other regi
ments reaching there about noon an,
our boys in the early evening. Genera
GarretsOn made the remark that tn
Sixth Massachusetts was mob.
"A few days later three other officer
and myself were ordered to appear be
fore an examining board composed o
Generals Garretson, Henry and Wilson
for an investigation as to our qualifica
tions 20 hold field commissions. / wa
told that this procedure was not a cour
martial. and after the testimony ha
been taken I asked If the best thing w
could do would be to resign. 1 was toll
that that was the best way out of it,"