The times., 1898-11-04
THE BLIGHT OF ALeERIsM.
Capt. Moore, Version of the Horrors
of Camp Thomas.

OF Camp IAOmo oH.
Harrisburg, Pa. Nov 3.-Frank N.
Moore, former agent OF the State Pure
Food Bureau told the Aiger Relief Com
mission a startling story tonight of the
blunders and neglect at Camp Thomas
Moore was captain of a company of the
Ninth Regiment recruited in Bradford
under the second call for volunteers. He
went into camp at Chickamauga In the
middle of July and remained several
weeks with his command. Three Of his
men died OF typhoid fever and another of
heart failure. One was his brother. whose
death he ascribed partly to the noises at
Letter Hospital. Eishty-two men of
Moore's company were sick at one time,
and not single one of the 10s escaped
sickness.
He criticised the food supply and COM
planned of the lack of medical supplies.
Capt. Moore said typhoid fever was epi-
demic in camp and the surrounding
country. and ascribed It to the water sup
ply and filthy condition of the cesspools.
The water used by his company had 10
be hauled four and a half miles in bar
rels, from a spring, and he never had
sufficient supply. Many days the COM
pany only received a barrel and a half for
100 men. The potatoes and salt pork Were
bad as often as they were good, and large
quantities were burned. on one occasion
he ordered his quartermaster 10 return
quantity of rotten potatoes TO the resi-
mental Quartermaster. and that official
ordered the sergeant under arrest for his
trouble.
The major called Col Dougherty's at
tentiOn to It and the man was released.
He said the salt pork was frequently fill
ed with maggots. The fresh beef was
good, but would spoil eight and ten hours
after it was issued, even IL 4, had been
boiled.
The clothing issued to the men was
good, except the ponchos. They were
worthless. Moore claimed that much OF
the sickness In his company was due TO
the long march to review by Gen. Sanger
and that, all told, forty of the boys had
typhoid. The regiment had to buy lime
and other disinfectants because the COM
missary department would not issue them
DIR. Weaver, of WiIkesbarre, the regi-
mental surgeon. was unable 10 procure
medical supplies from the quartermaster
and what the regiment had was either
bought out of the profits of the canteen
or was donated by the citizens of Wilkes
barre. Moore says Crawfish Spring was
a bathing place for hogs and that his
company did not use this water on this
account. All the water used by the regi-
ment was taken from the surface springs
in the camp. The men were forbidden to
use the water piped through the camp
because 1t was unhealthy and unwhUIe-
some.
He had no complaint to make about the
Letter Hospital. except that the doctors
and nurses were responsible for a CON
tinual chatter in the corridors. This was
very annoying to the patients and was
not stopped until Moore called the atten-
tion of the surgeon in charge to the nui-
sance. He said one of the physicians
who attended his brother could not have
earned his salt in private practice. AS a
rule, however, the nurses and physicians
were competent
Gen. Wilson asked Moore about Chicka-
mauga Creek and the streams which ran
into 1t above the intake pipe. The cap
tain thought the streams, which were
constantly polluted by mules and cav
airy horses, were tributaries TO the
Chickamauga Creek. Later ne expressed
some doubt as to his knowledge on this
point
Cen Wilson was particular in draw
ing out testimony on this point, because
Moore was the first witness who had yet
testified that the streams above he in
take pipe were tributary to Chickamauga
Creek.
Gen Beaver suggested that the depot
commissary was only too glad 20 re-
issue ratfons and supplies when spoiled
rations were returned, FOR the reason that
only In that way was Uncle Sam able TO
get square with contractors.
Moore said he never heard thar ra-
tions could be returned 10 the commits
sary. On the other hand. when COM
plant was made about spoiled ra,ions
the regimental commissary and also Col.
Dougherty had given him to undsrs.and
the men must take the rations that were
issued. He said that sinks were ordered
at a greater distance from the line of
tents, but the brigadier general COUNTER
manded the order because the sinks
would interfere with the parade grounds
Frequently abandoned sinks would over
no" ai'er rain and maggots would
cover the ground for rods.
Moore said much regarding the incom-
| petence of superior officers, and explained
that the eight-mile march for a review
oeiore zen. Sanger was on a day when
the thermometer was 115 degrees in the
| sun The men were in heavy marching
order and they dropped out so that when
the march was concluded there were oniy
sixty men in Moore's company in line. He
testified that the men were compelled to
drill and work several hours a day. and
were on the move all the time, even
when the mercury was 120 in the sun.
he said they were compelled to arise at
4:3O in the morning and were busy until
AT night; that the regiment was prac-
ticaily worked and drilled into sickness.
| only three members OF the Relief Com
mission reached here today and their
visit will be very brief They are Gen.
John NJ. Wilson. Capt. Evan p. Howell
and Judge James A. Beaver. They ar
rived this afternoon and went direct 10
camp Meade and made a tour of ali the
| regiments. The commanding officers of
each were closely questioned as to where
! they were located before coming to Camp
Meade, and whether the ratiOns were sat
lsfactory and whether the men were sat
| isned with what they had to eat
The commissioners will hear Col. Cir.
ard. chief surgeon at Camp Meade, and &
half dozen other witnesses tomorrow re-
garding conditions at Camp Alger. The,
expected TO have Gen. Young before tn II
to testify regarding conditions at Santa
go and Camp Wikoff. 1t has been dac:d
ed to summon the general before tn,
whole board at Washington later
President Mckinley wants the board I,
go to Porto Rico and Cuba. and they viii
also visit Philadelphia, New York ant
Boston to hear certain witnesses Tn,
probing Is expected to be completed abou
the first of the year. DIR. Weaver. o.
| Wilkesbarre. has been ordered to appear