The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-04

they would have drank that and died be-
fore reaching port. We had little to help
US, but did the best we could
DIR. esser said today; I'VE were tortr-
nate to have so few deaths on the voy-
age, but we Will nave many more, 1 fear
among those who areo the Concila now.
The typhoid fever patients are low. and q
number OF them are suffering from dys-
EMERY, due ii improper food given TO them
by their comrades, when we could not
prevent it.
The Red Cross women who were on the
Ship were helped by the well passengers
and by som of the crew, ell OF whom
were most unselfish in their conduct. None
Of US could drink the Ships water. What
we got from tho engine room and caught
on the decks when there was rain is all
we mad. 1t was a blessing that there was
rain or the conditions would have been
much worse than they were.
''It will be impossible TO save some Of
the men now. The tax on their system
was too great for them in their weak con-
dition.
General Shafter is not at fault for the
affair, for he acted according to dis light.
We at the hospital were subject TO the
orders that were issued upon information
that went into the generals headquarters,
but where that came from we do norknow
The government does not know who is
at fault, but it ought to.
1.-THE responsibility for this affair does
not rest ukln the shoulders of the physi-
clans. When the Concha reached Siboney
word had come that it had been equipped
for transporting our sick. and we believed
it and sent our men on board. After we
got TO sea we learned that General Shat
ter had selected the Concha for 175 pat
tents and had ordered 1000 army raIons
put on board Army rations are pork and
beans and hardtack-not food for sick
people We had no fruit. no soup. no any
thing with which we should nave been
equipped. We did our best with what we
had.
The diseases which have stricken down
so many of our men," continued Dr.. Les
SER ARE yellow fever in the greatest unm
Der OF cases, and in the other typhoid
and malaria. In spite of the many dim
cultes encountered by the surgeons in the
field, the death rate from fever so far has
been only q in 500. Those VINO say that
the disease is not yellow fever don't know.
The Americans never had II until they be-
gan to have conferences with the Span
iards, and then 1t became common.
ION the Concha we mad a harder time
than on land under even the most ad
verse circumstances. The fever makes
the patients weak, ard the miserable. in
adequate quarters which the transport af-
forded made matters many times worse.
Whose fault is it? 1 cannot say. There
is dreadful mismanagement somewhere,
and whoever Is responsible should be made
to suffer. The case should be investigated
and that soon.
Lieutenant r r Stossdau Of the Fourth
infantry, who was one of the passengers
on the Concho visited the army building
TO call upon Captain J. ". Littell Of tue
quarterznaster' department. who IS a epr-
sonal friend OF his, Lieutenant Stogs-
dan has only just rsvocered from an at
tack of yellow fever. When asked about
the conditions on board the vessel on rs
tT-p from Cuba Lieutenant St0rsdalI made
a gesture expressive Of she deepest abhor-
renee
1T was frigatfuI." he said. y an still
too weak 20 talk much. However l WI
say tfls. i was cs10lce % two evils. Vel
low fever experts in Cuba said the msn
VINO ware plc on The C9ncha. an ,neir then
weakened co1cF ton. would surely die II
LEFT behind with ei-her yellow. typhoid or
ra3arial fever.
st was simply taking 4 desperate
chance 10 get taem norm alive.
I'VE we're shore q medicine supplies. II
3. had rot been Tor DR.. Lesser and tne Red
Cross r-srses and he supplies furnished
by them there would nave oeen y dsahts
instead OF SIX