Evening star., 1898-09-02
Bedside Talks With the Districts
Sick Soldiers.
ALL ARE RECEIVING BEST TREATMENT
Some viii Try to Return With the
Regiment.
THEIR CONDITION DESCRIBED

newaska arrived here, bringing the 1st
District of Columbia Regiment $50 sick SOL
diers were taken to the general hospital.
Since that time a few others have been
sent there from the regiment and q number
of those taken there at first have gone
home on furloughs. 1t is not possible to
state just how many of the District soldiers
are in the general hospital today, but the
number is probably over 100. The records of
the hospital not kept in such way
that accurate informatlol be obtained
regarding those who are being treated
there.
The Star correspondent spent five hours
yesterday in going through all the wards
of the general hospital. talking TO the Dis
trict soldiers and learning their condition.
There about 1000 beds IN the hospital
and nearly all of them are filled They are
divided into forty wards, each containing
about fifty beds. There is no comprehcil-
sive record showing in which of these
wards the District soldiers are located. At
the entrance of about half OF the wards
list of the men in them is posted. but in
many instances the regiment to which
they are attached is hot indicated, and 1t
frequently happens that are there
whose names are not included in these lists.
In order to get in communication with the
Regiment it was necessary to walk through
the wards and inquire from bed to bed
whether the sick we're from the Dis
trict. As rule the patients name is post
ed at the head of his bed. but frequently
this means of identified ton was lacking
Friends Of the District soldiers who have
come mere have Usually found it necessary
to spend several hours ir hunting up those
they have come to see. In one case the
father OF boy who was near the point of
ceath few days ago was not able TO rec
ognize his son Until the boy spoke TO him
The charge had been great that there
was little Tesem blance between the ema.
ciated soldier and the stalwart boy who
left home little over three months ago.
The boy is now improving but he is little
more than a skeleton, starvation having
done more to reduce him than the high
fever from which he has suffered.
The hospital is comfortable as it can
De made ln1er conditions which prevail.
During the heat of the day the canvas
forming the lower portion of the tents Is
raised and che ocean bTeezes make the pa
tlents comfortable. All the boys are ac-
commodated single spring beds, which
are placed along both sides of the tents.
about three feet apart.
Receiving the Best Care.
Every one Of the District soldiers who
vas spoken to said he was receiving the
very best OF care. Not a complaint was
Uttered by any ore of the seventy men
talked to. They We're receiving a palatable
and nourishing diet. and medicines for
them were plentiful In nearly every in
stance the soldier has tin tag attached to
cord about his neck. and this tag shows
his name, together with the regiment and
company TO which he belongs
Inc scenes throughout the hospital are
extremely depressing. 1t would be most
eitlcult to exaggerate the havoc wrought
by starvation, fever and dysentery. In
many cases he pictures of the reconcentra-
oos starved to death by WeyIer's orders
give an idea of the condition of the SOL
olers- Except in a small percentage of
cases, however, Eourishing food and proner
medical treatment will save the lives of
these men.
Seventy District soldiers were Identified
and talked TO by The Star correspondent
Ifelr experiences in the trenches in front
oi santiago continually rise before them
aS herTlD4e nightmare, and their thoughts
u"eA upon home, sweet homa." Even a
DrIeI WISH rom Washlngtonian brightens
them UP, for it brings nearer 10 them that
nome Tor which they long. Many CT them
who were strong enough to read manfred
whether they could get The Evening Star
one Of then mad had a Star and he said
It carried him back to home and made hun
quite happy. while he read familiar names.
he was tod that several hundred Stars
are being distributed daily among the Dis
II-ct soIdler5' but that changes in the hos
pltaI occurred SO frequently that il was
impossible 10 get to the sick men.
At the Bedsides.
Mai Charles EJiDa iS -
Dut n IS continuing 10 improve
Lieut. H NJ Bell, Company b, left the
hospital for home few days ago
Edwin l. COnley of Company E is suffer
ing from fever, the force of which. it is be-
Heved, has been broken. His throat was
affected so that it was difficult for him to
talk, except in whisper
Albert 3 Nolan, Company A, was brought
fiom the camp "Wednesday night, suffering
from the effects of maIarial fever and diar-
rhoea- He is convaIescent and is looking
forward TO his trip home with his 1eyi-
ment next Thursday.
Nhen the sick soldiers were told that
tLeir regiment would be sent home at the
ehd Oh another week. the news always
c~Iied forth an expression OF satisfaction.
They were ali glad to hear, too. that the
regiment would be paid off next Monday
quired whether their presence in the gen.
eIal hospital would prevent them from OH
tanning tneir money promptly
Martin J. McPilSe was brought here We'd
nesday evening suffering from a rupture
lie expects to go home with his regiment
He spoke of mis- father being quite i'll. and
feared his own sickness here might have
bad effect him. He was doing well.
Corporal Charles L. Smell of COMPANY G.
Is suffering from trouble of the bowels
He has not had a chance to write home
since he arrived in the hospital and was
worried lest his people should think that
he was dangerously I'll.
Private Harries, brother of Colonel
Harries. is suffering from the effects of
three attacks of the fever. He spoke of
the splendid treatment he was receiving
and was getting along nicely.
Private Norbeck, trumpeter of the regi-