The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-06
NO FAULT TO FIND
GEMS. WHEELER AND BOYNTON
SAY THE CAMPS WE'RE
ELYSIAN BOWERS
ARRANGE MENTS
PERFECT
Was as Pure as CrystaI-Admits
Three Hundred Carloads of Beer
Were Sold at ChicLamauga-
Hundreds of Cases of Typhoid,
but That Did Not Alarm Him.

Were Sold at ChicIzamauga.-
Hundreds of Cases of Typhoid,
but That Did Not Alarm Him.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6.-Gen. Wheel
er completed his testimony before the
was investigation committee today, and
was followed by Gen. H. v. Boynton,
who was still on the stand when the
days session closed. Gen. Wheeler IN
tcday's statement dealt entirely with
the condition of Camp Wikoff, and Gen
Boynton's with those at Camp Thomas,
where he Is now in command. Gen.
BOynton described in detail the pro-
visions for supplying the Georgia camp
with water, and told many interesting
facts about the locations of troops, and
about the precautions taken to care for
and provide for them where sickness
existed. The men wasted more food
than was consumed during the Civil
War during the siege Of Chattanooga,
and he eulogiZed the services Of the
war department throughout.
Gen. Wheeler said he had seen a
statement from DR.. E. r. Smith to the
effect that the drinking water was con-
tam1nated. He had an examination
made, not only by the surgeons, but
Informed him that the water was pure.
He consider ed the water supply ade-
quate and pure, and that the water
was well distributed. He admitted that
at first there was a scarcity Of clean
bed linen for typhoid and other pa
tients. He had courted the closest in
spectiOn from visitors, and had invited
correspondents to inspect the hospitals
and interview the men with a view of
having their wants relieved, IL they had
any.
GEN. BOYNTON TESTIFIES.
Gen. H. V. Boynton took the stand
in the afternoon. Gen. Boynton in his
capacity as chairman Of the park COM
mission, had been familiar with the
park for eight years, and said to Gen.
Beaver that it had always been con-
stdered one of the most healthy spots
In the country. There had been few
deaths in the park force, and never a
case of typhoid fever, though 300 men
had been employed at one time on the
roads. Out Of 1900 men employed in
the park at various times there had only
been seven deaths and none from ty-
phoid fever
He had examined the statistics for
the census year 1890, and had found
that in the two counties in which the
park is situated there had been only
twelve cases Of typhoid fever There
were three sources for the water sup
ply. The first of these is number OF
springs, the second the river and the
third artisan wells. There are now
t srty-six of these, and there were nine
when the camp site was selected The
springs, SO far as he knew, were mex
haustible and only one Of them had
been exhausted during the occupancy
of the camp by the troops. The wells
were also apparently ineXhaustible. In
addition to these 100000 gallons were
pumped every tWenty-four hours from
the river, and this water distributed
through the camp by means of pipes.
The river water supply was not desig-
mated originally for drinking purposes,
but for cooking.
HIGH-GRADE WATER.
Gen. Boynton said that there was
plenty Of water and OF good quality
for the samples had been brought in
from the springs four or five miles out
This was done because of suspicious
of surgeons in the camp. When the
men became sick the surgeons insisted
on going away from the camp for
water, and this was done, notwith
standing the analysis showed the
water to be pure. He said there were
no sinks nearer the wells than 200 feet.
The site Of the camp was on clay, ard
the wells were drilled through solid
rock. 1t was, therefore, impossible for
them to be polluted from the sinks
In response to an inquiry from Capt
Howell, he said the only typhoid fever
in the camp was brought in from the
outside.
Typhoid fever in the camp did moi
excite serious attention until about the
middle Of July, when the cases aver
aged about two per 1000. It afterwards
increased until there were about 40C
cases among the $4,000 men. He said
he had given especial attention to the
hospital Of the second division Of the
Third corps, as it had received the spe-
cial attack Of the able and influential
sensational press. He had found that
out Of 2,426 cases in this hospital there
had been only PIG cases of typhoid The
fever had, in all cases, been of a mild
character At one time after measles
broke out in the camp, the hospitals
were crowded, though he did not think
such had been the case at any other
time. Practically all the sickness was
among volunteers. The regulars were
not sick. Asked if each regiment had
a sutler Gen. Boynton replied:
'"They had something worse than a
suffer, each one had a canteen."
CARLOADS OF BEER.
He said that 372 cars-loads Of beer
had been sold in the camp.
Capt. Howell asked about whisky
sales, and Gen. Boynton replied that 1t
had been found difficult to entirely cut
out the very sharp moonshiners from
Capt. Howeus state. 1t was also a
fact that Chattanooga was splendid
town, but the saloons were open day
and night, while on Sunday they were
E'closed on the outside and open on the
inside"
Gen. Boynton spoke in especial com.
mendation of the Young Mems Chris
tan association tents, which, he said,
were the best things in the service. On
the other hand he condemned the out
side drinking houses where he said
much slop was sold that was worse
than whisky. He remarked in this
connection that Gov. Atkinson, and the
Georgia authorities had co-operated
with the military authorities in the
most exemplary manner to suppress
these institutions. He also said there
was no lack Of transportation especially
in coming in. All arrived in Pullman
cars or in day coaches, 1t was not as
it was in the Civil war when the box
car was good enough. Most Of the
complaints were, he said, from the
typhoid fever patients, who were of
course kept on low rations as a medi-
cal. precaution. There was never any
shortage Of rations, the newspaper
statements to the contrary notwith-
Gen. Boynton will continue his testi-
mony tomorrow.
MR.. ALGER'S REPLY.