Evening journal., 1898-08-31
FEVER AT WIEOFF.
DR.. Sem Says It Is Impossible
to Kill Typhoid Germs.
an OCEAN OF DISINFECTANTS NEEDED
Best Thing Co DO IL TO Send the Troops
Away-Three More Transports Arrive.
General Ames Ordered to Conduct
Investigation of Camp Anairs.

Investigation Of Camp Affairs.
NEW YORK. Aug. sl.-Dr Sem
thinks that within a month every per-
son suffering from typhoid fever
brought to Camp Wikoff will have re-
covered or have died and that by the
time the conditions begin to look as II
they had improved there viii come the
period OF greatest danger.
The precautions taken are almost use
less, according TO DR.. Sem. II one case
of typhoid, or even a dozen. were being
treated, then the precautions would be
Of use, but 1t would require an ocean OF
disinfectants and sterlizers to kin all
the germs that get into the ground at
the hospital here Every day, and
many times each day disinfectants are
sprnkled about the camp. but there are
comparatively little disinfectants I'm
proportion to the amount of poison. DR..
Sem says that the condition Of the
troops who went TO Porto Rico was bad
and that he expected Just what hap
pened there and says the outbreak Of
typhoid was 10 be expected. He ex-
amined the Chickamauga camp early
and predicted an outbreak of typhoid.
IT was a natural result Of so many men
being there. and the conditions there
were no worse than those here, possibly
not as bad. There the camp had the
advantage OF starting with all well
men, and he says this one started out
with the disadvantage Of having the
men sick. And many Of the sick SOL
diers are suffering from the most con-
taglous discusses
According To- Dr Sem. the men who
went from Chickamauga and the other
camps 10 Porto liico were already in
the first stages OF typhoid fever before
their departure for the West Indies.
lie says the germs had begun to propa-
gate In their system. If the men could
have come home and received home
comforts they would have escaped, but
exposed TO the hardships Of a campaign
they easily succumbed DR.. Sem thinks
the best thing to do is to hurry the
troops away from Montauk and reduce
the camp just as rapidly as possible.
lie thinks the regulars should get back
to barracks as soon as possible and
there remain under the care OF their
regimental surgeons. Then he is Of the
opinion they would soon be on the road
TO recovery.
The name of the man whose death
was reported yesterday was N. II. Mar
unteers. Dysentery is given as the
cause OF his death.
The transports Berlin, San Marcos
and Specialist have arrived. The Ber-
lin had the First Illinois, $50 strong,
100 Of whom were sick. one man, Pri-
Sate A. Waldron of Company A, died
yesterday morning. General Bates and
stan were on board. The San Marcos
had 397 men on board, "a OF whom were
sick The Specialist carries Companies
A, Second artillery; A. First artillery
4. Fourth artillery. and T., Sixth artil-
lery. There were 1iS men, only two OF
them being sick. She has 252 horses on
board.
Camp Wikoff Is to be investigated.
General Wheeler yesterday ordered
General Adelbert Ames, chief OF staff
on General Kents staff, 10 conduct an
investigation. He Is given almost au-
tocratic powers. General Wheeler has
ordered him to get at the bottom Of all
the things which have been complain
ed OF. The subjects General Ames is to
investigate are: Why Is the general
condition OF the camp so poor; why do
the conditions that prevail exist; who
Is responsible: why troops were sent
20 the camp before Il was ready TO re-
ceive them; why, since there was but
one railroad leading into the camp
boats were not used to carry men and
provisions from New York city; why
needed medicines were not ordered, OF
II they were ordered why they were not
distributed; why the hospitals are
crowded; why transports were allowed
TO lie in the harbor without supplies and
relief being sent out to them.
There Is dissatisfaction I'm the camr
of the Rough Riders. They are not sat
isfied with the terms OF their muster
out. They want to be treated as are the
remainder of the volunteers The pres.
ent plan is to muster them out as soor
as possible and without the usual fur
Tough. They say they want TO be treat.
ed like the others and want 20 be giver
90 days furlough at fun pay and ther
be mustered out and sent home at the
usual mileage and ration allowance. They
claim they are entitled to this as much
as any OF the troops. AS the war de.
partmeRt officials thought they wer,
showing the Rough Riders a favor II
treating them as planned they will
probably be surprised at the dlssatis
faction. The condition Of this regiment
is now excellent owing 10 the generosi
ty Of citizens. the care Of physician.
and the watohfulness Of their command
Ing officers The regulars. officers anS
men, are also dissatisfied and want I,
be sent back 70 garrison posts and sta
tions at once.
The coming Of President Mckinley d
anxiously awaited. An effort will b.
made TO get the president 70 sanction
changes which even General Alger wa
not asked TO make.