Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-06
THE INVESTIGATION.
Gen Wheeler Finishes Testi-
mony on Camp Horrors"
Gen. Boynton Says Water at Camp
Thomas Was All Right.
He Sharply criticizes the Army Canteen and
Praises Y. M. C. A. Tents.


investigating commission, today, ans
was followed by Gen. II. V. Boynton
VINO was still ON the stand when III:
days session closed. Gen. Wheeler
statement of today dealt entirely with
the conditions at Camp Wikoff and
Gen. Boynton's with those ali Camr
Thomas. where he is now in comman
Gen. Boynton described in detail the
provisions for supplying the Georgia
camp with water and told many inter
estlng facts about the location of the
troops and the precautions taken to
care Tor and protect them whether sicl;
or well. He said the men wasted more
food than the Army of the Cumberland
consumed during the Civil War in the
siege of Chattanooga, and he eulogized
the supply methods of the war depart
ment throughout.
1'1e examination of the New York
World charges was resumed. He said
that If there were any camp horrors
on the 9th of August as charged. the
commander of the camp was RESPONSE
Bile. for he had full power to furnish
relief. There probably were individual
cases of suffering, but as rule he
knew the soldiers We're well cared for.
The surgeons We're authorized to ex-
pend 60 cents per day on each individ-
ual soldier. In addition to this supply
there were his own purchases and the
contributions of the good ladies by
whom the tents We're filled with edi-
bles. Furthermore many individuals
forwarded sums of money to him. AS
many as 80 checks We're sent him, the
largest being for $4,000. He had in each
case returned the checks because the
money was not needed and because he
did not think it proper that he should
undertake the distribution of the food.
General Wheeler admitted that in
many instances there We're men i'll in
their camp quarters. Often men not
very i'll preferred not to go to hospitals
and the hospitals We're too crowded to
make room for them. He also said
there were times when it was neces-
sary to put four men in tent, saying
that this arrangement did not necessi-
tate unnecessary crowding or render
the men uncomfortable.
Some time was spent on the charge
that Gen. Wheeler had said that Gen.
Eagan. general commissary officer of
subsistence, had countermanded an or
der of his sfor supplies. This occurred.
he said, but it was due to miscon-
struction of general orders No Is, re-
garding the so cent daily rations for
the sick. The trouble was soon rene
died, not continuing more than two
days.
Gen. Wheeler also explained the cir
cumstances concerning the death of
Private Hugh Perret. He said Major
Beach had investigated the occurrence
and had made report. my inquiry"
said he, developed the fact that DR..
Ta'ber was little gruff to the men, but
it also developed the fact that he had
proved so efficient in the field that they
were devoted to him and had petitioned
for his retention in the army"
Continuing, ne said that the charge
was that the man was not taken TO
the hospital when he had complained
just before his death. This, he
thought, was one of those individual
cases of neglect and he thought it was
to be explained by the fact that DIR.
Tabor was probably i'll himself. He
found this to be true in other cases,
and had demonstrated with physicians
for being irritable to patients, saying
to them he presumed it was because
they were not we'll themselves, when
they had admitted this to be the case.
Gen. Wheeler said it was true that
many soldiers would fall on the streets.
He thought that all of them had been
weakened by their experiences in Cuba
and most of them had the germs of
fever in them. Many had had no exer-
else and the climatic conditions were
against them. Even before they left
Cuba they We're greatly weakened. 1t
was not strange, therefore, if some of
them had fallen to the ground at
Wikoff
The general took up a statement at
tributed to DR.. Sem concerning the
sinks. He said the sinks were covered
avery hour with earth or lime. He had
examined the ground and found that
the soil was not porous. He also found
that other physicians did not agree
With DR.. Sem as to the danger from
typhoid. There was no outbreak of
ever such as DR.. Sem predicted hence
t was false prophecy. He admitted
also in reply to charge attributed to
DR.. Cyrus Edison that small per cent
age of the men in the hospitals were
cots and were lying on the
loor on Aug. 80. They were, however,
supplied with beds and in no case was
here any complaint on this account.
ct is painful to me to see the effort
o make it appear that they were COM
when they were not DR..
Edison had also predicted an increase
If typhoid, but the prediction was not
verified.
Replying to question he said he had
put in a filter on the 31st of August
as a precaution, not because
here was then danger, but because
ZONE of the surgeons had suggested
hat the water s:nn'v i.ii1At become
mnure as If got lower Many of the
,octors contend that the filter va IS
lot neeeoeo.
Cen. Wheeler said he had seen a
t,srtement from DIR. E. E. Smith that
the drinking water was contaminated.
de had an examination made by the
;Mrgeons and Col. Smart, noted ex-
,ert. They informed him that the
y later was pure. The general consid-
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