Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-30
HARSH TREATMENT.
Sick Nurses on Transport
Compelled to Work.
Ordered to Make Sick Labor on Threat
Of Being Ironed.
Testimony Before War investigation in Boston
by Porto Rico Soldiers.

ing commission began it's hearings in
boston, this forenoon, all the members
pelng present with the exception of
col. DENLY. Major General Alexander
McCook acted as president. The board
did not get to work taking testimony
until 1l.30. having been in executive
session Tor two hours previously
Inc first witness called was Leonard
w. Johnson of North Cambridge. who
signed contract as nurse on the 10Th
OF August. His examination was con-
Quoted by Commissioner Howell After
Mr. Howell had read the contract
signed between johnson and Major f.
>. Jarvis, brigade Surgeon, N. Y. Mr..
Johnson said:
The charges l wish to make are
against those who issued orders on the
city OF Berlin, the transport on which
came back from Porto Rico. | had
peen an attendant in one of the hospl-
tais there suffering from malaria. rheu-
matism and dysentery l left Ponce on
the day that l got paid SCI and came on
the TRANSPORT Berlin.''
Mr.. Johnson, in answer to questions.
stated that he did not know who the
in immediate charge under the captain.
Dr. Crosley was the medical officer sub
stltute for someone else. The trans
port sailed for Ponce touched at San
tiago and then came on to New York.
1t was II days making the
trip. After being taken sick -
said the witness, Major Palmer,
l think 1t was, sent word to headquar-
tiers and l was relieved from duty, and
was sick until sent to Ponce. Forty
of US We're sent down and after being
there we were ordered to be sent home.
The order relieving me of duty had not
been cancelled and l was. sick when go
ing on board. After getting away from
are port whether sick or not we We're
compelled to go'to work and look after
the sick patients on board. No one had
been put aboard who was not supposed
to be able to take care of himself, but
We had to look after them.
"A Mr.. Saunders and myself had to
look after II sick men, with the assist
ance of some of the other men some
times. We had orders to put these
men to work or we would be put in
irons, and that if they OF we did not
work, we should be put ashore at San
tiago. These II men required the as
sistence of nurses. Mr.. Saunders was
in charge of the dieting and 1 was in
charge of the medicines. / gave the
sick men all the medicine prescribed by
the doctor. Two were very sick out of
the y. We had to stay up with them
most of the night, although we were
sick ourselves
Mr.. johnson said that he had more or
less malaria until the cold weather Of
the last 4S hours. The witness said
that he had heard there were $50 men
on board the steamer, but he did not
, know.
DR.. Bracket said that he thought
there were medicines enough on the
Seguranca, but he did not know to
whom they belonged. There was, how
ever. almost no prepared food for conva-
lescents. He also said there were six
or eight men who, had no clothing eX-
capt pajamas, when landing at Mon
tauk. The lack of nurses handicapped
them considerably in Santiago.
DIR. Richard c.. Cabot, 1870 Marlboro
street. Boston, testified that he went to
Porto Rico on the Bay State. arrlV-
ing, Sept Il. He visited the hospital
at Guanica. Ponce, Arecibo, and acted
as pathologist, making the diagnosis
to determine whether the disease of the
soldiers was malarial or typhoid. There
was "a per cent typhoid and out OF "a
cases only two were malarial. Every
thing in the hospitals was admirable.
William Kenidds, regular OF the rth
Infantry. now corporal, testified to be-
ing wounded in the battle of El Caney
in three places, in the right leg, the
left side of the body and through the
head.
He came down to Siboney after the
battle and reached the dressing station.
but the next morning, the hospltdi WAS
fired unon. He was carried part Oh the
vav and crawIed the rest He remain
ad under tree and it was two days
hafora thay discovered him. Eight
aavs ofter he went aboard the Ollvette
10 indeed about 800 or 1926 were on the
hoat. There. was medlcal Officer IN
charge he had one other doctor Win
him and two other medical assistants.
There were quite few on the ooa
bsd1v wounded Believed there were
two amputation cases and quite ie"
arassad The operating room was
SELDOM AS the wound in the head sup
n,,ratad. witness wanted TO nave :,
dressed. They sent him back ana saia
tbay would send for him when Wanteo
Thav did not send for him. he ala nor
pet his wounds dressed until ne got u
Long Island.
DR. Miles Standish of Boston VIZ
has ;,aen in practice since 1862 ana who
was far 10 years commander OF the am
hrJonce corps of this state. described 70
~ commission the difficulties ne en-
cou,tared in organizing a corps 1or 'he
IT,,itsd states. as there was no prosis-
ion for recruiting these men oy Jaw :
Tho result of 1t was. said the witnes a.
that we managed to raise ABOUT %
men. ,u -,,roeon sl,per-
;,tardent of the hospital ship htted up
~ go Massachusetts Volunteer Aia
~ .ssaeia tion. next told his experiences
a. santiago and Porto Rico. He gave .
a. q. oaa.mnt of the supplies PROVIDED py
~, tho chin shin at both places the vesss'
h ,ne sa.p home 1ol persons. OF whlch
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