The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-22
SURGEONS STILL TESTIFY.
SUFFERED FOR LACK OF COMPE-
TENT NURSES DURING WAR.
Ambulances Were Also short ~ san
tiago. but Medical Supplies Were
ObtafnabIe In Sufficient Amount
nv the Doctors Who Hustled.


fore the war investigating commission To-
day. Ives said that while at Caickamausa
ne saw no distress among the soldiers and
10 lack OF medical supplies. He left TAM
pa in the transport Saltwater. with the
Second cavalry. The transport Was fairly
comfortable. Ives told OF experiences in at
tending the wounded Of the FL Caney hgat.
I'm view OF taose experiences" asked
Gen. Wilson. what do you think was the
condition OF the men in the Cuban cam
paign as compared with that OF the men
IN the Indian wars?"
II think X was as good as could nave
been expected under the circumstances.
Was anything left undone that would
have aileviated the condition OF the men,
There should have been more ambu-
lances. There were only three at the dis
posal OF my division / do not know IL
more could have been Obtained and l can
not think OF anything tina; could have been
done for the men which was left undone."
He said that at first he was opposed 10
the employment Of women as nurses, but
changed his mind later. as the women did
excellent work. In closing his testimony
the major said:
MY personal opinion is that the army
was well equipped in every respect. except
that at times there was were not enough
ambulances and at times there was a lack
OF medical supplies. / never knew time
when. If surgeon took the trouble to hus-
tie for medicines. that he failed TO get all
that was needed. When I wished sup
plies / mounted my horse and rode after
them. and when j could not get things
which were not at headquarters, l bought
them. with the permission Of my SUPERIOR
DR.. Louis A. Stlmson, of New York. testi-
fed that he had made two visits to Camp
Wikoff TO investigate the results Of lack
OF provisions against an epidemic OF ty-
phoid fever He told Of unsanitary condi-
tons he found in the general hospital The
surgeon in charge of the general hospital
told him he recognized the situation, but
was unable TO obtain necessary help TO car
ny out his orders.
IF want thing DONE" the surgeon
told him, II have to take man by the
ear and make him do it."
All the surgeons told DR.. Stimson that
they suffered from lack OF competent male
help
DR.. Conner asked DR.. Stimson II he did
not know that it was impossible 10 obtain
male help at the hospitals that many men
sent from New York city were drunk and
declined to obey orders. DR.. Stimson said
he had heard some such reports. On Sep
TENDER DR.. Stimson said he went again
to Montauk point to investigate report
that soldiers were starving there.
II found many of them" the doctor said.
"who told me they had nothing to eat for
twenty-four hours. OF course there was
enough food in the camp for we'll men. but
there were great many in camp who were
sick and were not cared for, and not in
hospitals; i know OF forty men in one regi-
ment who were put on a milk diet when
there was no milk in camp. Except in the
case OF the few men in charge, and an &C.
casional robust negro. all the men in camp
were in very poor condition. ] find no
fault with the physicians who yielded TO
the pressure and permitted patients to
leave before they were well. criticise the
system that permitted such a condition OF
affairs
The pressure came from governors, sena-
tors. mothers. wives and sweethearts.
what I can't understand DR. Stimson
said. lis why the United States govern
ment should have suffered them to leave
the hospitals before they were cured.
Seventy-four typhoid cases picked up In the
streets OF this city were treated In the Hud-
son street hospital. They should not have
been allowed to leave Mantauk until they
were We'll"
what do you think could have been done
NJ Camp Wikoff that was not done?" asked
ex-Gov. Woodbury.
II think the whole conception OF The
camp was wrong. II should have been
called a hospital camp and conducted as a
hospital camp entirely The burden Of
proof rests upon the authorities 10 show
why the proper things were NOT DONE
When DR. Stimsou concluded his testi-
mopy Il message was brought 10 Gen.
Dodge from Robert B. Roosevelt 10 the ef-
feet that he knew nothing OF interest 10
/ the commission excep: as a matter Of hear
say. ON motion of ex-Gov. Woodbury. il
was decided 10 invite Mr.. Roosevelt to ap-
pear and place himself on record to that
effect. Mr.. Roosevelt; said meeting OF the
soldiers Protective Committee Is 70 be held
| tomorrow and at tina; meeting lis; of wit
nesses ard the subjects on which they VIII
testify Is 20 he prepared and presented 10
( the commission.
! Miss Julia Hastead Chadwick. one of
/ The wonen who worked for the sick at
/ Camp WikofT. submitted written state
mcnt II the conditions she found taer, u,
/ the latter part OF August. and told Of ;ne
distribution ~ food and drink n the Rotleh
/ Riders uegro cavalry and Elxhlh and
/ Twenty -seccni infantry. She told r. The
jaSufhciert SUI ply % bed clothing ana I'M
! dTTeiotn.ng- SIZE heard there WAS plenty
/ of oot1 in store. bat sic knew the soldiers
d}t net nave then.
Shs sal the regular soldiers suffered the
! str7e IS the volunteers. but made 40 COM
plsiDt ara declined praTered a5f. II SIS
/ Caad~ieN told ar leugth ~ ne work
! dnne ara attempted a. Camp WikoT ~
tha Volunteer visiting women
! toGe, l. Pargich, 3 lawyer % ;a.s eaty.
/ a@> visited camp W k2tr several tines
s*45 tnAt tao great &Fae back N tbe camp
@ss 'sJ LEX of CDe active. continuous. ia
/ r erat directing haut Everybody I'm an
/ tfarty Ga E.s best. bu: taecs were teo
! may -a4rEs~. ore day Gen. Wheeler was
/ 81 charge WaeH be- became familiar with
! ths co1ttsiH- he Vent away Gen. Shaftsr
! sl-ceet@i h-ra. ana Gen. Bates aacceeIe1
Cen Scatter
/ Gen. Beaver ask<3 &: there were r1luy
+ rema .aso;s-
~}aieel. ra. There never vas more