New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-06

facts about the location or the trooPS "''u ~
precautions taken to care for and protect the'f'
whether sick or we'll. He said that the men
wasted more food than the Army OF the cum
berland consumed in the Civil War at the siege
OF CT sesuseosA -ad he eulogized the supply
methods Of the War Department.
-
GENERAL WHEELER HEARD AGAIN
washington. oc, 5-Generai Wheeler resumed his
testimony before the War Department 1nvestga'-
inr Commission to-day He said that II there were
any camp horrors August u the commhhuoi
of the camp was responsible for he had fuii power
20 furnish relief. There probably were inoiV,nua'
cases OF suffering. but as rule he Knew the SOL
d,ers were we'll cared for. There was certainly no
lack of food. The surgeons were authorised to eH-
mend 60 cents a day on each invalid soldier In aa-
d,t.on to this supply there were his own purchases
and tie contributions OF the good women oy "hoHi
the tents were filled with edibles. Furthermore
many individuals forwarded sums or money 10 MIN
Az MANY as thirty checks were sent 10 him. the
largest being FOR 5000 He had In eacn case re-
turned the checks because the money WIS ho'
needed and because he did not think 1t proper that
he should undertake the distribution OF the FOOD
He admitted that in many instances men were III
in their quarters Men not seriously III o1ten pre-
ferred not to go hospitals and the hospitals were
too crowded 10 make room for them There were
times when II was necessary to put four men IN a
tent but this did cause unnecessary crowoing
or render the men uncomfortable
Some time was spent on the charge that General
Wheeler had said that General Eagan Cher Com
nissary OF Subsistence had countermanded an order
for supplies This occurred. he said. but 1t was due
10 a misconstruction Of General Orders NO To- re-
<ardine the 6O-cent daily rations for the sick The
trouble was soon remcdied. not continuing moro
than two days.
THE DEATH OF PRIVATE PARRET
General Wheeler also explained the circumstances
concerning the death OF Private Hugh Parret Major
Beach had investigated the occurrence ard had
made a report MY inquiry" said he. developed
the fact that DR.. Tabor q little gruf to tho
men but Il also developed the fact that he mad
nroyed 80 efficient In the Acid that they were de-
voted 70 him and had pettioned for bis retention IN
the Army" The charge was that the man was not
sent TO the hospital when he had complained just
before his death This, ne thought. was one OF the
individual cases Of neglect and II was 10 be ex-
pinined by the fact that Dr. Tabor was probably ID
himself He found this to be true In other cases.
and had demonstrated with physicians for being
irritable to patients. saying 70 them he presumed
Il was because they not well themselves, wnen
they had admitted this to be the case.
II was true that many soldiers would fall In
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 exercise and tho climatic conditions were
against them. Even before they left Cuba they
were greatly weakened. II was not strange. there
fore II some Of them fell TO the ground at WikoH.
The General took up statement attributed TO
Dr. Sem concerning the sinks He said the sinks
were covered every hour with earth and lime Hc
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 The wells were long dis
.ance from the sinks and the soil was compact,
enectualiy avoiding the danger Of contamina ton.
There was no outbreak Of fever such as Dr. Sem
had predicted hence It was a false prophecy. He
admitted also in reply TO charge attributed 20
Dr. Cyrus Edison that small percentage OF the
men in hospitals were without cots and were lying
on the floor on August 80 They were. however.
supplied with beds. and IN there COM
paint on this account. The fact s," he said,
"that the surgeons and the other officers and men
conducted themselves most heroicaly. and II is
painful TO me to see the effort 10 make II appear
that they compla lining when they were not. "
Or. Edison had also predicted an increase of typhoid,
but the prediction had not been verified. There
was some typhoid, but nothing like an epidemic.
and the disease was IN smaller proportion than he
had expected
Major Dmmick quoted having charged
the contract surgeons with indifference. He ad-
United that there were instances in which officers
had found II necessary to hunt up physicians TO
take them TO the sick men. In such case" he
SAID "a captain can perform no higher duty than
to bring physician 10 an a!ling member Of his
command"
Replying to a question. he said he had put In a
litter on August g. merely as a precaution not be-
cause there then danger but because some Of
the surgeons suggested that the water supply
might become impure II grew lower. Many OF
the doctors had contended that the flter was not
needed, but the Secretary Of War had said that
II Il could save life 1t should be ordered. and IT
was so done out Of abundant precaution
THE WATER SUPPLY PURE.
from Dr. E. z. Smith to the effect that the drink
Ing water was contaminated. He had had an ex-
animation made not only by the surgeons but by
Colonel Smart. a noted expert, and they had In
formed him that the water was pure. Summing
I'D. he said he considered the water supply ade-
ouate and pure, and that the water was well dis
tributed. He did rot believe the water was re-
sponsble for any OF the illness Replying TO some
criticisms Of the disnfecting plant made by DR..
Gilman Johnson, the General said II had been
effective and had done much good. He thought It
entirely probable that typhoid had developed In
many men after leaving the camp While IL had
been considered desirable TO weed the sick out and
eend such as could 60 TO the city hospitals. he had
cautioned the surgeons against sending men not
Able to leave and had interfered to see that some
we're not sent. He admitted that before the steam
laundry put to work there was a scarcity OF
clean bed linen for typhoid and other patients. He
said Dr. Thompson was mistaken in charging that
the chief source Of water supply "a well about
rod from q pest pond" He said the well
fully four hundred yards from the pond.
He had encouraged the closest inspection from
visitors. and had asked newspaper men TO visit the
hospitals and report the complaints Of men. with
the view OF relieving their wants II they had any
He had also been glad to have the assistance Of
visiting physicians in determining the conditions
He had issued order 10 prevent the use Of am
balances by visitors. but he had no personal infor
nation as TO such OF these vehicles.
Detailing the circumstances Of General Stern
berg's visit TO tho camp General Wheeler said
that he had accompanied the Surgeon General on
his first round, and that the latter had spoken In