The times., 1898-09-04
INSPECTION WAS A FARCE.
The District Troops Make Charges
Against Chaplain Dudley.

| Camp Wikoff, Montauk Point, n. Y,
Sept. 3.-The inspection by President Nc
Kinley today was, a farce. He was taken
around the beaches where all is in good
condition, and was not shown the whole
regiments of sufferers who slept on the
ground moaning with fever.
While the President was being cheered
| at one end of the camp poor skeleton
faced soldier was dying alone In the
| improvised waiting room at the depot
He was private Shafer of Company K,
Eighth Ohio, and with his passing breath
he claimed that he had been starved
He lay on a hard bench without a
blanket and was waiting to be trans
| ferred to a crowded car like thousands
of other sick soldiers.
One of the orderlies from headquarters
stated this afternoon that he had deliv
cred orders TO the general hospital last
night that three hundred patients must
be taken out at once, whether they had
clothes or not. This was done to make
good appearance.
Dull DAYS Are These.
These are dull days for the troops of
the District regiment. The combined ef-
| fects of rest and good food, together with
| the weakness resulting from the long
siege of fever. have caused complete
| lack of interest in everything save the
| longed-for order TO go home to Washing
| ton.
! So these days are spent in idle doing in
! the shade of tent and remaining there
| until aroused by mess calls
| Many OF the officers claim that they will
| have to hire a man to blow a bugle for
| them when they return 10 peaceful civil
| ian life They are certain that they could
never get to sleep unless taps were
sounded, nor wake except to the ringing
| notes of reveille.
| New instruments will be issued the
| band on Monday These were sadly need
ed. as the bass horn was patched up with
| soap to prevent the air from escaping
| through the many holes, and small
| snare drum is being used in place of the
large one which collapsed at Santiago.
The boys in the various companies are
proud of the band, but laugh at the
| statement that they do not want the
Marine Band TO lead the march up the
avenue with inspiring music.
| The sentiment is in favor OF having
| both bands in the march, the Marine
| Band to play and the Regimental Band
| to follow.
Sergt Howard Vermillion, Company A,
| was furloughed this afternoon and Will
| arrive in Washington on Sunday. Yer
| million has been III since the regiment
| left Cuba and seems to be broken down
Weighing the Troops.
| Col Harries this afternoon requested
each man in the regiment to send in his
weight at the time of his enlistment, to-
gether with his weight today. This will
| show the great losses sustained by the
| regiment
Sergt. Land, of Company E, is recover
ing from his recent attack of fever, and
| although confined to his tent, is doing
| splendidly. All of the District boys in
the hospital are reported as doing splen-
didly.
Mr.. Sachs, of Washington, visited the
camp today, and win return home with
| his son, Private Sachs, of Company a,
who was furloughed this morning.
Rev. Dudley Is Criticised.
Chaplain Dudley is bitterly criticised by
a large majorityqof sthe men. Some OF
item claim that he appropriated regimen
| tai funds for the support of the officers
mess, and demand a reckoning up with
the District Volunteers relief committee
as soon as they get home.
Others state that during the whole long
journey on the, transport neither the
chaplain nor any of the commissioned of
ficers, except Capt. xHodgeson, of Com,
pany G, ever visited or paid any atten-
ton to the sick men, of the regiment.
That all is not harmony in the regi-
ment is shown by the threats and grum-
bling along the company streets. The
troops do not care to have anything leak
out at present, but two score of them
have threatened a lively time for some ol
the Brass Collars as the officers are
called, when the regiment returns te
Washington. They are very bitter II
their charges and in the denunciation OF
their officers.
Little Diversion.
Two of the men in Company l. created
a commotion this morning by appearing
in a field near camp in the garb of Span
ish soldiers.
The uniform is a loose coat and trous
ers of thin blue and white linen, and fol
ten minutes after their appearance tht
two luckless soldiers were hooted by thu
whole regiment.
The big steam pump broke down thi:
morning, and the troops had to drink bar
rel water for a time. The change wa:
not at all to their liking, but the pump
is again in order.