The times., 1898-10-05
About Camp wikoF.

Gen. Wheeler's examination at the
afternoon session was devoted 10 exper-
fences and observations at Camp Wikon,
where ne was in command from the early
| part of August until September g. He
reached the camp. he said, on the trans
| port Miami, from Santiago, and almost
| Immediately was summoned 10 Wash
inston President Mckinley told him he
was TO take command OF the camp and
| without regard to expense TO do what
ever was necessary for the care and
| comfort of the soldiers
! When he reached camp between 4,oo0
/ and 5000 troops had arrived Subse-
/ quentIy there came altogether 30,OeO
troops, who had 10 be cared for
The place was absolutely bare, and in
| two weeks we put UP a laundry, dis
| injecting plant dug wells, used mil
| lion and a half feet of lumber in floor
ing tents and building hospitals Under
| the order OF the President not TO spare
| expense 1 called the physicians and ask
! ed what they needed for the care OF the
sick, and what they said they wanted
ordered and got them in short time
| Besides these Gen Wheeler said he pur-
| chased vast quantities Of articles Of food
| not contained in the ratiCns- In addition
10 these friends and sympathiZers sent
! carloads of delicacies and luxuries, so
|
| food no army on earth was ever supplied
| as that at Camp WikOff-'
Lack of Railroad Facilities.
He declared the railroad facilities We're
very inadequate. Besides that, the con-
tract with the railroad company IRE
vented the transportation Of any persons
except in government vessels. Who made
this contract he did not know Al first
there was a lack OF nurses, but 1ron his
telegraphic order that lacn was at once
met.
Gen. Wheeler spoke Of the piteoIls ap-
| peals made by friends and relatives 10 he
permitted to take their loved ones Rome,
in many cases overcoming the JIdgmt nt
of the physicians
THE burial place" continued the gen.
! eral made a most painful but incorrect
impression on the public mind The visi-
tors saw the new graves and were
shocked. and yet there were less than
800 deaths all told out OF a hospital popu-
| lation of T. coo.
In answer 10 q question as t. the loca-
tion of the camp, Gen. " heeic- sdlG;
1T was a splendid idea and q wonder
fully good camp. Not { single ease oI
yellow fever developed there among or
from all the sick who came from yer
| low fever country"
The story that regular soldiers reached
,, ,, Montauk starving, eagerly devOurlns
! remnants of the railroad sandwiches
eaten by passengers, seemed TO disgust
the general
; II do not believe he said, that any
regulars ever complained or suffered ioI
, lack of food. They only said to me, when
! asked about their food supplies, Why
/ we've got too much, more than We car
eat
Respecting the assertions that the nos
: pital accommodations were overcrowded
that the sick were without blankets ant
necessary shelter, Gen Wheeler said NJ
y never saw any in that condition ana h'
: report was made TO him that there Were
: anv such. Gen. Wheeler denied that any
r, red tape existed at the camp, and sai'
i supplies were had for the asking
o Without hearing all of Gen Wheeler
d testimony. the commission adjourned 10
the day. He will resume his place on IN
stand today.
Cen Wilson stated that Cen Boyntol
It was in the city and was deslrous OF io'
g | Iouinp Gen. Wheeler on the witness
, stand today. as he wanted 10 so back q
Chickamauga IT night. Gen Lee, n
: said. would not be in the city until 10
y morrow.