New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-07
ALL BEGGED FOR HOME.
PITIABLE CONDITION OF THE EIGHTH
OHIO IN LONG ISLAND CITY.
SURGEON GENERAL sTERNBERG SHOCKED BY The
SIGHTS WHEN THE SECOND SECTION OF
THE TRAIN CAME IN FROM


Cross Relief station opposite the LohS is'diu
Railroad station. in Long Island city. last night
expressed surprise that the sick OF the sth ONO
had been allowed 10 accompany the well men on
the Trip 10 their Ohio homes. General SternberS
went around among the men and questioned them
as to why they mad been well enough TO leave
the Camp Wikon hospitals only to be stretched
out on the cots in The Red Cross station after
trip of a hundred miles. The burden OF every
reply was the samoa wish to get nearer home.
and home II possible.
General Sternberg apparently saw something
last night he had not seen before. and something
that surprised him. He appeared greatly affected
by the sights in the relief station
To one of the Red Cross doctors and TO Mrs
Hammond. who is in charge Of the station. DR.
Sternberg frankly said, There was a mistake
somewhere"
General Sternherg on his arrival az Long Island
City last evening paid visit ia the Red Cross
station. and plainly surprised at the whole
sale preparations that were under way TO receive
the Ohio men, and with the hustle OF the station.
The Red Cross women at the station knew by eX-
perence what before them. and were getting
ready. They had heard Of the long walt OF the SOL
dicrs at the camp station. and as the hours were
going hv without the trains arriving they knew
the soldiers were being delayed on the road ara
that the scenes OF the arrival Of the Michigan SOL
ders on their way home might be duplicated. The
Ohio boys had one advantage however; they were
travelling largely BY night. ana IL was lar cooiti
than on the day the Michigan men went through
When General Stcrnbcrg saw the preparations he
decided to stay and see how much they were
needed
FIRST SECTION IN FAIR ORDER
The first section Of the train arrived about 10
O'clock II consisted Of fourteen cars. The men
who came on II most agreeable surprise.
for they were in fairly good condition. and only
here and there there a man who needed the
care Of the relief station. and then only To-
few minutes cup Of coffee or little sip OF wine
or a few minutes rest usually brought the men
who were not well around so they proceeded TO
the ferryhouse where the Rcd Cross had pro-
vded a luncheon Of coffee and sandwiches for
every one
The work Of relief was carried on rapidly and
well under the direction OF Mrs. Hammond. Mrs
Dana Miss Reid md Mrs Chauncey The nurses
and attendants saw that all the mer had some
thing. Then the soldiers went on board the walt
ing boat. and most Of them lay down 10 sleep.
few felt like a stroll and were allowed to wander
about the streets adjacent to the ferry
When all the from this train had been cared
for General Sternberg appeared to ,eel relieved. and
to rather doubt the stories which had been told
him. President Baldwin of the Long Island Rail-
road who accompanied him. advised him that worse
was 10 come Mt Baldwin knew how the trains
had been loaded Moniauk
SURPRISE FOR GENERAL sTERNBERG
When the second section came in It consisted Of
seven cars and on it came the sick o. the resi-
ment Some Of them-abou, sixty-ooult not walk
These were in the care Of their comrades About
two hundred OF the men were sick. bat not so sick
as the sixty The baggage trucks n the railroad
we're converted into ambnances by placing cover
ings on them and on these the sick were carried
TO the relic: station. Then II that General
Sternbere the things he did not suppose ey-
listed. Men too weak TO ut hand were carried
into the station ana PLACED upon the cots The
supply % trucks and Ntters was no. great enough.
and many OF the sick were carried TO the relief
station in the arms o: policemen and citizens.
one OF the sick borne into the hospital was Wa
ter Huoble. Of Company a lie lives IN BucyTus.
Ohio The doctors examined him and when oues-
toned as % whether he should ne carried to ST
Johns ambulance and sen, 20 the hospital. they
said no. 1t would be mercy to let the man spend
his last few hours III peace and not 10 move him
again. General stcrnbcrg. On hesria. this yer.
dc, went 70 the man and sat down reside him.
He questioned the dying soldier ana In person did
what he could for him. Finally the dyins man
sank into coma. from which f. was not likely
he would ever re'ive. arr Or sicrnherg turned
his attention 70 others.
Private McKeehan Of tie same coupsnv and
coming from the same town. occupied a COT not far
from his dying friend lie was almost exhausted
and was sent 70 s.. John's Hospital because
there was a faint chance that he might b. saved.
TO GET HOME THEIR ONE OBJECT
From Hubble General sternberg learned that he
was taken sick with fever IN cuba and came back
10 Camp Wikof whore he had typhoid. which he
had contracted before leaving Cuba. and that he
wanted 10 get home. but realized now that he
would have to be leit behind lie did rot realize
that his case vas beyond aid and that he could
William Tebelhart an acting hospital steward.
SICK himself AIDED one Of MS sick comrades into
started A.
stopped by Dr. Hal who tod him ne must he
head and started out But had not taken three
steps when he collapsed \ short rest 4 drink
Of wine ana Il little milk later refreshcd him and
he able to board the boat.
Captain Wuhter. one OF the resimentai surgeons.
sao Obers TOD h rS Mn Nc had ,cg" SEX
but when the regiment started ne insisted on 90
ins He was demonstrated with. but said the men
would need his services he and his KIT were put
on the train. lie was so III that on the train nc
had to be asolsted from seat 10 seat as h went
about giving relief 20 others who were worse of
than he he revived considerably under ucat-
meni at the relief station. he insisted on gong
on with the regiment. saying that even u he WAS
too sick TO get about n the train on the way
i66ae of Re sick Who could now about cou
come 10 him for trea menl. ..., -. ,
few days ia a hospital In New-York bcrged NOT to
10 20 home. home wa The sole thought OF me
sick Men apparently ON the verge OF collapse
aid when IT Was suggested they go no furthcr
They wanted 20 90 home. and were willing to sacri-
fee their Jew remaining si'ihs OF Alehsth l." go
forward. Many Of the We! soldiers sad they had
aaie promises sick friends to that. dead or
alive they reached their Ohio homes.
COLONEL HARD GRIEF-STRICKEN.
Colonel 6. D. Hard, the resmentaI commander,
seemed greatly cast down by the condition OF his
regiment. lie said Il seemed hard 10 have gone to
Cuba without losing man in battle. and then TO
lose three hundred q his men between Santiago
and home. All Of these were not dead but re-
maintd behind in he hospitals AT Camp Wikon |
and there would be sad homecor,!nss In every
town and city MS .eS. mcnt represented The regi
nnent IL made UP largely of separate companies
L Lieutenant Colonel 4. w. DICK was working hard
10 keep his In line and IN shape in Long Isl
and City. but he himself looked as II he would
tier have been on cot in the relief station.
During the rush Of work at the station General
Sternperg lent hand with tho station doctors
He would not give our an extended talk. and con-
tented himself with side remarks about the con-
dition Of the soldiers. Inc burden OF these was