Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-23
CAMP CHICKAMAUGA.
,r~rRAL FRANK AND HIS CHIEF
srRcroN ON CONDITIONS THERE.
no COMPLAINT REGARDING FOOD.
site n Good ono for Temporary En-
rampmcnt, Hut Not for Permanent
Corps Nurses UnsLiilcd.

kNNISTON. ALA. October 22.-The
,y.- investigating Commission began its
u.,k here to-day, by making an inspec-
..- ~ tho site OF Camp Ship. IN the
forenoon. and then devotlng the afternoon
t1 questioning General Frank. command
..- officer OF the camp, and his chief sur
-. Major Henry r. Hoyt Both were
Identified with Camp Thomas. at Chiclxa-
-uea. General Frank having been in
Command Of the First Division of the
Third Corps az that Doint. and Major
rf.lt having been his cl.ief surgeon
are
I. was made plain. by the general trend
-. the.r examination. that the work done
.r. would pertain more largely TO Camp
.mas than 20 the camp here. as a ma
ry ~ the men here were removed
tm ChIckamausa. There are, how
over. two regiments here which were IN
cuba. and some Of their representatives
SSH. also be examined.
General Frank said he considered Chick
.uauea Park a good site for tempo
-.-y camp. but not for a permanent camp
fr O. large army. The chief difficulty
r.s .n putting sinks down deep enough
owing 90 the rock formation near the
surface. sinks could only be made two
.r three feet deep, and they were fire.
Crlltly oyeriowed. There was also q
general impression that the springs in
.- locality were impregnated by these
sinks. and 70 was impossible to prevent
..r men from drinking from the springs.
Die thought the camp should have been
moved as early as July.
no COMPLAINT TOUCHING FOOD.
Ie said he had heard no complaint from
OIL. men in regard 10 the food received
while 40 Chickamauga, but because of the
necessity for getting the First Corps
ready for foreign service. there was a
shortage In clothing for a time. There
n.s also for q time difficulty in securing
hospital room for the men when sickness
l.-an 10 increase. but This deficiency was
soon remedied
There had been a constant improve ment
I'D the command since its removal 10 An
rst9u, early in September, and General
Frank thought 10 was due TO the change
ot SITE
Returning 10 Chick 3mauga. he said IN,
hospital tents were Hot Goored when hC
went % the camp. early in July. though
there had been sufficient time TO hay,
furnished flooring for the entire camp.
General Frank said that his corps com
mauder had never made an inspection o
Tho camp with reference 10 sinks. drains
etc.
THE SICKNESS AT THE CAMP.
Dr. Henry r. Hoyt. was also examined
specially with reference t. Camp Thomas
RE said the increase I'm sickness abov
the normal had began about the middl
of July, and had been rapid from tina
time forward until there 600 patients d
the First Division Hospital on the Is
of August. At this time IL was impossibl
% receive new patients for a period o
twcnty-four hours. The Increase in dis
ease had begun with the rainy season
and he thought much Of the malaria ma
been due 10 the fact that the me
were compelled 10 sleep on tho GROUND
He attributed the increase in typhoid
fever 20 the sinks. 70 the flies 10 the FAC
that the wells were infected and 20 care
lassness on the part of the men. Tn
command used water taken through pipe
from Chickamauga river. and the pipe
were located only a few feet above IN
mouth Of the stream which drained N
c7mD. The Doctor thought that som
of the water from this tributary streaT
had been forced into the pipes by mean
of eddies. II had also been impossibl
10 prevent the use of surface Well-Wate
ly the men.
SURGEONS AND NURSES.
DIT. Hoyt expressed the opinion tina
tr. surgeons in the division hospital ia
been competent and In support OF hi
opinion he adduced the fact that thei
had been only twenty-seven deaths out
1853 patients I'm the hospital for the q
t.r- three summer months. The nurse
a.. the hospital corps. while faithful wer
fu most cases, unskiled, and, therefor
incompetent. He said there had bee
Old patients treated I'm the division no
rfai az Admission. and Of these twen'
had died. There had been an exception
ally high degree OF mortality here p'
many Of the men who came here Do
from Chlckamauga and from SantaS
were very much debilitated. He though
The change of location from Chickamaus
had been very beneficial.
Dr. Hoyt said he was familiar with u
csmulaints concerning the Eighth Ne
York REGIMENT. and especially with u
criticism made by SurgeOn-General Ierr
of New York There was, ne SAID
enormous sick rate In this regiment al
there were many cases Of homeslchne
Vet The circumstances surrounuli
these men were the same as those aHee
frg others.