The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-10-19
THE INVESTIGATORS.
Nothing Startling Unearthed in the
Examination.
THE FOOD SUPPLY PLENTIFUL.
Impure Food Was Received Once or
Twice, But 1t Was Quickly Replaced
by Fresh supply-Wby Camp Cuba
Ifbre Was Selected,


Twice, But 1t Was Quickly Replaced
by a Fresh supply-Nvby Camp Cuba
Libre Was Selected.
Jacksonville, Fla, Oct. 19.-The war
Investigating commission held three
sessions yesterday, dealing during the
two days sessions with the general
staff officers of the Seventh army corps
and at night hearing the testimony Of
officers and men of the Second South
Carolina regiment. The general officers
examined included the chief surgeon
and chief commissary, the chief quar-
termaster and the inspector general of
the corps, and all gave detailed infor-
nation as to their respective DEPART
ments of the service. The meetings
yesterday were held in General Dodge's
private car, but the moving trains
made so much noise that it was found
necessary to secure other quarters, and
hereafter the meetings will be held in
the city council chamber.
The subcommittee, consisting of
General Wilson and Captain Howell,
appointed to investigate the selection
of Fernandira as a camp returned last
night and reported their approval of
the selection. They made special in
quiry into the report that the camp
had been located there for the pur-
pose of enhancing the value of the
land owned by son of Secretary Alger.
going though the county records as
part of their work. They failed to find
his in, Of fhoca IOn,lmanfS
and their investigation convinced them
that he had never owned any real es-
tate in that vicinity or had been in any
way interested in any.
Colonel Oliver E. Wood, chief COM
mssary at Camp Cuba Libre under
General Lee, was before the commits
sion at its afternoon session. He had
occupied this position since the 21st Of
May, and he had been able during all
this time to fully and completely meet
all requisitions made upon him for
supplies, and there had never been any
lack of them. AS rule, also, the quail
ity was excellent. At first there had
been trouble with the bacon, and about
$50 600 pounds of it had been spoiled.
and therefore condemned and ordered
destroyed. There had also feen weevils
in some of the hardbread, but it had
never been issued when found to be
bad. All the fresh beef was brought
to the camp in refrigerator cars.
AS result this meat was excellent,
and in cases where the meat was not
good the contractors had replaced it
without requiring official condemna-
ton. Yet it was necessary either to
f,io t,r ipa
in order to prevent its spelling in this
climate. In this connection Colonel
Wood read letter he had written to
General Lee in response to complaint
made by Colonel William J. Bryan
concerning the beef In this letter he
said that if the beef was spoiled 1T
was generally due to the almost GRIM
inal negligence of regiment and COM
pany officers. He said also in the let
ter that the beef must be inspected
when issued; that this inspection must
be final, and after this no complaints
could be entertained.
Captain Chauncey V. Baker, chief
Quartermaster, was also examined dur
ing the afternoon session. He had
been In Jacksonville from the begin
ming of the camp, on the 21st of May.
but at that time was auartermaster for
the Second corps. He said that when
he arrived the command was short of
all kinds of stores and that he had
been unable In the beginning to meet |
all requisitions for supplies when made
by the regiments as they arrived.
There had. for instance, been some
trouble in securing tentage. There was |
also shortage In clothing and in most |
cases he had assumed the RESPONSE
lility of making purchases, and his |
course had afterward been approved. |
The first clothing received was not Of
good quality. but 1t afterwards i'm |
proved. However. the men were as
rule glad enough to get anything, and |
there was no complaint. Indeed the |
troops had manifested a disposition to
be satisfied with whatever they re- |
ceived
Explaining General Lawton's selec-
ton Of the camp here he said 1t was |
due to the fact that the railroad COM
pany could offer facilities. and to the
additional fact that water could be Sc
cured conveniently. General Lawton
had expected the troops to be ordered |
almost Immediately to Cuba and this
circumstance controlled him entirely In
the selection of the site for the first
encampment.
Captain Baker was followed by
Colonel Curties Guild, Jr., inspector
general Of the corps. Colonel Guild !
said he had been on duty in Jackson
vile since June /. He said he had
made it his business to make an early
morning inspection of the camp each
day with regard to sanitation, and he
knew this had been the custom Of
others in his department
Colonel Guild mentioned some cases
In which goods had been received in
poor condition. In one case large lot
of canned beef had been received which
was putrid, but the contractors had re-
placed it with acceptable goods. The
Second New Jersey had suffered on ac-
count Of the frequent changes of the
commissary, and they appeared to ex-
perence the want of food. because of
the ignorance of officers of the regi-
ment.
Colonel Guild said that he had never
found a case of deprivation owing to
the failure of the government to fur
nish proper supplies He was unable
been any suffering in hospital on ac-
count of neglect, and was satisfied all
that was practicable had been done for
the sick.
Colonel Guild had in an official re-
port expressed the opinion that one at
tendant to six patients was not suf-
fclent, but he said this opinion was
based upon the inflamed condition of
the public mind but he believed that
as a rule the attendants could not give
the proper attention.
Asked If he was still of the opinion
that there would have been shortage
of supplies for the sick but for the
great activity of the Red Cross Colonel
Guild said he had changed his opinion
Postponed Races.
The racing at Wawaset DrivIrg ParK
l Il been postponed on account of the rain