The age-herald., 1898-11-01


 Jay mill spring at Chickamauga was con- taminated from the surrounding sinks.
 Dr. Park l.. Myers, a contract surgeon, from Ohio, who was engaged in the hospi- tai of the Second division, First corps, at Chickamauga, differed from most of the propositions in his estimate of typhoid. He said that while many believed that 90 per cent. of the sickness at the camp to be ty- phoid, he did not believe that to exceed 70 per cent were of that fever. He thought most of the diseases at Chickamauga park were miasmatic. He said 1t was true that on some occasions it had been necessary to nave patients at this hospital lie on blank cts on the ground for as much as ten hours at time until provision could be made for them.
 Colonel F. K. Huger, division superin- tendent of the Southern railroad, gave in- formation as to the trouble encountered Tn moving troops. He said that as a rule the soldiers had co-operated in the work or the railroad company, but that there had been some disorder at some times He mentioned one instance in which Company Y, or the Fifth Pennsylvania, had broken up all the furniture of two cars near Lex lhgton, Ky. on the plea that the cars were not mt for soldiers to travel in.
 Other witnesses examined were Colonel Brown, of the Fourth Tennessee. and Lieu tenant-Colonel Schubel of the Thirty-first Michigan, and Colonel Croxton, of the Sixth virginia, and Chaplain White, of the Ahity-HrSt Michigan.
 Camp Hamilton
 Lexington. ky, October 31-General Dodge, Colonel Sexton and Dr. Conner, of the war Investigating commission, arrived here from Chattanooga at o'clock in General Dodge's private car. After break fast on the car the members of the com mission called upon Major General Will son at corps headquarters down town, where at 10 o'clock a conference was held to map out the work in Lexington. Am bulances were summoned from Camp Hamilton and the commission started for the camp at II o'clock
 Dr. Conner will make a thorough inspec- tion of the division hospital, while Gen eral Dodge and Colonel Sexton will make a tour of the regmental camps. This will consume most of the day and the taking of testimony VII not begin until late this afternoon or tonight.
 Rooms have been engaged at the Phoe- nix hotel for the examination of wit nesses who will be summoned from the camp today. General Dodge says there have been no complaints concerning Camp Hamilton and testimony taken here would bear especially on the conduct of affairs at Chickamauga Park, where most of the regiments now here spent the summer months.
 Hearing of Testimony
 Returning to town about 8 o'clock the commission went into session at their rooms at the Phoenix hotel and began the hearing of testimony. Major General James H. Wilson, now commanding the First army corps. was the first witness. The general said he was in charge of the First division, First corps, at Chickamau- ga Park. He left there with his command about July for Porto Rico. At Charles ton he was kept some two weeks or more. He did not know whether it was on ac- count of lack of transports or what. Here the typhoid fever broke out and when he d'd get off he had to leave several cases of it behind The disembarkation at Porto Rico, he said, took eleven days, when 1t should be accomplished in two. This, he claimed was on account of not having steam launches for which he asked the department in vain. In Porto Rico half of his troops were good on the march, but as soon as they came to a standstill sick ness broke out
 General Wilson said that he had found the government rations good and sufficient. The most of the sickness among the troops was caused by the men eating fruit and trash. 'I consider Chickamauga park one of the finest camps in the world" said General Wilson. 'I never saw it's superior. unless it is Camp HamHton here at Lexington" Asked if he could make any suggestions,
  regimental hospitals which have been rec | and which are now being estab- | lished. His observation has been that | civilians have made good officers, proficient | and obedient to all commands He believed | one of the principal causes of sickness | among the volunteers was that they were | unused to camp life and to the climate of l Georgia.
 Rations Were Good Captain Charles w. Golden, commissary | of the Second brigade, Third division, First | corps, testified that on nearly all occasions | he had found the ratons good and in sufH- l cient quantity, and that all acquisitions l made had, he thought, been honored as | promptly as possible.
 He said at one time a lot of bacon had l become infected with maggots, but that | as soon as 1t was brought to the attention | of the authorities 1t was promptly con- iemned. He said that there was some fault | 10 be found with the cooks and culinary |
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