Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-25

anu wealthy as we DOaSt OF DelnQ
would punish severely the ones respon,
sible for such a deplorable state of
affairs.
The story printed i n yesterdays 8
Times showing the inadequacy of
hospital facilities at Camp Thomas,
and the total sck o. needed attention
that greets the enlisted man when he
enters the so called field hospitals. as
they have been conducted at Chickam-
auga, was read with the greatest in
terest by the rank and file atthe park.
An officer of popular regiment
called at the Times office yesterday to
express bis qualification at the manner
in which the condition of these hos
pitfalls was being exposed. Il tell you. !"
said be. ''that you can have idea
what those poor fellows have had to
undergo, and in my opinion One.hali
of the deaths that have occurred at the
park have been caused by absolute,
and in some cases criminal neglect on
the part Of someone. [ know the diff
fculties in the Way of providing against
such things, but there was no reason
in the world why rich government
like the United States should not have
provided for the sick in its army. The
neglect and incompetence of officers is
no excuse; the government has no right
to subject its citiZens to the dangers of
| hoi cd nv
the government is directly responsible
for nine tenths of the sickness and
deaths at Chickamauga Park.
CASE OF NEGLECT.
Continuing on this subject. the off,
Ger said: speaking of the inefiiciency
of the medical department in caring
A young man from Nebraska named
Erskine M. Barnes. brother-in- la W
of the clerk of the supreme court of
Nebraska. was taken sick, and was
| finally sent to Fort Mcpherson, near
Atlanta. His father wrote to the hos
pital here aud asked about his son, and
was told that he was at Fort Thomas,
| KY. The father then wired to Fort
Thomas, and was informed that his
son was not there. He wrote again to
the hospital here, and finally located
the poor boy at Fort Mcpherson. He
then wired Fort Mcpherson as to the
condition of his son, and received a
telegram saying that he was not there.
He confirmed to get telegraphic reports
for three days that he was not there,
and finally after three days he got
word that his son was there. The fever
stricken boy had gone for three day s
without any kind of medical attention
and that, too, in the hospital of the
greatest and most humane govern
ment on the face of the earth. The
poor heartDroken father received a
note from his boy, sayings I am down
with fever, and receiving no attentions;
and then the poor old man wrote a
friend: I have heard of the cold heart
edness of the army surgeon, but never
expected it to be visited upon the pride
of my life, my own dear boy, who was
IabOring and studying to become SUR
geon. / am heartbroken.-I can't
write any More.'"
This is one other Sample of the con-
ditions Gen. Breckinridge found when
he came into power at Camp Thomas.
and which he is doing all in his power
to correct.
DISEASE BREEDING SINKS.
| A dreadful stencil arises from the
large open field in front of the Second
division headquarters. This lies be-
tween the old I'd Ohio and 15sth Indi-
ana camps. At the rear of field is a
small ravine which is in very poor san.
itary condition. It is filled with all
sorts of refuse and person can hardly
breathe to walk through the place,
This is only one of the many like
places. This place is also to receive
attention.
!. In number of these spots a guam
tity of lime has been spread. At the
rear of the camp of the 1st Illinois
Cav. Is another very bad place which
needs attention.
4 THIRD DIVISION HOSPITAL.
Il This is the hospital in which the sick
from Co. A.-the Great Bend Com
psny-is cared for.-ED
The sick at the camp are being cared
i for considerably better than heretofore
/ but still there IS place for improvemen.
tn the besnlsal eyafzrs sr6s <6niorItz