The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-26
STORM At MONTAUk POINT
Much Damage Done at
Camp Wikoff.
TENTS BLOWN DOWN.
Two Transports Arrived with Sick
Soldiers-Secretary Alger Inspects the
Camp-Several Dealhs Due TO the Ex-
treme Heat-VOlunteers Delighted AT
Idea of Soon Being Mustered out Of
the Service

New York, August 24.-The report
Of the condition of the men on the
Yale which arrived off Camp Wikoff,
not yet been made by the quarantine
officers.
In the electrical storm which con-
tinued for four hours last night the
wind blew down many of the soldiers
tents, twisted the wires about the
camp, blew down the Red Cross hos
pital tent in the general hospital and
caused havoc generally. Two tents
were picked up from the ground and
carried into the ocean. The wrecking
of five unoccuped tents in the deten-
ton hospital will prevent the landing
of some sick soldiers on the trans
ports. The large Y. M. c. A. tent in
which the soldiers spend much of
their time writing to their relatives or
reading was also leveled by the gale.
The news that an order is soon to be
issued at Washington to muster out
the volunteers in camp, including the
Rough-Riders and the Seventy-first
regiment, has been received with much
satisfaction by the volunteer troops.
The transport Arcadia, which arriv
ed last night, was inspected today.
Captain Capron, father of. Captain
Capron, of the RoughR Riders who was
killed at Santiago, is on board sick.
Many soldiers have been discharged
from the hospitals, but there are other
sick to take their places as soon as
they vacate.
Secretary of War Alger arrived at
the camp today on a special train. To
POrrpCnOn6QntS
tary Alger stated that he hoped to
make as thorough an inspection as
possible of the camp in the length of
time he had at his disposal He rode
with the army officers who met him
at the depot to headquarters and as
soon as he was recognized by the vol
unteers and regulars the secretary was
loudly Cneered.
Secretary Alger was especially in
terested in the condition of the sick
men and how they were being cared
for. He intimated that President Nc
Kinley was much concerned in the
matter of properly caring for the sick
soldiers. The secretary will make a
complete tour of the big camp before
he returns to New York. He will also
be fully Informed when he leaves as to
how the volunteers feel about their
being mustered out.
1t is said that Secretary Alger in
formed General Wheeler that he would
stay in camp two or three days if nee
essary to make a thorough inspection
of everything and devise some means
for the relief and comfort of the SOL
diers, especially those in the hospital.
The heat of the day completely ex-
hausted many Of the soldiers in camp
and was responsible for number of
deaths. The death list today numbered
five.
The repOrt of the hoSnital authorities
show there are 780 men in the general
hospital, of whom 225 have typhoid fe-
Yer. Three hundred men are in the de-
tention camp. The transport Leona is
unloading; l04 sick men were removed
to the hospital The Yale has on board
1.O69 men of the Third and Twentieth
regular infantry of whom 17S are sick
There is no contagious disease on
board. There was only one death.