Evening star., 1898-09-05
Major Neumeyer, Its Commissioner,
Tells of His Work.
IMMEDIATE NECESSARIES PROVIDED
The Men Are Sleeping on the Bare
Ground.
SHOULD RETURN AT ONCE

MAJOR Ed Neumeyef, VINO was sent to
Camp Wikoff. Montauk Point as the spe-
cial representative of The Star in caring
for the needy District soldiers and looking
to their immediate relief from any and
all pressing wants, and who was also made
member of the citizens committee after
wafd sent to Montauk to look into the con-
dition of the regiment and to provide for
the comfort of the men, so far as possible.
returned TO the city yesterday after ar
ranging matters satisfactorily and being
assured that the boys will have all they de-
sire from now until the start for home
Thursday afternoon.
Competent Cooks Secured.
Major Neumeyer found that after the
agitation for better treatment of the SOL
dierrs-an agitation that has been keenIy
felt the whole country over-the govern
ment is at last providing its patriotic and
seif-sacrificing sons with palatable food
and ample nourishment The crying need
Of the District men. therefore. was corps
of cooks to prepare properly the bountiful
supply of fresh food at hand. For three
months or more volunteers from the ranks
had endeavored to do all the culinary work
The lack of experience in this respect was
not felt SO long as the men were in the
best of health and spirits. But since suf-
1ef1nS the rayageS of disease the men have
WedheIeu ana are no longer aDle TO StanQ
the rough-and-ready cooking they relfshed
when starting for the war.
Major Neumeyer appreciated this condi-
ton of things. and his first work was to
secure proficient cooks to be with the regi-
ment while at Montauk. After hard work
The Stars commissioner secured eight ex-
perenced men. and these cooks are now
preparing every mouthful of food for the
District boys. The cooks will continue in
service until the regiment leaves the Long
pf hai MI
ment being met by The Stars relief fund.
This provision for their comfort was most
highly appreciated by the soldiers, and 1t
is reported that, under the regime of the
new masters of the camps cooking estab-
lishments the waning appetites of the
Santiago sufferers have returned and the
men are accordingly improving in body and
mind. The volunteer cooks, like their
brothers in the ranks, were, on reaching
Montauk, In no condition to properly care
for themselves or to prepare nourishment
for their respective companies.
Did Not Wait for the Committee.
Major Neumeyer arrived in New York
one week from yesterday. He was met at
the Holland House by the citizens COM
mittee from this city, and al Sunday morn
ing breakfast the plans of relief were
talked over. Mr.. Neumeyer's pass into the
camp and his other credentials were per-
feet, so he determined not to await the
Immediately for the camp at Montauk
Point. 1t was desired that no time should
be lost. and while member of the COM
mittee, Major Neumeyer had a special mis-
sion to perform. He was the first to be
sent to the relief of men reported to be in
an awful condition. and every citizen in
Washington was bidding him Godspeed in
his work.
arriving at the camp in advance of the
other patriotic citizens bent likewise on
the betterment of the District soldiers
condition, Maj. Neumeyer's pass was vised
by Gen. joe Wheeler and he was given
the liberty of the camp, including the de-
tention portions of the army establishment
as well. Setting about to investigate the
condition of affairs at once, he found that
the District men were In command of a
sufficient supply of solid foods and dairy
products. He found, in abundance milk
butter, eggs. fresh beef, ice hams, corn
tomatoes, peas, crackers and canned peach
es and pears.
What Was Really Needed.
1t was readily concluded that the men
We're in need Of no additional solid food
but should be provided with canned broths,
beef bouillion and beef tea and such
Strengthening nourishrnent of like charac-
ter that might be retained on the weak
Stomachs of the convalescent fever patients
as We'll as the other men of the regiment
all OF whom, more less, were either con-
valescent from some bodily Ill or were bor-
dering on disease in some form The Stars
commissioner consulted with Surgeon Cox
ana was advised that the District men were
sadly in need of StimuIants Their long
exposure in emacia ted condition made II
absolutely necessary that the physicians
should have a plentiful supply of stimu-
iahts. The fever patient recovering at
home, surrounded by eVery known comfort
fares but i'll IL no stimulant is at hand to
help his ebbing vitality in the effort neces-
sary TO throw off disease. How much more
the poor exposed soldier in camp, who, af-
ter leaving the hospital, has nothing bit
his blanket and the moist ground for n bed
needs the help of a stimulant can only be
surmised by those who have never had ex-
perience In such matters. and never fully
appreciated by the unintiated
Liquid Food Supplied.
returning to the metropolis on the night
of the day he first arrived, Major Neu-
meyer set about Monday morning early
to procure the liquid food, ETC., that he
was advised and believed was needed
fhs canned soups and beef extracts were
purchased in fifty-dozen lots, while a suf-
nt,eht lr,ra supply OF port and blackberry
VINE and whisky was also added to
the shipping list. The inner man thus we'll
provided for. Major Neumeyer thought
next OF the boys comfort in camp life and
pought Tor them such little luxuries az
handkerchiefs. towels. tooth brushes pa-
pers, envelopes, pens, etc. Delight was
pictured on the tanned face of every Dis
trict man when these articles of horne life
were distributed. and they expressed their
unbounded thanks for the kindly remem-
brance These little demonstrations Of the
interest felt in the regiment by the home
loiks deeply touched the soldiers and more
tnan ever were they homesick and anxions
10 De back among their friends and rela-
tives.
A Tough job.
The job of securing cooks for the eamp
was not an easy one by any means and
Two whole days of search from Harlem
10 the Battery in Manhattan and from one
eEd OF Brooklyn borough to the other were
necessary TO the procurement of the octet
or white-aproned chefs. The restauranteurs
OF the metropolis were themselves unable
10 secure kitchen help on account of the
oHerpowering heat. The New York papers
were full of stories of fever and famine at
Mentauk and for fear of contracting dis
ease many of the cooks declined to go to
camp. At first discouraged Major Mem
meyer struck bravely to his task and swore
II at the District boys should have cooks
IL there were any in that section of the
country. Regardless of the hot weather
that made the search so barren of result
ne tramped the greater city over, and by
Wednesday night had sent the eight cooks
on their journey to the camp at Montauk.