The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-11
Food Purchased from PeddIers Not Al
ways Wholesome, and Sometimes
q Source of Illness.
DIFFICULTIES 1T SANTIAGO
COFFEE AND SUGAR SHORT BECAUSE
THEY COULD NOT BE LANDED.
Supply of Lighters Insufficient, Ac-
cOrding to Major Gallagher, of
the COmmissary Department.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10.-The war in
vestigating commission had three witnesses
before it to-day-Capt. j. A. Culver, of the
Grigsby Rough Riders; Dr. Hysell, chief
surgeon of the Second Division, located at
Camp Thomas, and Major Gallagher, who
was in charge of various ccmmissary depots
in the Santiago campaign. DR.. Hyselfs $
testimony dealt with the sanitary and hos
pital conditions at Camp Thomas. He said
there was less typhoid fever in the troops
Of the Second Division than in the other di-
visions, and stated that on his advice the
division had secured its water from outside
springs instead of from the Chickamauga
river, as he considered the river water LA
BILE to be impure. Major Gallagher detailed
the process of supplying rations to the
troops in the field. He said that at one time
there was a deficiency in coffee and sugar
for two days, and expressed the opinion
that this shortage would have proved serious
if it had continued for any length of time
He said the supply of lighters was not suffi-
cient TO permit the accumulation Of any
considerable quantity of food at any one
time
Captain Culver was the first witness. He
had been stationed at Camp Thomas, Chick
amauga, from May till ne was mustered
out on the 18th of September. His company
had been located in the woods. but, while
the site was dry, he thought they would
have been better off in the open. The food
generally was abundant and good. At first
they only received fresh meat two or three
times week, and for a week the bread was
hard, but this was soon rectifed. On one
occasion the meat was tainted. but it was
condemned and exchanged. He stated, how
ever. that the tainted meat not badly
spoiled and hat he would have been glad to
have used it in the civil war. Capt. Culver
mentioned an instance when the bacon re-
ceived was wormy, and when the commits
sary arrived there was shortage of tents,
but all these defects were speedily RENE
died.
CAPT. HOWELL INTERRUPTS.
Captain Howell interrupted the proceed
ings to inquire the object of the examina-
tion of the witness, to which Ex-Governor
Beaver, who conducting the examina-
ton, replied that it was to show what the
different bureaus of the War Department
had done and how they did it. and he
thought the inquiry very pertinent.
To this Mr.. Howell responded: "The
proper men from whom to secure this in
formation are the officers who supplied the
equipment"
some complaints as to delay in supplying
the regiment with it's equipment. his ex-
PLANTATION satisfied Captain Howell, and the
investigation proceeded.
Captain Culver stated that at one time
twenty-five of his men were sick He
thought the proportion not excessive-no
greater than during tine first days of the
civil war, and until the men learned to
depend upon the army rations and not to go
outside for food. He thought the pies sold
to the men were unwholesome, and also
said that much stale fried chicken was sold
to them. In conclusion, Captain Culver said
he had no complaint to make of treatment
except in the location of his troop in the
woods. He had protested against this loca-
ton.
Captain Culver was followed by Dr. James
II. Hysell, who was chief surgeon of the
Third Division of the First Army Corps,
and who was located at Camp Thomas
Chickamauga, from the 7th of June to the
21st of August. He had been surgeon in
the civil war, and since then said he had
been in general practice. All the early cases
of typhoid were treated in the regimental
hospitals, and the patients were not isolated
until after the construction of the division
hospitals, when the typhoid and suspicious
cases were isolated, and the men were we'll
attended by physicians and nurses, though
at times one nurse would have charge of
thirty men. The sinks We're kept covered
with earth, but DR.. Hysell said that no
special precaution was taken TO disinfect
vessels going to ana from the sinks There
had been 1,1O0 cases of all kinds of diseases
treated in the hospital, and fifteen deaths.
SPREAD BY FLIES.
DR.. Hysell thought typhoid fever mad been
imported into the camp from the outside
and that the increase had been due to the
failure to properly cover the sinks and to
the prevalence of flies. He did not think it
possible to effectually isolate typhoid fever
cases, as typhoid was so difficult to detect
in its early stages. All reasonable precau-
tions had been taken in locating the camp
to prevent the development of disease. He
admitted that in case of another war, by
the experience of the past. more effective
means could be provided. The examination
of Dr. Hysell was conducted by DIR. Con-
ner, of the commission, and was very
searching from a medical standpoint
At the afternoon session the committee
examined Mai. Hugh j. Gallagher. He had
served as depot commissary at Siboney. San
Juan and Santiago, and recently occupied
this position at Montauk Point. At ST.
honey the rations. he said. were forwarded
almost as rapidly as landed. Only very
small quantities could be accumulated, yet
the commissary during the stay at Siboney
had been able to meet all acquisitions made
for rations by the troops and no one was
ever refused He heard no complaint OF
lack OF rations at the 'front.' At first they
were able TO forward about $4,000 rations
per day. From siboney the depot was