The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-01
KICKS ABOUT CHICKAMAUGA.
MUCH ADVERSE TESTIMONY RE-
GARDING CONDITIONS THERE.


Tie Was Threatened with Coure
MartiaI-Many Compliments ms 10
Conditions at CaIup Hamilton ae
Lexington.
Camp Poland, Knoxville, Tenn. Oct 81.
The war investigating commission con-
cluded the work of Its Southern tour here
to-day, and at O'Clock tonight left for
Washington, expecting to arrive there
about IL o'clock tomorrow afternoon. It
Is the present intention that the commis-
sion shall so to Camp Meade soon after
their arrival in Washington. and ex-Gov.
Woodbury. viii proceed to Vermont. as
subcommittee 10 take testimony there.
The commission devoted the forenoon ia
inspecting the camps and the afternoon to
taking testimony They found a division
of troops here under the command of Col.
Kurtz of the Second Ohio and while they
had no personal criticism to express
against him, some of the commissioners
expressed the opinion that the command
was too large to be entrusted TO an officer
below the rank OF brlgadier. The transfer
of Col Kurtz 10 the command of the di-
vision, leaves the brigade to which his
regiment is a part in command OF Coi-
Young. the colored colonel Of the Third
North carolina
The first witness before the commissions
was Dr. f. j. Martin, a contract phy-
sician from Ohio, who was at Chickamau-
ga. He repeated his expression Of opinion
that the water in the pipe line system at
Chickamauga was contaminated by the
water from Cave Spring creek. He said
that after that he had first expressed this
opinion. saying that at the same time
the facts In regard to the existence of ty-
phoid was being suppressed, he had BEEN
summoned by Gen. Sheridan and told that
he must retract Immediately OF submit
to a court martial, but he declared that
he had done this 20 promote discipline ana
not because he had changed his opinion
as TO the pollution of the water lie feaa
a statement from the pumping station en-
gineer to the effect that the new channel
Of the Cave Spring creek was not COM
pletcd until Aug. 6, and that previous 10
! this time the creek emptied into Chicka-
| mauga river just above the mouth OF tho
/ take-in pipe OF the pipe line system. He
also expressed the opinion that the jay
Mlll spring at Chickamauga was also con-
| taminated from the surrounding. sinks.
DR. Park Meyers. contract surgeon fronA
/ Ohio. who Is engaged In the hospital OF
| the second Division Of the First Corps az
| Chickamagua, differed from most OF the
! phvslclans an his estimate OF typhoid FEVER
! He said that while many believes that 81
per cent OF the sickness al the camp was
| tvphotd. he did not believe that 10 exceed
| 20 per cent. was Of that character. lie also
! took issues with those who charged ty-
| phoid to the agency OF flies. auribuung ie
10 the water. He thought most OF the dts-
eases at Chickamauga were miasmauc.
lie said II was true on some occasions
when It was necessary to have patients IN
/ this hospital lie on the ground for as ion&
as ten hours a time until provision couia
| be made for them.
/ col e X. Huger. division superintendent
| Of the Southern Railroad, testified 10 the
! troubles encountered In moving troops.
/ soldiers had co-operated in the work or
the railroad company, but there had been
/ disorder AZ times He mentioned one IN
stance IN which Company +, Of the Fifth
pennsylvania, had brokeH up aa the fur
niture Of two cars near Lexington, Ky,
on the Plea that the cars were not NJ for
The soldiers to travel in
Lexington. KY. oct. 31.-Gen. Dodge,
Gen. Sexton and DR.. Connor, of the war
investigating commission. arrived hers
| from Chickamauga at O'Clock IN Gen.
Dodge's private car. Ambulances were
summoned from the camp at II O'Clock
Returning to town about Q O'clock the
commission went into session at their
rooms at the Phoenix Hotel and began tho
hearing of testimony.
Mai. Gen. James H. Wilson, commando
ing the First Division, First Corps, at
chickamauga said he left there with his
command about July !, bound for Porto
RICO Al Charleston he was kept some
Two weeks or more. He did not know
whether 1t was on account Of lack OF
transports or what. Here typhoid fever
broke out, and when he did get off he
had to leave seventy cases of il behind.
! The decentralization at Porto Rico, he
said, took eleven days, when It should
have been accomplished In two. This, he
claimed. was on account of not having
steam launches for which he asked the
department. in vain.
Gen. Wilson said ne had found the gov
ernment ratons good and sufficient. The
most OF the sickness among the troops
was caused by the men eating fruit ard
trash.
Il consider Chickamauga Park one OF
the finest camps in the world said Gen.
Wilson Il never saw its superior, unless
il IS Camp Hamilton, here at Lexington.H
Capt Charles w. Golden, conmissary OF
the Second Brigade, Third pivision. First
Corps testified that on nsarly all occa-
slons he had found the lAtions good and
in sufficient quantities. and that all req
uisltions made had hethought. been hon
ored as promptly as'possible- He said at
one time lot of/sacon was found that
had become InfsNed with maggots. but
that as soon ast was brought 20 the at
tentlon of ths authorities it was prompt
" Condemn
Lieut.. CA Frank d. Baldwin, inspector
eaneral n Gen. Wilson's STAFF. and who
s,.ae' 'or zen. Wadcs staff at Chickalnaura
gave Jfne sensational testimony concern
| tn~ ,te conditions there.
| "Nhen the cangD was first established
"a ~ he said