The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-04
SOLDIERS IN A BAD PLIGHT.
MEN FROM sERGEANT's REGIMENT
WITHOUT MONEY OR CLOTHES.

Were Left at st. JOseph's Inirmary
when the Regiment Sailed for
santiagO-Dr. Nichols Has Written
Four Letters to the Authorities
with Regard to the Matter, and No
Reply Has Been Received - The
Men Now Dependent Upon Charity.
There are six soldiers in Savannah who.
to put 1t mildly, are in a desperate condi-
ton They were left here when Col. Ser
geants Fifth United States Volunteer
Regiment, called immunes, departed for
Santiago in the early part of August.
These soldiers are George Richards of
Bangor, Ala; Robert Parker, Decatur,
Ala; Tom Ransford, Hot Springs, Ark. /;
E. Russell, Yokena, Miss; ]. Howell,
Baton Rouge, La. and Jake Holzer. Birm-
inghan. Ala.
When Col Sergeant's regiment went off
were too sick to leave, and they were or
dered to the hospital They were left in
charge of DR.. E. H. Nichols, who is ex-
aiming Surgeon for the government, and
he has looked after them ever since.
More than two weeks ago these men
were discharged from the hospital as
cured, but they have, nevertheless, con-
tinued to stay there, because they have
had nowhere else to go. They are without
money and practically without clothes.
since they have had no laundry, and they
are entirely dependent upon charity.
The case is a most unusual one, In that
the government authorities have been be-
sought to take some action in the case,
and have paid little or no attention to the
matter. The men are afraid to leave the
city, because they fear they win be ar
rested as deserters. The consequence Is
they can do nothing but remain here, and
be dependent on charity until the war de-
partment sees fit to take some action with
regard to them.
The men were left in DIT. Nichols charge
on Aug. s. He received telegram from
Surgeon General Sternberg of the army
instrucing him to place them in a hos
pital, which was done. They have been
most kindly and considerably cared for
at ST. Joseph's. But they are we'll now
and want to get away to their homes.
Unfortunately they have no money with
with which to stay.
Dr. Nichols has written three letters to
Surgeon General Sternbefg with regard
to the matter, and no attention has been
paid to any of them. Tired of waiting
for an answer from the surgeon general
he wrote to Secretary Alger, as it seems,
In the vain hope of receiving more cour-
teous treatment from that official. So
far he has had no answer to that letter,
and absolutely nothing has been done for
the men.
He has requested that the men be given
a furlough of thirty days and sent to
their homes, or that something else, what
ever may be deemed best in the minds
of the officials, be done for their relief,
but not one word in answer has been re-
ceived.
DR.. Nichols said yesterday that he had
determined to write letter to President
Mckinley on the subject, and see why
something has not been done. He has
done all for the men that he could, and
said if the government does not do some
thing for them pretty soon they will nee
essarily become public charges on the
community.
Altogether the case appears to be one
of forgetfulness and neglect on some
bodys part. 1t was the surgeon general
who ordered that the men be sent to the
hospital here which is evidence Of the fact
that there must be a record of them in
Washington. The authorities should take
hold of the case at once and do something
for the relief of the men.