New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-21
FEW COMPLAINTS BEARD.
WORK OF THE INVESTIGATING COMMITS
SION IN JACKSONVILLE ENDED.
COLONEL BRYAN EXCUSED FROM TESTIFY
ING-THE EVIDENCE YESTERDAY.

COLONEL BRYAN EXCUSED FROM TESTIFY
ING-THE EVIDENCE YESTERDAY.
Jacksonville. Fla Oct. 2O.-The War Department.
Investigating Commission left Jacksonville to-
night. Atlanta being the next stopping place To-
morrow will be devoted 10 Atlanta. and 1t Is posi-
BILE that longer stay will be made there.
The Commissioners generally pleased with
the result OF their labOrs here. They have natu-
rally met with complaints. but these have usu-
ally dealt with comparatively unimportant points
and in few II any, have they indicated
neglect or culpable acknowledgement. Generally
one private or non-commlssioned officer from each
regiment has been called. and in many cases more
than one. In the of enlisted men. they were
selected at random. the Commissioners merely
asking that be sent to them without any
specification OF the purpose for which they were
called They have, without exception said that
they were receiving enough to eat and wear. There
were occasional complaints Of defects In clothing
or a request for a greater variety Of food. but
I'm no instance has spirit of fault-hndng been
developed among this class OF witnesses. In some
cases a deficiency OF supplies at the beginning OF
the camps history shown and more or less
tainted meat has been received by the men, but
1t was agreed by all the witnesses that the first
condition due to the congestion at Tampa and
the latter TO the climate
General McCook and Colonel Sexton returned to-
day from their investigation OF conditions at
Tampa. They found the congestion that occurred
there at the beginning of the war due to the
fact that shipped from all over the
country without being labelled and without for
warding bills OF lading.
Several professional female nurses heard at
the morning session. including Miss Copeland chief
nurse in the Third Division Hospital; Miss Robbins.
head nurse in the First Division Hospital; Miss
Hubbard. head nurse In the Second Division Hos
pta, and Misses Walker and Waters ward nurses.
Miss Copeland spoke In commendation OF the con-
he said
were well treated and apparently greatly respected
There I'm the beginning some scarcity OF APP
pliances for the sick. such hot-water bottles,
which. while not necessity. often a comfort.
Some nurses had made complaints but they were
the kind OF persons. she said who are never salts
fed.
Major James T. Pitcher. OF the Regular Army,
depot surgeon for the Seventh Army Corps. said
that since the early days of the camp there had
been difficulty in securing An abundance Of med
ical supplies and that they were much more p.ent'-
ful and OF greater variety than usual in the
Regular Army.
DR.. Conner said that the country was full OF the
report that the medical department OF the Army
was not capable of meeting the demands on IT, and
that but for the aid OF such relief societies az the
Red Cross there would have been actual suffering.
Dr. Pitcher replied that such not the case. and
he maintained that the Government could take
good OF It's own sick He said that 1t would
have been ungracious to accept the aid offered
by the relief societies.
Colonel Taylor. OF the 4th Virginia Regiment.
was the first witness at the afternoon session lie
said he had no complaint whatever to make con-
corning any department OF the Government and
that he knew Of no OF wfu neglect.
When Colonel W. J. Bryan was called. he asked
to be excused from testfyng. requesting that his
leutena colonel be examined in his stead.
You Will l have no doubt. understand my rea-
sons for the request" he said.
81 think the request proper and reasonable" re-
piled ex Governor Beaver. and. as the Commission
assentcd TO this concession. Colonel Bryan was
excused with the req:est 10 send up his lieuten-
aut-coloncl
Dr. Alexander Kent. pastor OF the Peoples
Church In Washington and field agent at Jack
sonville for the Red Cross was questioned concern
ing the operations of the Red Cross at this point.
lie said he had been received cordially by the sur
geons and he had co-operated with them. He had
noticed the absence OF sheets and pillow cases at
the Second Division hospital in It's early history.
This was in midsummer and men lay uncovered
on account OF the short supply OF blankets. lie
supplied the deficiency. There was also at that
time n shortage OF tents and food suitable for ~
phoid fever patients He had undertaken 10 SUP
plv the deficiency. and had distributed two car
loads OF delicacies.
Among the other witnesses examined were Lieu
tenant Jones commissary of the 4th Virginia: Pr
waite Allen o. White OF the same regiment rrHaIe
Freeman commissary OF the l6lst Indiana; tom-
inissary Sergeant Morse. Of the l6lst Indiana:
lanes r Pourie n company cOmmissary sergeant
of the 9Th Missouri. and Private James 7. James;
of the 9Th Missouri. All these witnesses expressed
themselves as satisfied with their treatment The
comm!ssary officers said that the rations were
abundant. but that occa.lonallT the ircsn me-, mel
No fail, saving that they enough 10 eat. ana
the food generally GOOD.
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