Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-08-11
SHALL NOT OCCUR AGAIN.
Blunders that Caused Suffering to Wounded
Soldiers While Being Transported Home
Will he Avoided In Future.

| Soldiers While Being Transported Home
VIII he Avoided In Future.
Washington, Aug. 4.-Charles Ii.
lleyl, of the inspector generals office,
has returned to Washington from New
York, where he went at the direction
| of Secretary Alger to make an eXami-
nation to fix the responsibility of the
| official who sent the transport Concho
| to New York from Santiago in an un-
| fit condition for carrying the sick and
wounded. Col. Heyl yesterday report
| ed to Secretary Alger the result of his
inquiries, but refused to talk for pub
| lication. Later in the day, however,
| the secretary made the following
statement concerning the Concho, as
well as the Seneca. which reached New
York about two weeks ago, after suf-
| fering many privations, owing, it is
alleged, to the unfit condition of the
vessel.
Concerning the unfortunate occur
rences on the ships Concho and Seneca
that brought home sick and wounded
from Santiago, the secretary of war
gives out the following statement,
after a careful investigation:
~ the llIHt lHtN ltll santiago lllc
general desire of convalescents TO
| come home doubtless overcrowded
both ships. From the commencement
of the Santiago campaign until within
a few days the terrible conditions on
that coast where our ships had no
shelter and always with a high surf
made the landing of troops, supplies,
ammunition. artillery and medical
stores very difficult. and much suffer
ing was thereby caused that was una
voidable. The lighters that went with
Gen. Skaters fleet were lost on the
way. The tows of lighters were sub
| sequently sent, which were also lost,
and it was impossible to get supplies
ashore except with the boats from the
ships and those supplied by the navy.
Later on a lighter was furnished by
the navy, which was the only one
| there for many days.
"On account of the great number of
sick and wounded, which was in ex-
cess of what had been anticipated,
| there was no doubt much privation
and suffering. especially among the
sick at Santiago. The captains of the
| Seneca and ConCho did not report to
| Gen. Shaftcr. nor to Quartcrmaster
| Humphrey that they needed water.
| Had they done so, of course il would
have been provided. Then also large
number of civilians rushed aboard to
| get away. and they occupied many
state rooms that should have been
given to the soldiers. No recurrence
| of such conditions will be possible
hereafter, and no one regrets more
| than the secretary of war that any
| thing of the kind should have hap
pened.
Secretary Alger. who is determined
| that no further trouble of the kind
| shall occur. if in his power to prevent
| it. has sent the following telegram to
| Gen. Shaftcr at Santiago: "Whenever
| it becomes necessary to use transports
| for sick or wounded purposes it should
| be made the duty of some competent
medical officer to see that only such
| transports as are in good sanitary con-
| dtion and are best suited for the pur-
| pose are selected; that the water sup
ply on board is ample in quantity and
wholesome in quality; that sufficient
supplies of food. medicine, dressing.
| hospital stores, including delicacies
| where possible to obtain them, ice,
etc, are placed on board; that a sutfi-
| cient number of experienced medical
officers and nurses accompany the
| sick and wounded on the voyage: that
| there is no overcrowding of the vessel,
| but that there are suitable accommo-
| dattons for all; that the departure of
! these ships be telegraphed to the adiu-
| tant general and surgeon general"
| a similar dispatch was sent to the
| commanding generals of the army at
| Porto Rico and Manila.