The times., 1898-10-21


Jacksonville. Fla. Oct. 2o.-The Alger
Relief Commission resumed its session
this morning and began tthe examina-
ton of several of the women nurses at
Camp Cuba Libre. There have been
charges that the women nurses We're not
provided for properly, but the witnesses
all testified to the satisfactory conditions
existing in all the division hospitals.
A report was presented to the commits
sion today by Gen. John NJ Wilson and
Capt. Howell, the subcommittee appointed
TO go to Fernandina. 1t is as follows:
The location of the camp is excellent,
probably quite equal to any site for the
purpose that could have been selected
on the Florida coast. The ground is roll
ing, its maximum elevation being about
sixty feet above the level of the sea,
with no swamp except a tidal salt marsh
beyond the highest ground. The sea
bathing facilities are excellent.
Whitesash-FeInnn Brand.
I'VE visited large portion of the area
occupied by the troops, and. although
there had been severe storm the night
before our arrival, the ground was prac-
tically dry. We carefully examined the
site of ri,e camp of the Third Pennsyl-
vania Volunteers. which, it had been re-
ported. was a tropical jungle worthless
land uncleared and upon which the troops
worked like slaves to clear II until 1t
was fit for camping. While your commit
tee cannot state the condition OF this
land when the troops arrived, it found
no appearance Of a tropical jungle here
or in The vicinity. There were no evil
dences of there having been serious work
in preparing the camp
Altogether. the committee was most
favorably impressed with the character of
the site selected. We are informed that 1t
had been occupied by about 1900 troops.
We visited and obtained from the county
clerk Of Nassau County, Fla, map
showing the lands occupied by the troops
and his official certificate as to the owner
ship OF the lands reverting to the State of
Florida in June. 1897, by reason of unpaid
taxes, and that no one OF the name OF
Alger ever controlled any lands in the
county of Nassau, as shown by the rec
ords. and that the land occupied by the
Third Pennsylvania Volunteers, at Fer
nandina as a camp was at the time the
property of the State of Florida.
Whitey.ash, Whitewash Everywhere
The distance of the site of the camp
from town is from one to one and half
miles. The water was piped without ex-
penditure to the camp from Fernandina.
Being from an artesian well about 600
feet deep the supply was unlimited. 1t
had a slight sulphur taste. which, 1t is
said, some troops disliked, and OCCASION
ally used surface water. The location of
the hospitals, as pointed out to US, was
on high grounds, we'll drained and appar-
emily well selected.
Your committee, therefore, has the
honor TO report that, in its opinion, the
camp was well selected"
The Afternoon Session.
When the Commission resumed in
the afternoon. Col. Taylor, uOaarriaIatl-
ing the Fourth Virginia Regiment, was
called to the stand. Dr. Connor read
number of complaints published in
Richmond papers regarding the Virg. MIA
regiment, nearly all OF which Col. Taylor
pronounced utterly untrue. He said
that his regiment was open for inspec-
tion, and he had begged the governor
TO come and look the men over. They
are. he declared. in good condition. He
thought many men going home wanted
sympathy and told their friends of i'm
aginary hardships
Lieut. H. NJ Morrow of the Third Ne
braska, Col. Bryan's regiment, testified
that the rations furnished his command
were generally good and the men Were
satisfied, in the main.
There were some complaints, but he
believed them unfounded. The next wit
ness called was Col. William ]. Bryan,
but he did not testify. He was intro
duced by Gen. Dodge to the members of
the Commission, and then Gen Dodge
started to read him the instructions of
the President in forming the Commits
sion. Col. Bryan interrupted. with a re-
quest that he be excused from testifyins
and asked that his lieutenant colonel be
summoned in his place.
Col. Bryan Excused.
at is for reasons that you gentlemen
will appreciate" he explained.
The Commission consented to relieve
him, and he said he would send his
lieutenant colonel.
Col. Bryan then remarked:
you have asked me to send you pri-
vate soldier and specified that he should
be from Company b.
THAT was so no charge could be made
about picked men,, explained Gen.
Beaver.
Well he answered, 81 sent for the
captain of Company B. and told him /
wanted a man who would be able 10
give a clear reason for any opinion he
might have l wanted one who would
make as good an appearance as possible.
Col. Bryan was then excused, and Col
Winfield T. Dervin. of the One Hundred
and Sixty-first Indiana appeared. He tes-
tilted to generally satisfactory conditions
In his regiment, but complained of q
recent neglect Of some of his men sent
TO hospitals with fever and jaundice. The
men have complained that for forty-eight
hours they have not been attended by the
physicians Col. Dervin said he had
made formal report of the matter, which
was being investigated. In general way,
he was satisfied with the treatment of his
men. and had heard few complaints
L. w Jones. lieutenant in the Fourth
Virginia who has had charge of the COM
missary of the regiment. pronounced the
food supply good in quality and quantity
Allen o. White. of Richmond, Va, a