The times., 1898-10-09
Another Day With the Alger
Relief Commission.
MAJOR GIFFEN TESTIFIES
Witnesses Agree i'm Blaming the
Flies for the Rnpid Spread of
MaIariuI Disease Shortage of
Tents at Camp Thomas is Admit
ted-Testimony of Capt. Raldrfdge.

camp at Jacksonville. Fla.
Major Giffen said that he thought the
medical service WIS about as nearly
perfect as anything constructed by the
hand of man could be. There were
some errors, of course, but practically
nothing that human foresight could
have avoided.
However, Major Giffen did think that
tt was a mistake to keep 10000 men in
one camp for any length of time. He
thought that it would have been better
perhaps, to have kept the men on the
move.
Some of the sinks at Camp Thomas,
he admitted. Were not deep enough, and
were not properly covered-but he did
not seem to think that anyone could
be held particularly to blame for such
slight omissions He corroborated the
testimony Of Gen. Boynton regarding
the dangerous and deadly character of
the flies around Camp Thomas He
was satisfied that the aforesaid flies
were responsible for the rapid spread Of
the typhoid fever.
The Commission will endeavor TO
wind up its work here next week or TO
fix it in such share that it can start off
on its tour Of inspection of the various
camps. 1t is not at present the inten-
lion of the Commission, it is understood,
to examine any more important wit
nesses until after its junket trip, which
viii probably be after election
The object of this arrangement is too
obvious TO deserve comment. II win
prevent any damaging testimony COM
ing out before election day.
The Commission was only photo
graphed six times during the past week.
Secretary Alger IS said to have sent
sharp rebuke for this negligence, and
Gen. Dodge has, it is understood, prom
ised TO make q better camera record
during the coming week.
Arrangements have been made with
special artist, il is said, TO have a
snap shot taken of the Commission as
its members issue from the Lemon
building and start out in quest of a
midday sandwich.
Major G.fen's Testimony.
Major Giffen, chief surgeon of volun-
teers, who had charge of the Sternberg
AAIGk54ASAA eAA NAAIhGI4tduSd 1aEh, WAS
the first witness summoned by the AL
ger Relief workers. Before the war he
was a surgeon in Lincoln, Neb., and on
July reported to Gen. Brooke for duty
at ChickamGuga When asked as TO
the suitability of the place for an en-
campment he said that he did not be-
leve in having tents under the trees.
The following questions and answers
Were exchanged in regard to the di-
vision hospital, Col DENLY conducting
the inquiry:
Q. What condition did you find the
division hospital in? A. 1t was crowd
ed
Q. What kind Of a hospital was it.
wooden or in tents? A. In tents with
out floors.
Q. What was the date of your visit?
A. About the 18th or Goth Of July, or
thereabouts.
Q. In other respects how was it? A.
1t was not suitable.
Q. Indicate to what extent it was
crowded. A. Eight or nine men were
in tent, and under the flies between
tents.
@. How many ought there to have
been there? A From four to six; not
more than six
The witness added that he visited this
hospital only once, and on questioning
acknowledged that things might have
been better later in the season. The
trouble was lack Of tentage, and it was
probably the fault of the surgeon in
charge that larger accommodations
were not provided. Whether the sur
geon could have got tentage on requi-
Bition witness did not know, except that
his own acquisitions were always
promptly attended to.
When questioned as to whether he
had seen any case of neglect or irregu-
iarity in the hospital, Major Giffen
answered that one of his men who had
been accidentally shot in the leg was
put into the same tent with typhoid and
diarrhea cases.
Col. DENLY inquired as to the sinks in
Major Citizens brigade. The witness
replied that they were bad, too near
the company kitchen, not more than
seventy-five feet away Some were
totally uncovered. The responsibility
lay with the regimental commanding
officer. The witness made changes i'm
mediately upon his arrival, moving
sinks farther back, providing for disin-
fectants and covering them up.
Did these changes which you made
result in any Improvement in the state
Of the command?" Col. DENLY asked.
''the regiments were all infected with
typhoid, which had been carried by the
flies from the open sinks to the food in
the kitchens"
How many cases of typhoid, all told,
were there2'
About 5000"
Typhoid fever is catching, is it not?''
''It is infectious.
Capt. BaIdrfdge on the Stand.
After the recess which followed the
conclusion of Major Giffens testimony,
Capt. James c. Baldridge, a brigade
commissary in Gen. Lees corps, at
Camp Cuba Libre, Fla, was examined.
He was appointed from civil life, and be-
fore the war was in the live stock COM
mission business in Chicago. He had
visited the different regiments in his
brigade examined the sinks, and kitch-
ems and looked over the camp. He
found everything in fair condition, but
the cooks were not the best, He had
been informed that dengue fever at
tackled citizens in Florida as well as
the troops.
What kind of coffee did you issue?'
Col DENLY inquired.
AT first il was roasted coffee, but
later, when the coffee roasters arrived,
we furnished green coffee. Then again
we supplied roasted coffee. The men
clamored, though. for green coffee, as
it was stronger.
Regarding meats he would place an
order with Armour & Co. for fresh
meats. and the regiments would receive
fl in ten days rations. 1t came in re-
frigerator cars, in good condition. He
had few complaints about it, but on