Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-10-15
CIDSONS REVELATIONS.
Relief Association Agent Hints of
s.sAA. Horrors in Santiago.
SAD PLANT OF A VOLUNTEER.

He Claims That the DeguIars Were
Properly Cared For. But That V olun-
tsers Were Brutality NeGlected-The
OLDHAM Brings N Sensational Report.
New York. Oct 12.-The United States
transport OLDHAM, which sailed from
Ponce Sept. 2S. via Santiago Oct. 5.
arrived at quarantine shortly after 4
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. The
transport brought $50 sick and con-
vaiescent soldiers and $50 passengers.
all well on board. The OLDHAM sailed
from Santiago for this port on Oct. ?.
but when two days at sea fire was dis
covered in her coal bunSers and she
was compelled to return to Santiago.
where the fire was extinguished. The
transport sailed again on Oct. 5. and
experienced fairly good weather. The
fire was stin smouldering when the
OLDHAM reached quarantine. Among
the sick and convaiescent soldiers
brought by the OLDHAM are 20 men OF
the Sixteenth Pennsylvania and nine
from the Fourth Pennsylvania volun-
feers-
On board the OLDHAM as a passenger
from Santiago is Colonel Charles II.
Gibson, field commissioner of the Ma
1ional Relief association. who brought
dispatches for the president. Colonel
Gibson went to Washington last night
Among the other passengers is Lieu
tenant Evan A Johnson, of the Nine
teenth infantry. and Major T. o. Sum-
mers. surgeon of the STAFF at Santiago.
Speaking to Governor Hastings, of
Pennsylvania. who went down to the
OLDHAM last night on the steamer
Fletcher. Colonel Gibson said that he
had been the means of saving many
soldiers from starving
Governor" he said. after an ex-
change of greetings, Il have story
to tell that will startIe the country"
AS n result of this remark there was
a conference between the commissioners
and Governor Hastings, after which
the governor decided to take off the
Pennsylvania soldiers and have them
sent TO a hotel for the night
To a reporter Colonel Gibson said.
--rhe newspapers will have to wait fol
my reports to ascertain the exact con-
dition Of affairs at Santiago. where
have been. They have been stirring
things up here so much that IL dareC
TO open my mouth I would use con
siderable cuss words to back up theil
mild language. I have been in San
fiago three months. and in that time
have learned many things. I cannot
Rel you what is in my report at present
but you may be sure that it is yer,
strong. My duty in Cuba was to lool
after the sick and wounded"
Did you report TO the government
as 10 what the men needed?"
II led them. But for the relief as
ISOLATION many of them would have
starved"
Ralph Harwick. of Dubois. Pa.
member OF the Sixteenth Pennsylvani:
volunteers, told a narrowing story o
the treatment he and his companion
had received while in Porto Rico. wv.
got there on July 2S.'' ne said. ''sn'
were landed from the transport Mobile
Many of US had contracted fever in TIL
military camps in the south. The trop
zeal climate developed the disease, bu
Notwithstanding our weakened con
dition the Sixteenth made a good figh
when IL encountered the Spaniards
The regiment was under fire for owe
an hour. and at The close OF the en-
gagement 13 Spaniards had been lxille
znd SO wounded. we deserved bette
treatment than we got when Port
Rico had been taken. The regular
were well looked after. but the volun
feers were starved. When finally tn
men were forced TO succumb to tn
fever, and were sent 10 the hospitals
they were treated shamefully. Al
though delirious, we were forced to sc
out of our cots to watch some poo
brave fellow dying. Some OF the me-
went mad under this strain. Only thin
OF IL, delirious men nursing the dying.
Harwick's story was but a sample o
the complaints which were recited b.
the men to Governor Hastings afte
they had been transferred from tn
OLDHAM 10 the Fletcher
Besides the members of the Fourtl
and Sixteenth Pennsylvania volunteer
the Fletcher brought to this city tw
1ieutenants and about a dozen private
OF the Third immune regi. lent. 16 o
the Thirteenth United States infantry
on furlough, and four members of tn
Fourth Ohio regiment.
Governor Hastings was reluctant t
snake public his views regarding tn
Sreatment the soldiers from his stat
claimed to have received. But Their
was some significance in his farewell
remark as the Fletcher cast loose fror
the OLDHAM. One of the soldiers aboar
the transport shouted: For God
sake. governor. don't leave u.s."
II am sorry to do so. my brave fel
low, but if / had my way would TAX
all of you with me-"