The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-02
INVESTIGATION OF THE WAR
WORLD CORRESPONDENT FILES a
TYPE WRITTEN STATEMENT.
Charges Wholesale Abuses In Con-
nection With the Establishmen MT
and Operation Of Camp WikOd-

WASHINGTON. Oct. 1.-The war inves-
tigating commission devoted it's time today
largely 10 the consideration OF a statement
filed by Nelson Eersch. on behalf OF the
New York World. giving what he styles "a
record Of facts concerning the establish
ment Of Camp Wlsoff and its management,
together with specific instructions Of
buses, charged to have existed. dates,
number OF sick in hospitals, deaths. etc
The statement is made il response TO the
general invitation from the coumiss on.
The specifications cover twenty one pages
OF typewriter matter, taking up the move
msnt Of the Santiago troops after the sur
render Of the Spanish at that place and he-
fore the breaking out of yellow fever there
in July. 1t is asserted at the time Mon
tauk Point was selected as the site for the
camp 1t was "a barren waste. The de-
tails Of the selection of the camp site are
given, as are also those Of the transporta-
ton OF troops. and 1t is asserted when the
first detachment Of 30 troops arrived on
August s, the camp was no; ready to re-
ceive them. and that they slept under their
oiankets ana IN the open air, as no tents
had arrived
This it is added. was eleven DAYS AZ
Ter u mad been decided 10 establish the
camp
Continuing, the assertion is made that
by me 10th of August the sick were re-
ported suffering from want of proper ac-
ana IOOO, 4nat their tents
We're without floors, and with only their
blankets between the sick men and the
ground. and that a glass OF sour milk
a aa;aes was the only nour-shment they re-
celveC IN tweniy-four hours.
The war department. is charged with fire.
quent changes OF plans. and It is asserted
mar Hen Young was given only six days
Tor the preparation of the camp before the
arrival OF troops. when two weeks time
was necessary. which caused great con-
fusion" On the lath of August, DR.. Ed
a fl.t .f~
I,Ao troops there We're almost wholly de-
pendent upon a body OF water without in
let or outlet, and known as Fort Pond
tor ther shrinking water
ms pond received the drainage from the
camp, ana the doctor found the water to
contain ninety grains of salt 10 the ga
lon This condition. he said caused dis
ease. and rendered the pond a constant
menace 10 the msn.
by the Nth OF August there were 10000
men IN camp and 1890 in the hospital with
many many unable to secure admission from the
transports. The regulars were reported to
De suffering from the necessares of life
Contract surgeons were reported living at
the expense of patients. After the doc
tors had lunched,' says the account,
twenty-five empty Apollinaris bottles
were counted on the table. said to have
been diverted from hospital stores
particulars are given OF the death in his
y. and II is asserted that DR.. Tabor re-
fused him permission TO enter the hospi-
tai on the ground that he was not sick.
The assertion is made that when. on the
hth OF September. DR. Lee went to Camp
Wikoff with special rain TO take sick
soldiers 10 Brooklyn hospitals, "he was
una bic 10 get more than fifteen men TO the
tram. on account OF the lack of am
balances. which were being used to carry
sishtseers around the camp. While hun
dreds OF sick soldiers were waiting TO be
transferred TO boats and trains a dozen
ambuances stood at the depots filled with
laughing men and women, who were see
ing the camp with officers friends
After This incQent Gen. Young gave Or
ders that the ambuiances were to be used
only Tor the transportation OF the sick
\ list of witnesses IS as follows:
Gen Joseph Wheeler. Gen. Young. Col
Forwood. Mai. Brown. surgeon; Chief Sur
geon Sem. from the. Red Cross Miss Helen
Gould. Mrs. Walworih DR. Cyrus Edison.
Or. S. IL. Doty. health officer Of New York
City; DR.. j. II. Watkins. health commits
sioner of New York. William Smith.
banker: Surgeon Linn. Thirteenth infan-
try. Surgeon Ames. Tenth infantry
A large number of names Of witnesses is
also suggested III the Parrett case and
there is a general request that correspond
ents and reporters of the World shall be
called. "
The commission directed that a reply he
forwarded 10 Mr.. Hersh, informing him
that the communication should have care
fu consideration