The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-01
A FLOOD OF LIGHT
Why Disease and Death Ran
Riot There.
POLLUTION OF WAFER
INDESCRIBABLY FILTHY CON
DITION OF CAMP THOMAS.
COLONEL BAlDwIN's STORY OF THE CAMP
Ground so Perforated with Sinks Unsafe to Ride
Through It. Surgeon cIamoring for
Medicines. Colonel who Bought
Medicines and Shoes.
Medicines and Shoes.

Medicines and Shoes.
Camp Poland, Knoxville, Tenn, Octo-
Der 31.-(SpeciaD The War 1nvestiga-
ton Commission concluded the work OF
its Southern tour here to-day, and at
o'clock tonight left for Washington, ex-
pecting to arrive there about II o'clock
to-morroy afternoon. The Commission
devoted the forenoon to inspecting the
camps, and the afternoon to taking tes-
timony. They found division of troops
here under the command of Colonel
Kurtz, of the Second Ohio, and while
they had no personal criticism TO express
against him, some of the Commissioners
expressed the opinion that the command
was too large to be entrusted to an Of
ficer below the rank of Brigadier. The
transfer of Colonel Kurtz to the COM
mand Of the Division, leaves the brigade
of which his regiment is a part, in COM
mand of Colonel Young, the colored Col
onel of the Third North Carolina.
The first witness before the Commits
physician, from Ohio, who was at Chick
sion was DIR. J. +. Martin, a contract
amauga. He repeated his expression of
the opinion that the water in the pipe
line system at Chickamauga was contain
mated by the water from Cave Spring
Greek. He said that after he had first
expressed the opinion, saying that at the
same time the facts in regard to the eX-
istence Of typhoid were being suppressed,
he had been summoned by General Sher-
idan, and told that he must retract inn
mediately or submit to court-martiaf,
but he declared that he had done this to
promote discipline, and not because he
had changed his opinion as to the pOllu-
ton of the water He read a statement
from the pumping station engineer to the
effect that the new channel of the Cave
Spring Greek was not completed until
August 9th, and that previous to this
time the creek emptied into Chickamau-
ga River, just above the mouth of the
take-in pipe Of the pipe line system. He
also expressed the opinion that the Jay
Mill Spring at Chickamauga was also
SICK LYING ON THE GROUND.
DIR. Park L. Myers, a contract surgeon
from Ohio, who is engaged in the hos
pital Of the Second division Of the First
corps at Chicamauga differed from most
o. the physicians in his estimate of ty"
phoid. He said that while many be-
lieve that ninety per cent of the sicS-
ness at the camp was Of typhoid, he did
not believe that more than twenty per
cent was Of that character. He also
took issue with those who charged ~
phoid to the agency of flies, attrihuting
it to the water. He thought 1cst of
the diseases at Chickamauga PARK we're
miasmatic. He said it was true that on
some occasions patients in this hospital
had to lie on the ground for as long as
ten hours at a time until provision could
be made for them.
Colonel G. X. Hughes, division super
intendent Of the Southern Railway. tes-
titled to the troubles encountered in NOV
ing troops. Soldiers had 20 perated IN
the work of railroad companies, but
there had been some disorder at times.
He mentioned one instance n which
Company f, Of the Fifth pennsy Ivan.a,
had .roken up all the furniture of two
near Lexington, KY, on the plea that
the cars were not fit for the soldiers to
travel in.
ELEVEN DAYS TO DISEMBARK.
Lexington, KY, Oct. 31.-General
Dodge, General Sexton and Dr. Conner,
Of the war investigating commission ar
rived here from Chickamauga at 5
o'clock in General Dodge's private car.
Ambulances were summoned from Camp
Hamilton and the commission started
for the camp at IL o'clock.
Returning to town about 8 o'clock the
commission went into session at their
rooms at the Phoenix hotel and began
the hearing of testimony.
Major General James III. Wilson, now
commanding the First army corps, was
with the first division, First corps at
Chickamauga He left there with his
command about July LIST, bound for
Porto Rico. AT Charleston he was kept
there some two weeks or more; he did
not know whether it was ON account of
a lack of transports or what. Here
typhoid fever broke out. and when he
did get off he had to leave seventy cases
of it behind. The Decentralization at
Porto Rico he said, took eleven days
when it should have been accomplished
in two. This, he claimed, was on ac-
count of not having steam launches
for which he asked the Department in
vain.
General Wilson said he had found the
Government rations good and sufficient.
The most of the sickness among the
troops was caused by the men eating
fruit and trash.
II consider Chickamauga Park one of
the finest camps in the world said Gen
eral Wilson, Il never saw it's superior
unless it is Camp Hamilton here at
Lexington"
Captain Charles w. Golden, commits
sary Of the Second brigade, Third divi-
sion, First corps, testified that on nearly
all occasions he had found the rations
good, and in sufficient quantities and
that all acquisitions made had, he
thought, been honored as promptly as
possible. He said at one time lot of
bacon was found that had become in
tested with maggots, but that as soon
as it was brought to the attention Of
the authorities it was promptly con-
demned.
HOSPITALS WERE FILTHY.
Lieutenant Colonel Frank d. Baldwin,
inspector General on General Wilson S