The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-17

of the hospitals history. About 200
wounded men came 20 be treated within
three or four days after the institution OF
the hospital The surgeons were an COM
petent, and notwithstanding the shortage Of
supplies the men had as good attention there
as they could have had at any Jtner hos
with the exception of delicacies and con-
veniences There was a scarcity of ice and
milk, for instance for the transports carry
ing conValeScentS north. These transports
were provided with all the articles that
were on hand. Speaking of the Concha.
concerning which there ha- oeeu consider
T:4e provisioning of that vessel, and he was
sure that il had received all the supplies
necessary-at least there had been no COM
plant before leaving, and he had taken II
for granted that she had all that was re-
quired. He did not know of any ships COM
ing north without medical Offices and at
tendants, yet the convalescents were eX-
pected TO look after themselves on the trip.
DR. Ireland said that on one occasion a
surgeon on the Seneca had come ashore in
search of a revolver because, he said, the
crew was insolent He had not been able
DR.. Ireland had never heard tnat he had
been called upon to use ii. He was not
sure whether this was DR.. Bird or DR..
Hicks.
Dr. Edward L. Munson, who for time
was on duty at Tampa and in Cuba, being
for time on the Olivette and also adJutant
to General Pope, chief surgeon or the Fifth
Corps, said he had understood that requisi-
tons were promptly approved, and that all
the difficulty there was in getting medicines
and supplies was due to the lack of trans
portation Each regiment nad beer, eX-
pected 10 take the supplies thar would be
necessary. There were no orders to leave
any of the medical supplies, except the am
balances. at Tampa. He had understood
that the medical supplies in Cuba were
short. They were taken on the transports.
but it was impossible to get them landed.
WITHOUT TENTS.
DR.. Munson said the condition OF the army
of Santiago was lamentabe. owing largely
to the fact that the men were without tents.
For the first two or three days also there
were practically no supplies on shore. So
far as he could determine the quartermas-
ter's department had made no effort to as
aist the medical department, leaving it en-
tirely to its own devices. He thought there
was sufficient dressing for the
wounded, sufficient medicines and suff-
cient surgical Instruments but there
was a lack of tents, of cots and or
suitable diet. The actual necessities were
thus met by the medical department, but IL
the fighting had continued for several days
he did not believe it would have been pos
sible for the department to have taken care
rival of the Relief on the Sth of July He
sailing until supplies which had been or
dered could be received
Col. w. H. Forwood. who was the chief
medical officer at Montauk Point testified
| that his instructions were to have on hand
at all times tents, beds, etc, and repre-
sensations that they were not there were
not correct. There was, however, some lack
of transportation facilities, and there was
difficulty In getting supplies from the sta
ton. this fact being due largely to the
limited capacity of the railroad depot. The
only for a few hours. We did not do much
business with the letter pad" said the witt
ness; I'VE did not use the pen nor resort to
red tape, but we got on our horses and went
with vim to do what was TO be done"
But, said DR.. Conner, these facts do
occasions when the tents were overcrowded
when there We're more sick men than
could be accommodated. What steps were
taken to relieve this condition.
DR.. Forwood-We increased the carpen-
tiers and the laborers generally, and if pos
sible would have increased the time. we
redoubled our own personal eXertions.
worked late at night, going through rain as
DR.. Connor-But how did it happen that
after receiving an order early in August to
get thousand Ced hospitals ready that in
the latter part of that month this had not
been done for sick soldiers who were not
able to find hospital accommodations?
Whose fault was it-that of the medical de-
partment or the quartermaster's depart
ment that such was the case? Surely some
body was at fault; and you, as the chief sur
geon of the camp ought to be able to tell
us who it was"
Dr. Forwood-No: you have not made a
case yet. Our first order was for a 500-bed
hospital, and after that for another of the
same capacity. BY the time you speak OF
for 1900
DR.. Connor-Even then you had not suffi-
cient tentage
Dr. Forwood-Not to cover the whole
earth, but we had all that was necessary TO
cover the sick There was never a moment
when we did not have tents there to put up.
At this juncture DR. Forwood was excused
for the night. General Dodge announced at
the close Of to-day's session that the COM
mission would leave here at II O'Clock to-
morrow night for New York While in that
city the Fifth-avenue Hotel will be head
quarters and meetings will be held there,
the first beginning Friday at 10 o'clock.