The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-22
New York Physician Blames the
War Officials.
CONDITIONS AT WIKOFF
SICK SOLDIERS WERE NEGLECT
ED AND STARVED.
Forty Men Placed On a Milk Diet
When There Was No Milk In
Camp-Burden of Proof Upon the
Authorities, to Show Their Justi-
ication.

New York, Nov 21--Major f. j.
Ives, chief surgeon of the Third, or
provisional, division of the Fifth army
corps, was the first witness before the
war investigating commission today.
Major Ives told of his experiences in
attending the wounded of the Ell Caney
fight. Asked as to his previous eXpe-
rience in action, he said ne was in the
Indian wars, in the, Victoria war in
1880, the Geronimo in 1885 and 1886, and
in the Sioux wars of 1890.
I'm view of those experiences" asked
General Wilson, What do you think
was the condition of the men in the
Cuban campaign, as compared with
that of the men in the Indian wars p
Il think is was as good as could have
been expected under the circun-
stances"
Was anything left undone that
would would have alleviated the condi-
ton Of the menu"
There should have been more ambu-
lances. There We're only three at the
disposal of my division. l do not know
if more could have been obtained, and 1
cannot think of anything that could
have been done for the men which was
left undone."
He said that at first he was opposed
to the employment of women as nurses
but changed his mind later, as the
women did excellent work.
DR.. Louis A. Stimson of New York
testified that he had made two visits
to Camp Wikoff to investigate the re-
suits of lack OF provision against an
epidemic of typhoid fever.
n He told of unsanitary conditions he
in, no, oil
surgeon in charge of the general hos
pital told him he recognized the situa-
ton, but was unable to obtain neces-
sary help to carry out his orders.
IF 1 want thing DONE" the sur
geon told him, Il have to take a man
by the ear and make him do it
All the surgeons told DR.. Stimson
that they suffered from lack of COM
petent male help.
Dr. Connor asked DR.. Stimson if he
did not know that it was impossible to
obtain male help at the hospitals; that
many men sent from New York City
were drunk and declined to obey or
ders. DR.. Stimson said he had heard
some such reports.
On Sept. DR.. Stimson said he went
again to Montauk Point to Investigate
a report that soldiers were starving
there. L found many of thon, the
nothing to eat for tWents our hours.
Of course, there was enough food in
the camp for well men, but there we're
a great many in camp who were sick
and were not cared for and not in hos
pitfalls. I know of forty men in one
regiment who were put on a milk diet
when there was no milk in camp.
What 1 can't understand Dr. Slim
son said lis why the United States
ap1lt chs l,eaIr
to leave the hospital before they were
cured Seventy-four typhoid cases
picked up in the streets in this city
were treated in the Hudson Street
hospital. They should not have been
allowed to leave Montauk until they
were WE'LL
What do you think could have been
done at Camp Wikoff that was not
done?" asked Ex-Governor Woodbury..
L think the whole conception Of the
camp was wrong. 1t should have been
called a hospital camp and conducted as
a hospital camp entirely. The burden
of proof rests upon the authorities to
show why the proper things were not
done"
CONDITIONS WE'RE BAD.
Miss Julia Halstead Chadwick, one
of the women who worked for the sick
statement of the conditions she found
there in the latter part of august, and
told of the distribution OF fOcd and
drink to- the rough riders, negro cav
airy and Eighth and Twenty second in
fantry. She told of the inefficient sup
ply of bed clothing and undertaking.
She heard there was plenty of both in
store, but she knew the soldiers did not
have them. She said the regular SOL
diers suffered the same as the volun-
teers, but made no complaint and de-
clined proffered aid.
Samuel L. Parricf a lawyer of this
city, who visited Camp Wikoff several
times, said that the great drawback TO
the camp was the lack of one active,
continuous, intelligent directing mind
Everybody in authority did his best,
but there were too many changes. One
day General Wheeler was in charge.
When he became familiar with the con-
ditions he went away. General Shafter
succeeded him and General Bates sue
ceeded General Shafter.
General Beaver asked if there were
many complaints.
Indeed no. There never was a more
accomplishing man than the American
soldier | saw disgraceful conditions,
but heard no complaints. If President
Mckinley had put himself in my hands
could have shown him some things
that would have shocked him. He saw
none of them. He was permitted to
make only a parade inspection"
All the trouble and suffering at the
camp, Mr. Parrich declared, in sum
ming up his views, was due to a lack
of foresight and the neglect of some
one. 1 cannot say who is responsible
for the conditions that prevailed, but I
can testify that very undesirable condi-
lions did prevail
To the question asked BIZ General Nc
Cook:
Did you see any officer of the army
or doctor neglecting his duty?" Mr..
Parrich declined to answer. He ex-
planned that in his opinion the fact that
all testimony before the commission
must necessarily be voluntary kept
many from testifying who would be
glad to give testimony If compelled to
do so and thus placed under the pro-
lection of the commission.
An invitation was sent to Colonel
Theodore Roosevelt to appear before
the commission. No time has been
fixed for his examination, but it is
thought he will testify tomorrow.
SERGEANT DoBsoN's DEATH.