Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-05-22
by Mr.. D. o. Mills, arich New

founded by Mr.. d. o. Mills, rich New
Yorker.
AS stated, Mr.. Peterson enlisted in
the 69th New York reserves hoping to
be sent to Cuba. Soon after his en-
| listment word was received in New
York that expert male nurses were
needed for the Philippine expeditions,
and he was requested to go to the
Pacific coast, and was selected by Mrs.
Whitelaw Reid, a sister of Mr.. Mills,
as representative ofthe Mills school.
Mr.. Peterson secured his release from
the New York regiment and imme-
diately left for San Francisco where
he enlisted as private in the hospi-
tai corps of the Philippine expedi-
ton. Within five weeks he was pro-
NOTED to hospital steward his duties
being the general supervision of all
the nurses in the field hospitals and
the directing of, the patients diet,
etc. His first duty was at Camp Mer-
ritt, but was soon transferred to the
Presidio, camp about one and one
half miles from San Francisco on the
bay. After some weeks his corps
were loaded on to the .. S. transport
''Scandia," and with a perfect equip
ment for 1000 bed hospital, (his hos
pita1 corps numbered 175) and with
about 600 troops, left San Francisco
for Manila via Honolulu. The "Scan-
dia" had been a large freight boat of
13 knots speed, but was purchased by
the government and made into a
transport. Upon reaching Honolulu
a ten days. stop was made, as the boat
needed repairs before proceeding. A
part Of New York regiment was left
at this port. All the soldiers disem-
barked and Mr.. Peterson describes the
enth usiasm of the residents of this
island as being continuous ovation
during their stay. After the repairs
were completed the voyage was con-
tinu ed and Manila reached in about a
month from the date of sailing from
San Francisco.
Mr.. Peterson's first work upon |
rea ching Manila was to establish a
hospital of 200 beds at Malate, sub
urb of the city, and about three miles
away. There had been little fighting
between our troops and the Filipinos
up to this time and the hospital was
soon filled with soldiers suffering from
the prevalent diseases, which were
bowel troubles, type of typhoid and
fevers and peculiar form of
the latter trouble SEEM
ing the hardest to overcome and only
4 return to this country has proven
Of benefit to the sufferer. While MIR.
Peterson was at Malate, smallpox
made it's appearance but only resulted
n about rs cases. 1t was Of malig-
lant form, known here as "black
In few months he es-
ablished another hospital at Core
,idor island, Is miles below the city,
where the temperature was from Is to
70 degrees cooler than in Manila, and
lere most of the convalescents were
ent until ready for duty or a return
o this country. The government al
ows each hospital patient so cents
lay for subsistence, and it is diff
lcult work sometimes to disburse the
money at hand. Delicacies are in
bundance in the hospital corps, and
,ur sick soldiers are we'll cared for.
Dur troops have had remarkably little
ickness since going to the Philip
lines, Mr.. Peterson stating that only
bout onetenth of all the troops have
cen in the hospitals. There is, it
aust be remembered, no beef scandal
onnected with the Philippine expe-
itions, most of the beef received at
Ianila coming from Australia in re- ]
rigerator ships and is received in a
rozen condition.
The rations on board the transport [
Scandia" consisted ofpotatoes, fresh :
eef twice week, beans, bacon, hard !
ack, coffee, tea and sugar, and occa-
Ionally soft bread was served. What {
contrast between the army ration {
f today and those given our soldiers l
uring the civil war! Old soldiers {
'ould have considered such rations !
S mentioned above as a ''picnic party {
very day in the week." The rations
t Manila are mostly Of the canned :
ariety, with dried fruits and Austria
an beef. With this report it is seen