The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-21
MEMORIES OF MIAMI.
Observations Of Medical Officer Who Made
Initial investigation.
GENERAL wADt'S REPORT WAS ADVERSE
Splendid Work of Captain j. ". Mas
sic During Smallpox Epidemic
mt Gibara and Holguin.

en- route from New Orleans to his present
station at Fort Clark
| Captain Woodson served with distinction
during the Hispano- American war and,
while he was identified with none of the
Texas troops, is an interesting personality
to many OF the people of this State. He
was attached TO the staff OF Brlgadier Gem
eral James r. Wade during the early part
of the struggle with Spain and while act
Ing in that capacity he accompanied his
superior officer to Miami, Fla. when tho
latter was sent there by the war depart
ment for the purpose of investigating the
fitness, or rather the unitness, of the
place as point for the concentration Of
troops.
1t Will be remembered by those who kept
up with the fortune OF the Texas troops
spondent of The Post who accompanied
the First division OF the Seventh army
corps repeatedly made the statement dur
ing the time that the command named was
at Miami that General Wade had made an
adverse report on the place, and that, not
withstanding this fact, the six regiments
composing the division mentioned were
sent there Within a very few days after
the report in question was made 1t was
pointed out that. in view of all the cir
cumstances surrounding the case, tie
troops must have been sent 10 the fever-
stricken Florida town as a direct result
of the immense pull with the war depart
ment which was enjoyed by Henry NJ.
FlaEler, the multi millionaire who owns
the Florida and East Coast railway, the
only rail line into Miami TO say nothing
OF the various hotels and other magnificent
properties along the road. At the time
these statements were made In The Post
u ere were some ultra partlsans who i'm
provd the occasion to express doubt as to
their accuracy, particularly as to the re-
port made by General Wade. and, 1t is for
the purpose of showing the correctness of
the position assumed by The Post in the
premises that Captain Woodsons connec-
ton with the matter is noted here While
Mt Miami with General Wade he made
thorough inspection of the site of the pro-
posed camp with n view to ascertaning
its sanitary possibilities. and 1t was rs a
result OF this report. together with obser-
vatons made by General Wade In per-
son, that the latter officer Informed the
war department to the effect that Miami
was mere jungle, extremely unhealthful
and totally unfit for occupancy by troops.
more tHan tHls, Salu captain Npuu-
son, in speaking OF the matter last night.
1--WE made an investigation of the channel
leading from the Miami docks to the deep
water OF the Atlantic and found that, as
has already been told through the columns
Of the Southern press. there was less than
ten feet of water the bar In places.
With these conditions existing It would
have been manifestly impossible to en-
bark troops for Cuba or Porto Rico at this
point. Fernandina and Tampa only pos
sessed harbors sufficiently deep to ac-
commodate the transports such as were in
use ut this time. have often wondered
why troops were sent to Miami in view OF
the character of the report made by Gems
eral Wade, and also why the conditions
which existed there during the time the |
First division of the Seventh army corps |
occupied the place did not create more Of
a stir among the people of the country, |
those who had relatives and |
friends among the troops stationed theirs
al want to say" said Captain Woodson
during the course OF a general conversa
ton regarding the late struggle, that
right here in Houston there lives a man
who is entitled to the utmost credit for
his conduct during the war. I refer TO
Houston's present health officer. Or. ]. r.
Massie. who was in Cuhn in command of
The Houston Post Rifles company G OF
Hoods immune regiment. Captain Mas
sic was not given the opportunity to dis
-inguish himself on the field Of battle |.
for thc war was practically over when he
reached Cuba and the only chance his
command had of doing anything was in
the nature of provost duty to which the ,
larger portion Of the regiment was as
signed soon after its arrival. Captain Mas
sic is 10 be commended for the mcritorious |
service he rendered during the famous !
epidemic last fall No one could
hiatt fbap :
time the disease made its appearance I
was medical inspector OF the department :
ot Santiago on the staff of General Leonard Z
Wood. Az result OF n request to that
effect made by me. Captain Massie was :
instructed 10 assist me Mt the Isolation 4
hospital at Gihara. OF which he was after 9
wards placed In charge, and later at Hol- .
gum. The character OF the work done by :
him may be imagined when tell you that Q
within two and one-h half months We suc-
'eeded In thoroughly stamping out the dis :
ease, Notwithstanding the fact that during .
he period named there were at one time
,ver 1000 cases of smallpox in that section. 3
During the time Captain Masse was per- .
forming this service his company was on
,nard and provost duty in the infected :
district. and the officers and men compos- o
ng II are TO be especially commended for .
heir meritorious work In this connec-
ion"
captain Woodson discussed the resig-
atlon OF Secretary Alger the present
impaign In the Philippines and other .
latters In connection Herewith during
us conversation with a representative OF :
he Post. As Is the case with MANY .
Tiers who hold similar views, however.
ne fact that he is In the service deferred 3
I'm from giving out for publication some .
ms opinions in the premises. He stated,
lough, that he thought tho removal of
lger would mark change for the better .
inc present situation, so far as the mat
srs mentioned are concerned
On his return from Cuba short time .
go Captain Woodson was sent TO Fort 2
lark and is stationed there at present. :
g was at his post during the recent floods .
that section and succeeded in saving 9
amber Of lives by the use OF the only :
valuable boat. Previous to the latest war .
was at one time stationed at Fort Nc
ltosh at Laredo. He was at West Point :
I'm Charles G. Dwyer, colonel of the late .
lrst Texas infantry. and is acquainted
ith several other officers who were con- 3
icted with the Texas troops during the .
me they were In the service. He was
his way to Fort Clark last night, after 8
snort leave OF absence spent In New