The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-03-02

been told, when he asked for calomel |
for the boys, that the stores had been
picked and all sent off to Cuba, and that |
in Cuba he was informed there was no
calome, and that outside of a phial |
of the stuff which he managed to secure |
by stealth, he really didn't believe there |
was an ounce of the stuff on the island |
for the use OF the soldiers, and yet that |
was mostly needed. He said he spoke |
to various medical officers concerning |
the condition which prevailed, and that |
it was an outrage to humanity that |
things were as they were found there. |
He stated that the deaths which fol-
lowed in such numbers in Cuba were |
rather due to the exposure to which the |
boys were subjected and to the general
conditions of an unwholesome nature
which were present, and the scarcity of
the medical stores which really were
needed at that time, and that it was
no wonder that some of the boys died.
He said that when man died, he went
forward and administered to the hopes
of the living, and that he did the best
| he knew how to attend to their wants
and needs, and at all times proffered as
sistance to those in need Of medical at
tention, whether members of his bat
| TALON or not.
He stated that on August 10th, the
regmental hospital was erected and the
comforts Of the sick were more care
fully attended to, and that the construc-
tion of this hospital probably saved a
number of lives. He referred to the
box which was sent to Siboney, Cuba,
from philanthropic ladies in this city.
They had first written to Captain Smith
and asked him what was mostly needed,
| and he replied, and when the box was
delivered to the Canton boys, it had
been broken open, possibly by the hos
pital officers at Siboney, and about one
half Of the articles had been removed,
but that the remainder had been Sc
cured and that many comforts were
afforded the boys in the hospital, which
made it more home-like and that the
kindness of the ladies was greatly ap-
preciated. Reference was made to the
march to San Juan hill. and the start
homeward after the surrender, and the
boarding of the Mohawk and the trip
across the sea to their native land. He
said there was one case of so-called yell
low fever, and another suspicious case,
the latter being the illness Of Private
Betz of this city. When the quaran-
tine officers stepped abord the ship they
| inquired if any cases of fever existed.
, Betz's case was related to them, and
without the proper investigation they
, ordered him quarantined. He said a
sort of shelter was built over the sick
, man where he lay on the top deck, quar-
, antined, and that by proper care and
/ good attendance, the supposed case of
j fever turned out some other complica-
ton induced possibly by privation, and
r was not fever. Another private who
, died from what was pronounced yellow
, fever, on thorough examination, he
stated, probably died of organic trouble
r of the kidneys and heart, and that there
really was no evidence of fever. Rap
: idly he passed on to the unloading of
the Mohawk after the observance of the
l quarantine, and the placing Of the sick
men in the detention hospital at Mon
tauk Point. He said that at first wag-
1 ons had been used to carry the patients
4 to the hospital, but that upon applica-
l ton he was given the use of an ambu-
lance for this service. He said that the
) conditions at Montauk Point probably
{ were good, but too good, for the i'll fed
e and sick men; as soon as they recovered
| from their nf al oh OF
e sought out the tents of the steward and
! were given food to eat which was not
8 the proper thing for them to attempt
e to digest. He said the boys were as
Y hungry as wolves. no doubt after their
e sickness, but that they were given toe
{ rich food for their weak stomachs and
e that this had something to do with the
y mortality which followed. One private
r he especially referred to, had recovered
= from sickness and as he stalked at a
q slow gait out Of the hospital and around
= the grounds, he saw pile of water
! melons. Natural his hunger overcome
q his judgment, and he began devouring
+ as much as he could of the luscious mel.
ons. The next morning he died, the
on account of the condition of his stom-
p ach. He said it was an outrage that in
!. such a place such rich articles of food
a should have been dealt out to boys
a whose stomachs We're too weak to digest
the same, and thereby causing their re,
e lapse in sickness and in some cases
n their DEATH. 1T was all mistake, ;
~
4 God, what could they want with il
e there; no wonder they died or got
I SICK"
e He said the reason he did not com.
e plain was that he was not in a posi-.
/ tion to complain, being in the employ
e of the government. He believed thai
e conditions were so good that they were