The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-02
NyGR0 ASYLUM { IS INSPECTED Hospital Commission at Mount Vernon. CONDITIONS ARE FOUND GOOD Hospital at Old Military Post Near
 Mobile. Building Where Geronimo. Famous Ap- ache Chief Was Confined, Is Wis., tied by the Legislative Inves-
 tigators.
'0NDITIONS ARE FOUND GOOD

The Commission to investigate the charges against the management of the Alabama Hospital for the Insane spent
 saturday in an inspection of the negro
 hospital at Mount Vernon, near Mo-
 piie. The visit of the commissioners
 was unannounced and quietly made. The Commission, after it's adjourn- ment st Birmingham Friday afternoon left for Mount Vernon, where a thor ough but informal inspection of the
 quarters and the condition of the ne- gro Insane was made. All members of
 the Commission were present.
 At Mount Vernon there are 503 of the negro insane. They are maintained in
 the old military garrison, where for so many years the United States main
 tained an army post and where costly fortihcations were built. The ,build- fngs and fortifeations were erected iri 1887 and for many years the Govern ment maintained garrison at Mount Vernon.
 When Geronimo, the famous fighting chief of the Apaches, was captured near the Mexican line by Generals Crook and Lawton, he was brought to Mount Vernon and kept under a guard for several years. I nils was done to insure peace among the Apaches. as 1t was believed that with their war chief so far away the Indians would be more tractab1e.
 As the months passed and the dan ser of another uprising. was removed Geronimo's plea that he be carried nearer home was granted.
 Some years ago the United States Government ceded to Alabama this val uable property. It Is surrounded by a circular wall, q mile in circumference, and twelve feet high. Behind the wall 1orrs uufrF rr.s.1ra and the houses and barracks were built
 The buildings were devoted by the State to the use of the hospital au- thorities for negro patients. The ne- groes had previously been kept at TuscaIoosa, near the white patients. The bill which directed the Commits aion to make 2 thorough investigation of the ehaTges against the hospital au-, thoritfeS proFi1ed that the inpestiigaA' z ti0n might extend to the Mount ver- non branch of the institution, although 1t was not specifically stated in the biIl.
 The Commission felt 1t incumbent upon it to investigate all branches of the. hospital. so a trip of inspection was made to Mount Vernon.
 No charge had been made against the conduct of the negro hospital at AAOuht NSEAOHs Lu6 CoIuIuISSlOQ, It t8 found conditions there very satisfactory. The patients were ques- tioned in an informal way An exam ination of the food supply and of the treatment of the patients was made and but little if any fault found. No formal sitting of the Commission was held. The trip was distinctly a trip of inspection.
 Representative Gaston Gunter re- turned yesterday from the Mount vers non trip. He will go to Tuscaloosa this morning to be present at the sit- lings of the Commission when they are this afternoon at the hose pital.
 The remainder of the sittings of the will be devoted to the ex. animation of witnesses who are sum- noned by the hospital management. It is expected that the taking of evil fence will be completed Thursday.
 Judge John M. Chiffon, attorney for he hospital. and Pat McGauley. oficial will also go over today 70 be with the Commission until the md,