Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-23
FIFTY YEARS ago
IN THE STAR

felt at this time half a century ago.
owing to the manner in
Surgeon which the wounded and
Dismissed. sick soldiers were treated
brought from the front to the hospitals
IN this city. Complaints Of Indifference
on the part OF medical officers having
been filed with the Secretary OF War
Mr.. Stanton made short work of one of
the early cases as an evidence of his i'm
patience with this sort Of procedure The
account of this case is printed in The
Star of June It. 1862:
One who was present states the follow
ing as the particulars OF scene at the
War Department yesterday:
Secretary Stanton was transacting
business with various parties in his usual
rapid. vigorous style. when a surgeon en-
tered and giving his name. said: 1 I'M
derstand that some charges have been
entered against me-
Mr.. Stanton (selecting a document
from pile on his table)-'Yes, sir. You
are here charged with shamefully neg
lecting a detachment OF sick and wound
ed soldiers sent to this city under your
care. Are the facts stated in this paper
true?'
Surgeon treading)-'Partly so. sir. The
time of my arrival is incorrectly stated. :
"Stanton-Is It true that your ar
rival you went to a hotel and got your
supper, leaving the wounded men in the
cars?'
"Surgeon-'It is, SIR
"Stanton-It is true that on your ar
rival you went to a hotel and got your
laax wing ha wounded NOR q
cars?
''Surgeon-It is. sir
"Stanton-'And that you afterward went
to bed at the hotel, leaving the soldiers
yet uncared for in the carsT
| ''Surgeon--'It is. sir
"Stanton-Then, sir. you are dis
missed from the service And adding
some further words expressive of his
utter detestaton of such acts of neglect
of suffering soldiers on the part of those
specially delegated to care for them, the
Secretary turned to clerk and ordered
the dismissal to be at once written out
and the delinquent, crushed and hum
| bled, left the room, crying like a child.
| The next day The Star printed a
further paragraph stating that owing to
| tie accidental omission Of part of the
| original news item 1T appeared as though
ton or defense. He had. in fact. stated
that he failed to find the surgeon general
and had done all in his power to make
the men comfortable, but his admission
of the fact that he had spend the night at
| a hotel sufficed to condemn him I'M
| pardonably negligent in the sight Of the
Secretary Of War.
A clean city movement at this time fifty
years ago would have brought to light an
| infinitely larger quantity of
Cleanup refuse and a greater number
MI, of insantary places in Wash
Asoeuu' ington than did the activities
of cleanup week recently. In The Star
| of June 10, 1862. is the following news
story. which notes a particularly bad
place:
| THE attention Of the proper authority
| is called to the horribly filthy condition
of the yards of houses Nos. 40 and 49,
on Pennsylvania avenue between Sd and
AZ streets. The filthy condition Is such
that there is great danger Of disease be-
ing engendered. In one yard is an open
horse stable, and the other is not only
occupied by horses. but cows and hogs
are also kept there The stencil from
these causes is intoIeraole to the neigh
borhood Large piles of manure, stag
nant pools of water wherein hogs wallow,
decaying vegetables. old shoes and hats,
piles of filthy rags gathered up around
the streets. hospitals and camps are the
sights that greet the view OF persons lv-
ing in adjoining houses. The air is con-
tinually filed with pollution and stencil
arising from these manifold muisances.
any single one of which would be suf-
ficient to breed a destroying pestilence.
The loathsome condition of these yards
has become a matter of serious complaint
ST hot r,f no
city demands that the occupants should
be compelled to keep their yards in
more pure and cleanly condition
The churches first designated by the
War Department for use as hospitals
proving inadequate to
Churches as meet the needs, others
were taken and some
11oSpiIoiS' others were offered to the
government The 18th Street Baptist
Church was substituted for the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Immediately after
the first orders were issued In The
Star of June y. 1862. is printed a news
article descriptive Of the situation:
1.-The trustees of Waugh Chapel On. Ed
on Capitol Hill, Rev. B. N. Brown. pastor,
rendered through committee the use OF
their church for hospital purposes. The
Secretary of War expressed his thanks
for the offer, but could not then inform
them whether the government would find
il necessary to accept. The members of
the church are extremely anxious that
the offer should be accepted and num-
Der are also willing to volunteer their
services as nurses, etc.
..Ryland Chapel corner 10th and Mary
land avenue (southwesD, was taken pos
session of yesterday, and this morning
Workmen were set to work preparing 1t for
the reception of the sick and wounded The
whole building including the schoolroom
in the basement and small building on
the same lot. Is taken. and will soon be
fitted up for occupancy. The services of
the congregation will be suspended until
a suitable place can be secured
The work on the Unitarian Church.
corner of 9th and d streets" Cater used
as the Police Court, is being pushed
ahead with vigor Already the beds have
been taken in and wooden buildings are
being erected In the yard Tor dining
rooms, kitchens. etc.
1.-The work of fitting up the E Street
Baptist Church has been progressing sew
eraI days, and from the plan 1t is probable
that ii will be one Of the most comfort
able of the hospitals under the new ar
rangement.
I'm the churches occupied the pews are
covered over with scantling on which a
floor is laid. the pulpits and furniture be-
ing generally packed up and deposited un-
der the floor. The cots will be placed on
this floor The Easements are generally fit
ted up as kitchens, laboratories etc. for
which some of them are admirably