Evening star., 1918-01-25

that we should not return for three or
four days. To this order had no in
tention of giving heed. neither did I.
His mother did not see him again. The
next morning early his father-in-law.
Mr. W. N. Harris of Arkansas City.
Kan, went to the ward. and, while the
mercury was down about zero. there
was no fire in the room, the bedding
was on the floor. the boy lay on the
bed naked. with the exception Of a thin
night shirt that was up around his
neck.
About 3 o'clock that afternoon I
found him IN the same condition and
the room without fire. The next morn
in practically the same condition. No
one knew OF our visits to the hospital
except two workmen, who were work
ing on the sewer ditch in front OF the
hospital. To them I made myself
known ana the purpose of my going to
the hospital I refer now, of course,
to the visits we made after we were in
structed not to visit the hospital. On
neiher OF these visits was there an at
tendant in the room or fire in the stove
perfectly we'll man would have be-
come sick in that ROOM The mercury
was around zero all of the time.
AT this time i went direct to the
chief of the medical staff and told him
the situation and asked to be permitted
TO go and attend my boy. He immedi-
ana be given every facility for caring
lor my son. I went at once, but l was
too late. as he died about fifteen min
utes after l got into the ward and be-
him.
That you may know something of
the fearful handicap that the govern
ment works under in the matter of
competent help, give you this one in
stance:
Body Lying on Floor.
I requested the attendant to give
ana brought in a small bowl of water
my son drink of water. He went out
ana tried to get my son to drink from it.
put ne could not. He said / guess that
had better get funnel. (The boy was
iylng on his back, with his mouth
open) He came back in a moment
with funnel made of a piece of news
paper, and. putting it in my sons
NOUN, was in the act of pouring the
Dow OF water into. my sons throat
wnen stopped him. He said: What shall
l do?, said get spoon. The poor fel-
low mad not thought of that. NV son
died in few moments.
at once hastened to the Office of
sna sne ad3utant @ and asked for the body,
ana was very courteously treated and
assured that could have the BODY that
evening. L then hastened back to the
ward where my son died to see how
lhe oooy was prepared for burial and
as L had my pass into the building I
old not stop and knock, but opened the
door to enter. when it struck some
thing that would not let it open far
ther. l looked and saw that it was
my sons body lying on the floor of the
hali and 1t was his head that 1 struck
with the door,
i received every possible courtesy
from the officers and medical attend
ants at the base hospital. am not
now ming any complaint against any
man. 1 have no other purpose in Civ
ing you these facts than to get YOU to
do your utmost to see that these bows
OF ours who are yet to die at these
camps may have the care that every
true man wishes that they might have.
There are at least four witnesses to
most all of the facts that l have writ
ten here who will be willing to testify
TO the truth Of them if it would be the
means of helping the authorities to
brlng about better conditions
L trust, --, that you will believe
me when I say that 1 am not In any
sense seeking revenge for the death OF
my son. II. in his dying, he is the
means of securing better attention for
the many boys that are yet to suffer
and die in these camps, I shall feel tina t
his death was not in vain. Wishing for
You success in your endeavors for hu-
manity, I am,
Sincerely, your friend,