Chapter XXIV: Part 24

The work was performed almost without intermission, every surgeon employing all his energies. The feeling in the hospital among the members of the surgical staff was an excellent one.

The night of the third we expected to be able to rest a few hours, but during the day the fleet had fought its battle, and a number of Spanish wounded prisoners were taken off by the various ships. Dr. Lewis, chief surgeon of the "Harvard," who assisted in attending the wounded at the hospital at Siboney, invited Dr. Parker, myself and the Sisters to help him in attending the wounded Spaniards, to which we gladly responded and spent the night on the "Harvard."

The wounded continued to arrive for four days, many of them telling that they had been shot on the first day of the battle, July 1, and as yet had received no care except from some comrade who had with him the little emergency package.

Permit me to say here that I believe the little emergency package has saved many a man from death through bleeding.

Most notable and commendable was the desire of the surgical staff to save limbs when at all possible; and I have seen and often joined Drs. Fauntleroy, Nancrede, Ireland and Parker in the work, spending an hour for resection of the part in order to prevent amputation. Of course all endeavored to do the same, and out of the total number of 1415 wounded treated in the Siboney Hospital after the battle, there were but three amputations of the thigh, two of the leg and one of the forearm, that I observed in the camp. The death rate was also very small, as most of the shots made clean wounds, and only when they affected most vital parts did they cause death.

The dressing of wounds and the operating upon the wounded, however, were not all the service required by the injured. Shelter, comfortable cots and blankets were needed, very few of which had been landed. Still, as the wounded came, and the needs became greater, I saw Surgeon-Major La Garde, most ably assisted by Chaplain Gavitt, hunt about for canvas or anything that would act as cover for a tent, and have it put up along the tents and flies. Their work was unceasing. In those days every officer and member of the medical staff gave up his cot and tent that the wounded might find some kind of shelter and proper resting place; but in spite of that they were inadequate. The largest number of wounded lay on the ground, some on blankets, others on canvas, or if very severely wounded, on a litter.

The steamship "State of Texas" had a number of cots (I believe 350) which were originally meant for Cuban relief, many of which we used in the Red Cross Hospital at Siboney; when I informed Miss Barton of the condition of affairs, all cots that were in the ship were unloaded and sent to the hospital, and the most seriously wounded received comfortable resting places.

The gauze, particularly the iodoform gauze, and bandages soon gave out. The "State of Texas" carried a quantity of surgical dressings. All that was necessary was to ask Miss Barton for them, who immediately sent on land any article needed if in her possession.

Among our patients were several cases of gunshot wound through the skull and brain near the eyes; the eyes were inflamed, and ice had to be applied continuously to relieve excruciating pain. Dr. Fauntleroy suggested that the cases be sent to the Red Cross Hospital, we had there the only ice in the field at that time; it also came from the "State of Texas," from which we received a daily supply. The eye cases were carefully attended by Mrs. White, the wife of Dr. Trumbull White, of the Chicago _Record_, who deserves much praise for the constant attention which she gave them. It was necessary to make continuous application of ice every few minutes, which she did with constant and unceasing care. Mrs. White is not a trained nurse, but a gentle, wise woman. I agree with the remarks of Dr. Fauntleroy when he said that her attention and the ice relieved much suffering and saved quite a few from blindness. Captain Mills, who was one of the wounded in that manner, may tell of his own experience.

Most of the cases of gunshot wounds gave very little work to the surgeons, as the bullet entered at one place and made its exit at another, thus leaving a clean wound. Even through vital parts of the body, such as the brain and abdomen, bullets passed without apparently giving the patient any great distress. The simple cases did not need much attention; cleanliness and a cushioned dressing well protected was all they usually required. In fact, many of the smaller wounds came to us bandaged with a little emergency pad, progressing in healing. These were always shots from the Mauser bullet. Many of the men that I saw were shot in the shoulder, the bullets making exits through the back. Some gunshot wounds had two places of exit and entrance in their course. For instance, I had cases in which the bullet had gone into the upper and lateral part of the cranium, come out behind the ear, went into the shoulder and came out behind and below the shoulder blade; or had made its course through the left arm, again entering the right chest and coming out at the back. It would perhaps be out of place to enumerate or describe in this report the many courses which the bullets have taken, but as stated, most of them required little attention. There were, however, some serious wounds, such as compound comminuted fractures, in the treatment of which great skill was shown by the various surgeons in the hospital. Those were the cases which in former years would have resulted in amputation, but drainage and cleanliness, plainly speaking, have given the patients the advantage of keeping their limbs.

In the simple cases one could work alone, with the assistance of a Sister or a hospital steward, but in the more difficult cases good surgical skill was required, and it was often a source of great gratification to see two eminent surgeons, of equally good reputation, assisting each other in a difficult case; one advising, the other acting; thus the greatest harmony existed among the members of the staff. The Sisters being required in the operating tents as also the stewards there were no nurses in the tents to care for the wounded.

No food had been prepared for the large number of wounded lying on the cots or on the ground on blankets or canvas; a great many of them were too helpless even to turn. Surgeon-Major La Garde did me the honor of consulting me in regard to the nursing, and I suggested that some of the Sisters leave the operating tables, which were by that time supplied with other assistants.

The major then sent for Mrs. Lesser, who suggested that the worst cases be brought into one or two rows of tents, as the small staff of Sisters brought into Cuba was not sufficient to take charge of all and do them justice. The rows of tents were then placed in her charge, and she portioned the work of caring for them among the Sisters assisted by hospital corps men. The soldiers were nearly famished; some had not received a morsel of food for two days. Oatmeal gruel, coffee and quantities of prune juice and other articles of relish were at once prepared at the Red Cross Hospital in big cans which had come from the "State of Texas," and with the assistance of the ever active indefatigable Chaplain Gavitt, and several newspaper correspondents, the wounded soldiers received such food as their conditions allowed.

Unfortunately the surgeons lost track of the greater number of their cases. The patient marked for redressing was placed on any table, and the surgeon in charge of that table redressed the wound; thus it was hard to say what result one or the other had obtained, with the exception of a few cases, which by special request one was allowed to continue to observe. Some of the patients came down with their wounds dressed in some hospital at the front, and I may here mention that I saw excellent work coming from the hospital in command of Dr. Woods.

When the rush was over, I was called to the camp where the Spanish prisoners were located. I prescribed for their ailments, while the Sisters supplied their food. In addition, I answered the calls which came from Cuban families in Siboney. Some Spanish prisoners were wounded and others suffered from fevers. Those who were wounded had their wounds dressed at the scene of battle, and although some of the dressings were temporary, they feared to have any person touch them, until assured that they would be treated as gently as possible. The patients had now all been operated upon and attended; only some of the wounds needed redressing. They were taken to the transport hospital ships as soon as their condition permitted. It was about that time the hospital ship Relief arrived, bringing more food for invalids and more equipped cots.

Dr. Guiteras, who visited all the hospitals daily, informed me one afternoon that he had found a case of yellow fever in camp (not in our hospital), developed in a place near Siboney. There were two or more suspicious cases which he had watched, and he believed that yellow fever would develop very rapidly. I called the Sisters together, presented the situation to them, that they might decide whether to stay in the field or return to the "State of Texas." Their unanimous decision to stay and face the consequences made them continue their work without any hesitation. The Red Cross Hospital building became crowded, one room was set aside for doubtful cases, while the other rooms were occupied with typhoid patients. The porch in front of the house, shaded with canvas, and a little isolated room to the right, sheltered the wounded.

My work at the Red Cross Hospital became continuous, as a large number of patients came from the various camps to receive attention, and still a larger number from our camp came for consultation and treatment. The number of such consultations I discontinued to write down after three hundred were attended, Americans, Spanish and Cubans together.

Every case of typhoid fever and other disease which was placed in our charge from the day we opened the hospital, has recovered. The last of them were brought home well on the "Concho;" those that came later were on the way to recovery when I left for the fever hospital. Among our patients were two who had measles, complicated with pneumonia, and there was a large number of patient suffering with Cuban malarial fever. I also wish to state that not one patient in our hospital became infected with yellow fever; the cases that had it came there with the disease, but were closely observed, and as soon as the first positive sign was noticed, they were isolated and brought to the fever hospital. The total number of sick permanent and transient thus attended was 234. Most of the medicines we had brought with us, but received some from army stores.

When the "State of Texas" left for Jamaica to get ice, in order to save time we took a dwelling in one of the houses at Siboney, which was believed by experts not to be infected. The family living in it was very clean, and it appeared that the house would serve as well, and perhaps better than any other. Our tents, in which we should have preferred to live, had not arrived, nor did we have any cots, all having been given to the sick and wounded.

When the houses at Siboney were ordered to be burned down, we left for the yellow fever camp. Before leaving I requested Dr. Senn to operate upon two Spanish prisoners whom I had not seen for several days.

On the seventh day after our arrival at the camp we were able to return to Siboney. Our ailments, although not prevented, had been made light by prophylactic methods, and our recovery was consequently rapid. After our return to Siboney I again offered to serve.

In the meantime word from Assistant Surgeon-General Greenleaf was received at Siboney, stating that forty-five Red Cross nurses, surgeons and other assistants, had arrived at Guantanamo, waiting to come to us, and as we returned the same day from the fever camp, Surgeon-Major La Garde telegraphed and telephoned repeatedly for them to come, but he received no reply.

Feeling that under the existing circumstances and exhausted from work and illness we could not continue to work without more assistance, I applied for our return. Surgeon-Major La Garde upon this placed me in charge of the steamship "Concho" which left for the North on July 23, of which voyage a special report has been presented.

Before my departure from Siboney, Surgeon-Major La Garde handed me a document, a copy of which I herewith present:

RESERVE DIVISIONAL HOSPITAL, FIFTH CORPS,
SIBONEY, CUBA, _July 23, 1898_.

This is to certify that Dr. A. Monae Lesser, surgeon-in-chief of the
American National Red Cross, offered his services to the Medical
Department of the army on the twenty-ninth day of June. From the
latter date to the present day Dr. Lesser has been connected with
this hospital as a surgeon and patient. When the wounded commenced
to arrive on July 1, and during the rush of work which lasted four
days in the care of the wounded, Dr. Lesser was assigned one of the
six tables in the operating room. His work was skillful and most
continuous. His suggestions to me on more than one occasion,
concerning administration details, were of the highest value. After
the rush of work in the operating room Dr. Lesser continued to take
charge of a hospital, a building which was pronounced free from
infection, in which he treated wounded and sick soldiers. His work
was the admiration of every one who had the good fortune to be under
the watchful care of himself and the Sisters under him.
Unfortunately the building--in which they lived--soon showed signs
of yellow fever infection. Dr. Lesser, his wife and four of the
Sisters--his entire staff--were taken one by one with the fever.
They were removed to our yellow fever hospital. They are now
convalescing, though weak; they leave us for the North to-day for a
much needed rest. I have no words at my command which could in any
way express my appreciation of the work of Dr. Lesser and his heroic
staff. Had it not been for their assistance and the quantities of
supplies furnished by the "State of Texas," the sufferings of the
hundreds of wounded would have been magnified more than I can now
venture to express.

In commenting on our lack of supplies, attendants, etc., I desire to
state that our unprepared condition to meet the rush of work which
came with such surprising rapidity was due to those military
conditions which often transpire in war when blood, suffering and
death seem to be inevitable, or beyond the scope of man to
anticipate.

May God's blessing be with him and his.

LOUIS A. LA GARDE,
_Major and Surgeon, U.S.A.,
Commanding Hospital._

RELIEF WORK IN CUBA.

REPORT OF C.H.H. COTTRELL, FINANCIAL SECRETARY.

Early in February, 1898, after the President of the United States had called Clara Barton to several conferences on the question of relieving the sufferings of the Cuban reconcentrados; and the Central Cuban Relief Committee had been formed to take charge of the funds and supplies which it was known that the generous American people were anxious to donate for this purpose, it was decided that Miss Barton should go to Cuba at once to assist in the prompt and efficient distribution of the succor which was so near at hand. It is her habit to act quickly when her plans have been matured, and not a moment's time was lost in preparing for her journey to Havana.

On her arrival at Havana Miss Barton communicated with the American Consul General, the Spanish officials, and some of the best known and benevolently disposed citizens; and after freely conferring with them, and learning the existing conditions, the city was divided into distribution districts, and a committee of citizens, who were fully acquainted with the people and their wants, was appointed to take charge of each district. Abundant space in a very large warehouse had already been secured by the Consul General, which was, with the use of its employes, given free of charge to the Red Cross.

Several of the villages near Havana and as far east as Matanzas were then visited and arrangements similar to those made in Havana were perfected for the distribution of food and clothing; and these communities were supplied as quickly as possible.

Shortly after Miss Barton's arrival in Havana the deplorable "Maine" disaster occured, killing, drowning and injuring so many of our brave sailors and marines. As soon as she heard of this awful calamity she visited the hospital where the victims who were not killed outright were lying, and arranged to have them provided with every possible attention, and the best of everything needed that money and sympathy could procure.

As the situation developed and the needs of the country became known, it was found to be necessary to largely increase the working force of the Red Cross, and arrangements were accordingly made to have some of the oldest and most experienced workers of that organization, with some new recruits, come to Havana. A large house for their accommodation was secured in the suburb of Cerro, about three miles from the business centre of the city, where they were pleasantly and comfortably established. The party when completed consisted of the following named ladies and gentlemen:

Miss Clara Barton, Mr. J.K. Elwell, Dr. J.B. Hubbell, Dr. E. Winfield Egan, Dr. A. Monae Lesser, Mrs. A. Monae Lesser, known as "Sister Bettina," Misses Annie McCue, Minnie Rogall, Blanche McCorresten and Isabelle Olm, Red Cross nurses or "sisters;" Mr. J. A. McDowell and Mr. C.H.H. Cottrell.

Many of the best citizens of Havana, ladies and gentlemen, Spaniards and Cubans, gave us a most hearty welcome and every encouragement, many of them volunteering their services in any capacity in which they could be made useful, and we were thus enabled to secure a number of doctors and nurses, who gave excellent service, and who received the well-deserved thanks of the Red Cross.

RELIEF DISTRIBUTION FROM THE SAN JOSÉ WAREHOUSE.

Mr. Elwell was put in charge of the warehouse with an able corps of assistants, and his work there was all that could be desired, as it was something that he was perfectly familiar with from long experience; he had the great advantage of knowing the Spanish language and the character of the people with whom he was dealing. Many hundred tons of the finest supplies, including everything that a generous and sympathetic public could think of that would be suitable for a famishing people, were given out as fast as orders were issued for them; but in every instance the utmost care was exercised that nothing should go out that might reach the hands of irresponsible persons; and every possible safeguard of check and receipt was adopted and successfully used.

OPENING A HOSPITAL AND ORPHANAGE.

The large number of orphan children that had been left unprovided for appealed to the sympathies of some worthy people for whom Consul-General Lee was the spokesman, and Miss Barton was asked by them to provide a hospital and home for these waifs. She therefore rented and furnished a large private residence on Tulipan street in Cerro, near the Red Cross residence, which was opened and named the "Lee Orphanage." The house was completely arranged and had a capacity for seventy-five inmates, besides the attendants, and it was soon filled. Dr. and Mrs. Lesser were placed in charge of the orphanage, assisted by several Cuban doctors and nurses. The greater part of the children who were brought there were in an extreme state of exhaustion from lack of nourishment, many being unable to sit up, and the greatest care and watchfulness had to be observed to save their lives. A few of them died after they reached the hospital; but by careful and unremitting attention the larger part of them were gradually brought back to health, and it is to be hoped that some of them will eventually find homes in good families.

LOS FOSOS, THE HORRIBLE!

An old ramshackle building long before abandoned as unsafe and undesirable was owned by the city and known as Los Fosos. Being worthless and unwatched, it had become the lodging place of a horde of beggars and tramps, and when the unfortunate reconcentrados were driven into the city from their homes in the country hundreds of them flocked to this miserable place. Miss Barton found there men, women and children crowded together in a most pitiable and disgusting mass; and suffering from disease and exhaustion and in such a state of filth that her party was unable to endure the stench and had to get out after a very short stay. These poor victims of cruel war were lying on the bare floor in their dirty rags, and entirely helpless except for such poor aid as they could render each other. Many of them died daily and their corpses would lie for hours before being removed. Altogether it was one of the most horrible pictures imaginable.

Permission was obtained by the Red Cross to repair the building and make a hospital of it, and carpenters were put to work to strengthen the swaying floors and batten up the sides and make the roof rainproof. Three rooms were partitioned off for a dispensary, store room and kitchen. Scrub women were put to work and a plentiful supply of soap, water and disinfectants soon made a great change for the better. When the place had been cleansed, new cots were brought in and clean bedding put on them. Up to the time of their forced departure those devoted nurses worked faithfully from early morn till late in the day to keep the place decently clean and instill habits of neatness into those miserable beings. Deprived of the pride and care of those trained women, it is easy to believe that within a week after they left, Los Fosos had resumed its former reputation as the most unsavory spot in all Havana.

During the time that Los Fosos was under the care of the Red Cross the best medical skill obtainable was given to the inmates, and the untiring care and attention of as faithful a body of trained nurses as the world has ever known was freely given them, and the best of nourishing food and delicacies were abundantly supplied; and if fate had willed that this body of self-sacrificing men and women should remain, there is no doubt that, in the course of time, this old pesthouse would have become a famous hospital with a reputation second to none.

RELIEF WORK DISCONTINUED.

One of the most comprehensive systems of charitable work had been thus inaugurated and was doing incalculable good, and was receiving praise and gratitude from all classes, when it was announced that the official relations between Spain and the United States, which had been strained for some time, were about to be broken. The American Consul-General announced that he did not think that it was safe for American citizens to remain in Cuba while the excited state of feeling existed, and that he should leave on a certain day, and he advised all Americans in Cuba who wished to go to the States that he would provide transportation for them. The time given for settling affairs and preparing to leave was less than a week, and accordingly there was much excitement and great sacrifices had to be made, which in many cases meant ruin and beggary. Quite a number of the refugees afterward became entirely dependent upon the bounty of the Red Cross at Key West and Tampa, Florida.

When it thus became necessary to decide whether the Red Cross should abandon its work in Cuba, Miss Barton called her staff around her (as is her invariable custom in deciding all important matters), and asked for their individual opinions as to the advisability of their leaving, and a full discussion of all the points involved ensued, and a unanimous decision was arrived at. All Spanish officials, national and municipal, had never failed to show the utmost courtesy to all our members, and time after time they had shown their sincerity by repeated acts of kindness, and none of us believed that they were likely to change their attitude toward us. But when it was considered that war was almost inevitable, and that if we remained in Cuba we should be shut up in an enemy's country and unable to communicate with our friends and relatives, who would be daily harrowed by sensational stories, it was decided that we should withdraw when the Consul-General was ready to leave.

When it became known that we were about to leave Miss Barton received some very hearty assurances of regard and protection from high Spanish officials, and many Spanish and Cuban ladies and gentlemen called on her and assured her of their high regard and deep gratitude for all she had done for their suffering people.

ARCHBISHOP OF HAVANA BLESSES LEE ORPHANAGE.

The day before we were to leave Cuba the Archbishop of Havana came to the Lee Orphanage, where quite a number of the best people of the city had assembled, and gave his blessing to the little institution; which was, with those Catholic people, an augury equivalent to a guaranty that the success and protection of the undertaking was fully assured; and, indeed, we learned several months after the war had begun that the Spanish authorities had not only taken the most scrupulous care of this hospital, and all its abundance of provisions with which the Cuban Relief Committee had supplied it, but they had also placed a guard around Miss Barton's residence and had kept it inviolate from all predatorily disposed persons. After the war some of our party visited the residence and the orphanage, and found provisions which had been left at both places were still on hand.

Of course it was to be expected that the hospital, being deprived of the example of the trained Red Cross nurse, with her habits of order and neatness, would naturally retrograde in many ways, and our party therefore was prepared for the many evidences of neglect and disorder that met their eyes on their return visit.

The Central Cuban Relief Committee, of New York, which had been appointed by the President of the United States, had abundant means to maintain this work that had been so successfully inaugurated, and it is greatly deplored that the unfortunate declaration of war prevented the carrying out of all the plans that had been so carefully matured, and which would have saved the lives of thousands of men, women and children who now lie under the sod.

Having made the best possible arrangement for the maintenance of the institutions we had brought into being and had fostered in Havana; and with the saddest regrets that we should have to abandon a work so well begun, we boarded the ship "Olivette" on April 11, and started for the United States. After a great deal of discomfort, caused by the overcrowding of passengers and the heavy seas, we reached Tampa, Fla., on April 13. After a day or two of rest, Miss Barton proceeded to Washington with Drs. Hubbell and Egan, the remainder of the party stopping in Tampa.

There were at that time probably about fifteen hundred Cuban refugees in Tampa and eight or nine hundred in Key West, who were entirely dependent. The Red Cross took upon itself the task of maintaining these poor people, and for a period of seven months its agents provided for them. It should be said, however, that the citizens of both these cities appointed committees and did all they could to relieve the necessities of these large bodies of indigent people.

Early in April it had been decided to charter a steamer in New York and to load her with supplies and send her to different ports in Cuba, where her cargo could be unloaded in such quantities as might be required. Accordingly, the steamer "State of Texas," of about eighteen hundred tons burden, was chartered from Messrs. Mallory & Co., of New York, and notwithstanding the fact that our party had been obliged to leave Havana, and that subsequently war had been declared, the preparations for sailing were kept up, and the steamer was loaded with a cargo of fourteen hundred tons, which embraced a fine assortment of substantials and delicacies, and many household articles, medicines and hospital stores. When she was finally loaded in the latter part of April, the "Texas" sailed for Key West in charge of Dr. J.B. Hubbell, with Captain Frank Young as sailing master, arriving there on the twenty-eighth of that month.

RECEPTION AT TAMPA.

In the meantime, Dr. Jos. Gardner and wife, of Bedford, Ind., had joined our party at Tampa; and soon after Miss Barton, Dr. Egan, Mr. D.L. Cobb and Miss Lucy M. Graves came along, and it was arranged that the entire party was to leave Tampa on the evening of April 28, to go aboard the steamer "State of Texas," at Key West, and remain on her until the army had made a landing in Cuba, when it was expected that we should be able to resume our work there. The day of the evening we were to leave Tampa, Mrs. J.M. Towne, the lady at whose house our party was stopping, gave a reception in honor of Miss Barton, to which General Wade and the army officers who were then stationed there, and many ladies and gentlemen of that fine little city, were invited. It was a most brilliant and enjoyable occasion, the uniforms of the officers and the lovely toilets of the ladies making a picture that will long remain in the memories of those who saw it.

THE RELIEF PARTY RETURNS TO KEY WEST.

On our arrival at Key West, on the afternoon of April 29, we were met by Dr. Hubbell and Mr. C.C. Bangs, who had been sent by the New York committee to assist in our work; and Mr. A. Butler Duncan, a well-known gentleman of New York, and were taken aboard the steamer "State of Texas," where we were welcomed by Captain Young, and where we subsequently passed many pleasant weeks together. A few days later we were joined by Mr. Geo. Kennan, First Vice-President of the American National Red Cross, and his wife.

Key West at that time was a very busy place, the harbor being filled with naval vessels which came in there daily from the Cuban blockading squadron for coal and provisions. Miss Barton immediately paid her respects to Captain Harrington, of the monitor "Puritan," who was the senior commander of the port, and presented her credentials from the State and Navy Departments. Subsequently she placed herself in communication with Commodore Sampson, and stated her desire to reach Cuba at the earliest possible moment.

Many naval officers and citizens of Key West called on Miss Barton daily, and this attention, combined with her enormous correspondence, kept her time fully occupied till late in the night. There was scarcely a day that some accident of more or less severity did not happen to some of the sailors or workmen on the many auxiliary craft that were in the harbor; and the Red Cross doctors were at all times in demand. In order to keep every one in the best preparation for possible contingencies of any kind, everybody on the ship was instructed and drilled in the various phases of his or her particular kind of work; and thus all were kept happily and busily engaged. The doctors inaugurated a series of lectures for the benefits of the nurses and others, and clinics were of frequent occurrence, and every member of the party benefited by the practical knowledge thus attained in bandaging and taking care of various kinds of injuries.

Doctor E. Winfield Egan, of Boston, one of the foremost of our surgeons, effected some wonderful operations here and at Port Tampa, and won the warm friendship of many a poor fellow, who, but for his skillful ministrations would have fared badly. Some of the injured men were so badly hurt that days and weeks elapsed before they were fully recovered, and during the time of their convalescence, they were carefully attended and watched by the Red Cross nurses; and at all times of the day the Red Cross boat, with its well-known flag floating, could be seen going from one transport to another on its errands of mercy.

FEEDING SPANISH PRISONERS.

While we were lying at Key West there was scarcely a day passed that some of our vigilant blockading squadron did not bring in from one to three captured prizes; sometimes large steamships, and from that class through the various grades of shipping down to fishing smacks; and in the course of a couple of weeks there were between thirty and forty of these boats lying at anchor in the harbor, with their crews aboard under guard. Somehow it was forgotten that these poor foreigners must eat to live; or else perhaps somebody thought that somebody else was responsible for this very important matter; be that as it may, they were unprovided for. The boats, of course, had a small amount of provisions aboard when they were captured, and while that lasted all went well; but in a few days their supply was exhausted and calls were made on the United States Marshal, in whose charge the prisoners were, for food. That officer, having no contingent fund on which to draw, was in despair, and came to Miss Barton, who at once reassured him by saying that she would attend to the matter and would provide for all the prisoners until such time as he could get his petition through the departments at Washington. Accordingly several boatloads of provisions were hastily gotten together and taken in tow by a steam launch which landed them alongside of each prize. Miss Barton personally visited these boats, and with the aid of an interpreter she learned the needs of the crews, and not only supplied them with food, but she arranged to take letters from all who wished to communicate with friends and relatives in Spain and elsewhere, and forwarded the letters to their destination.

All governmental relations between Spain and the United States having been broken by the declaration of war, it was necessary, where letters were to go to Spain, to send them to the Red Cross of Portugal, which organization kindly acted as the intermediary friend all through the war. And here I may say that the Red Cross adopted this method wherever there were Spanish prisoners, and through its kind offices thousands of anxious hearts received news of their absent ones who were "held by the enemy."

NEW YORK RED CROSS RELIEF COMMITTEE.

About the middle of May the friends of the Red Cross in New York City, conceived the idea of forming a relief committee for the collection of money and supplies to be used in aiding the soldiers in camp and field. The committee was formed, with some of the richest and most prominent people of the country on its list, and it became necessary for Miss Barton to go to New York to empower the committee with authority to act in the name of the Red Cross. Accordingly the steamer "State of Texas" left Key West and proceeded to Port Tampa, where Miss Barton took train for the North, leaving the remainder of the party on the steamer.

EMERGENCY RELIEF AT PORT TAMPA.

At this time there were several camps at Tampa and Port Tampa, and several thousand troops were preparing for the invasion of Cuba; transports were daily arriving at Port Tampa and were being placed in readiness to carry this vast host to the "Pearl of the Antilles." Those were busy days for everybody, and the Red Cross doctors and nurses were called upon hourly to render service to many victims of injury and disease.

While we were waiting at Port Tampa we were joined by Miss Janet Jennings, of Washington, and Mrs. Trumbull White, of Chicago, both of whom afterward did excellent work in the hospitals at Siboney.

Miss Barton rejoined our party on June 16, being accompanied by Mrs. J. Addison Porter, the wife of the secretary to President McKinley, who went with us on the "State of Texas."

Miss Barton had been the recipient of such assurances on her recent trip to Washington from the heads of the various government departments, that she believed that the Red Cross would receive the most cordial recognition from the army and navy as an auxiliary aid, and would be able to co-operate with them in the utmost harmony. Although the mission of the steamer "State of Texas" was to render relief to the Cuban reconcentrados, it was tacitly understood and believed by all that every possible aid would be extended to the army and navy forces whenever it was necessary or called for.

All of the government transports carrying General Shafter's army had sailed from Port Tampa, bound for Cuba, when, on June 17, the "State of Texas" weighed her anchor and started for Key West, where we arrived on the following afternoon.

It was learned at Key West that the cargo of a captured ship, consisting of South American "tasajo," or jerked beef, was about to be sold by the United States Marshal; and as we knew this was a favorite food of the Cubans, and that we could get all that we needed at a very low figure, Miss Barton decided to take aboard twenty tons of it.

A telegram had been sent from Port Tampa to the Secretary of the Navy, under whose authority the "State of Texas" was then sailing, notifying him that we were going to Key West, where he could communicate with us, and thence on to Cuba, if orders to the contrary were not received.

SAILING FOR CUBA.

On June 20, everything being in readiness, and no orders having been received from the Secretary of the Navy, it was decided to sail and find Sampson's fleet near Santiago de Cuba, where it was generally believed that General Shafter would try to effect a landing; so at 10.15 a.m. we started, taking the westerly course around Cape Antonio. Just as we were about to leave, Mr. W.S. Warner joined our party and afterwards became one of our most useful and valued workers.

After a pleasant but uneventful voyage on the morning of June 25 we arrived off Morro Castle, at the entrance of the Bay of Santiago. The Spanish flag was flying over the land fortifications and Sampson's fleet was stationed in the adjacent waters. Miss Barton sent a representative aboard the flagship "New York," who presented her compliments to Admiral Sampson and asked for orders, or an expression of his wishes regarding the position to be taken by the Red Cross ship. The Admiral sent back word saying that General Shafter's army had disembarked at Daiquiri, a point about twelve miles east of Morro Castle, and he advised Miss Barton to take her ship to Guantanamo Bay, where she would find good anchorage and calm water; and where she would be able to learn more of what was taking place on land, as there was constant communication from there with the invading army. Accordingly we drew away and arrived that evening at Playa del Este, which is about forty miles from Santiago, and situated just inside the mouth of Guantanamo Bay.

Captain McCalla, the naval commander of the port, with several other naval officers came aboard the "Texas" that evening, and warmly welcomed Miss Barton. Among these officers were the captain and medical staff of the United States naval hospital ship "Solace" which was lying at anchor near us, and they extended an invitation to all the members of our party to visit their ship on the following morning. The invitation was accepted, and the next day the launches of the "Solace" came for us, and we passed a couple of very enjoyable hours looking over one of the most complete and handsome ships we had ever seen.

DEPARTURE FOR SIBONEY.

After our return to the "State of Texas" two representatives of New York papers called on Miss Barton, informing her that they had just come in from Siboney, where there was great need of supplies and medical aid. They said that the men who were wounded in the fight between the Rough Riders and the Spaniards on the previous Friday had just been brought in and that they were suffering from the lack of everything in the way of comforts and conveniences. Our steamer was at once headed westward and started within a few minutes for the scene of suffering. A two months' sojourn in tropical waters had enabled the busy little cirripeds to attach themselves in millions to the bottom of our ship, and, in nautical parlance, she was very "foul," and consequently our speed was reduced from a normal of about ten knots an hour to between seven and eight knots, so we did not reach Siboney until after eight o'clock that night.

Soon after our ship was anchored a boat was lowered and a party of our doctors started for the shore. As the night was dark and there was no wharf nor other landing place, save one small bit of sandy beach which was bounded on each side by precipitous rocky ledges, and no lights other than those of the ships which were anchored safely away from the shore, and the uncertain and misleading flare of an occasional camp fire some distance away from the beach, the landing was a matter of some difficulty and anxiety. A heavy ground swell was running quite high and dashed itself against the rocks with a roar that deafened us; however the officer who was in charge of the boat was an old sailor, who was used to landing in strange places, and by constant "ahoying" to every sign of life on ship or shore, we managed to strike the one soft spot in that vicinity and soon had our boat drawn up on the sand.

By inquiring of several sentinels, we found our way to the army hospital, which was a rough wooden building that had evidently been used for a store or warehouse in more peaceful times. On a veranda in front of the hospital a group of officers was standing, and on our asking for the surgeon in charge, Major Havard stepped forward. Drs. Gardner and Lesser introduced themselves and the other members of the party to Major Havard and formally offered him, in the name of Clara Barton and the Red Cross, the personal services of all our doctors and nurses, and any of our supplies that might be needed. Major Havard very courteously thanked them for their offers and said that he fully appreciated the value of such services, but he thought that he and his assistants would be able to take care of all the sick and wounded that were there at that time; and as for supplies, he knew there was an abundance of them _on the transports_, and he hoped they would be landed the next day. During these speeches our members were looking through the miserable place that bore the name of hospital, and the sights that met us brought tears to our eyes. There were half a dozen cots in a building where there were, perhaps, fifty or sixty patients, the greater number of whom were lying on the floor, some with a blanket under them, but a great many were lying on the bare boards. Sheets, pillows and bedclothes were unknown, and those poor fellows who were not dressed in their uniforms were lying almost naked. There were some wounded men, and others who were sick with fever; and in the dim light of a few lanterns we could see them turning from side to side in their discomfort and agony and hear their moans, and in some cases imprecations against a Government that would so illy provide for such a contingency. One of the nurses(?), a young fellow who sat out on the veranda in his shirt sleeves complacently smoking a cigarette, told us that he couldn't do very much for the boys, as he didn't have anything to do with; besides one nurse couldn't do very much for forty men, all wanting him at the same time, and he thought there ought to be more help. I couldn't help contrasting this good natured but rather indolent chap, who was performing his duty in such a careless and perfunctory manner, with the brave, clean, intelligent and energetic young women whom I knew, who, when on duty, never took a minute's rest, but were constantly busy, and who anticipated every want of a patient; and who by their bright faces and cheerful voices drove away all feelings of despondency and homesickness among the sufferers, and in this way helped them quite as far on the road to recovery as the medicine that the doctors might prescribe.

CUBANS GLADLY ACCEPT ASSISTANCE.

With saddened hearts we turned away and entered the Cuban army hospital near by. This house was better furnished with beds and bedding and other hospital appliances than the place we had just left, as it had been a regular army hospital when the Spaniards were in possession of the place, and they in their quick retreat had left nearly everything intact. So that these patients were in a much better condition. But how dirty it was! And how badly it smelled!

The Surgeon in charge of the Cuban hospital was a very intelligent Cuban who spoke good English, and he welcomed us warmly, and insisted on taking us to see General Calixto Garcia, whose headquarters were near by. That fine old warrior, with his gentlemanly and courtly manners, received us with the greatest cordiality, introducing us to the members of his staff who were present, and in every way made us feel that we were more than welcome. He had no hesitation in accepting any aid we had to offer; said that his men had suffered so terribly during the past three years that he welcomed our coming as a perfect godsend. So it was arranged that the Red Cross should take hold of the Cuban hospital the next day and do what it could to make it healthier and pleasanter; although the surgeons in charge begged that the ladies, _i.e._, the nurses, should not come until the place had been cleaned. But Red Cross nurses are trained in a school that makes the annihilation of dirt its first principle; and early the following morning they appeared with pails, scrubbing brushes, soap, whitewash and disinfectants, and the way in which they went to work elicited the admiration and astonishment of all who saw them. After thoroughly washing and disinfecting the floors, walls and furniture, they took the beds and put them through the same process, and afterwards put new mattresses, pillows and bedding on them. Then the patients were taken in hand, and carefully bathed and put in clean clothing, and then into clean, sweet-smelling beds. The looks and words of gratitude that were given to those little women in blue will always remain a happy recollection to them.

This grand transformation of the dirty Cuban hospital was watched with great interest by the American officers and men, and when it was finally finished it presented such a noticeable contrast of peace, cleanliness and comfort to the United States Army hospital, where everything was the very opposite, in all its hideousness of neglect, squalor and suffering, that there was a universal grumble in the camp, and men were heard to mutter: "What kind of people are these Red Cross folks that come down here and give the best of everything to the Cubans, and pass by our own boys, who are dying for the want of these very attentions?" When it was explained to them that the Red Cross had first gone to our own hospital and offered all it had to our own army surgeons, and that they had declined assistance, there was an immediate and widespread inquiry, "Why?" and as no answer that would satisfy could be given, and the grumble was becoming more general and forcible all the time, a little later the army surgeons thought best to allay further irritation by a general acceptance of whatever was needed from the Red Cross stores, and any personal assistance that might be offered.

As a result of this change of mind everything that was needful to make the American hospital the equal of the Cuban hospital was gladly given by the Red Cross, and from that time on to the end of the war the army surgeons and the Red Cross worked in perfect harmony and with mutual respect and admiration. A Red Cross hospital was opened at Siboney and immediately filled to its capacity with American soldiers and government employes; and the Red Cross surgeons were given operating tables in the army hospital and on the field, and with the aid of Red Cross nurses rendered splendid service in the bloody days that soon followed.

URGENT CALL FOR HELP AT THE FRONT.

As General Shafter pressed forward with his troops, the fighting became more severe, and his chief surgeon, Colonel Pope, sent word to Miss Barton asking for aid to be sent out to the front. She responded immediately and personally led a party consisting of Mr. George Kennan, Mrs. J. Addison Porter, Dr. and Mrs. Gardner, Dr. E. Winfield Egan, Dr. J.B. Hubbell, and Mr. J.A. McDowell, going forward in army wagons and on foot over a road whose badness could not be exceeded anywhere; and they soon had their tents up and their kettles boiling, and for several days they devoted all their time to relieving the sufferings of the wounded men on the field. They made gruels and soups, and all the delicacies that could be prepared with the facilities at hand, and distributed fruits and cooling drinks. These poor wounded soldiers were lying on the field where they were left after their wounds had been dressed; and as there was no food for them to eat except the regular army ration of salt meat, hardtack and coffee, which many of them were unable to swallow, in some instances they had not taken any nourishment for three days, and were nearly starved.

The "rainy season" had just set in and these "martyrs to the cause of Cuban liberty," who were helpless and in many cases without clothing of any kind, were left without protection, except such as could be had from small bushes and trees; and they were subjected daily to alternate "sunshine and shower;" and when it is said that those words are not to be taken in a poetical sense, but that they mean intense heat and deluging rains, the suffering that ensued can be understood. And it may be well to say that in that locality at that time of the year, when the sun sets the cold air from the mountains drops down into the valleys and the nights become uncomfortably chilly before morning.

That the statement of the sufferings of these men may not be thought overdrawn, I shall introduce here an extract from the testimony of Major William Duffield Bell, an army surgeon, as given on this point in his report for the War Department:

The First division of the Fifth Army Corps Hospital was the only one
in the field. The surgical force in this hospital was insufficient
to meet the demands upon it, and numbers of the wounded lay
unattended for twelve and even twenty-four hours on the bare ground
before their turn came. There was an insufficient supply of proper
food for invalids, due to lack of transportation, though there was
no lack of surgical supplies at the hospital, thanks to the energy
and business like efforts of Major Wood, chief surgeon of the
Division Hospital.

Another great want was the scarcity of clothing and blankets. In
many cases soldiers were soaked with rain and stiffened with mud
from the trenches, so that their clothes had to be removed before an
operation or dressing, and could not be put on again. Men were often
taken from the operating table and of necessity in many cases were
laid upon the wet ground without shelter, and in the majority of
cases without even a blanket, and with little or no nourishment for
two awful days until the Red Cross Society, under Miss Barton,
appeared on the scene.