Chapter XXV: Part 25

With no intention to place the blame for the condition of things
existing, it is only just to state that had some officers of the
commissary and quartermaster's departments displayed the same zeal
and enthusiasm as did Major Wood and his officers and men, such
things need not have happened, and the poor sick and wounded
sufferers would not have had to feel, as many did, that they were
almost forgotten by God and man.

A YELLOW FEVER SCARE.

It is not to be wondered at that in such conditions our soldiers began to fall victims to calentura, a prevalent fever from which very few people there escape, even though surrounded by the best sanitary conditions. The yellow fever scare had taken hold of a part of our soldiers before they left the states; and as there were a great many contract surgeons in the army, who were inexperienced in diagnosing tropical fevers, it was not long before it was reported that the yellow fever had broken out, and considerable demoralization ensued. The Red Cross party which was at the front was requested to return to the steamer; and all the buildings at Siboney, including the hospital, were ordered to be burned "to stop the spread of the fever." Dr. and Mrs. Lesser and Sister Minnie Rogal had already fallen victims to the fever, and were at that time lying in the Red Cross Hospital at Siboney. A temporary fever camp had been started in the hills at the back of Siboney, and they were taken there, accompanied by Sisters Isabelle and Annie both of whom afterward had the fever.

Right here let me say that a Dr. Gray connected with the Medical Department of the Army has been quoted in the papers as saying that the Red Cross was to blame for the outbreak of the yellow fever in Siboney, inasmuch as that organization had opened a hospital in a building that had been condemned, before any army hospital had been opened. It is only necessary to say that the Red Cross Hospital was not opened until over a week after the American and Cuban Army Hospitals had been opened in buildings _that had been previously condemned by army officers_.

Referring to this subject, Major Louis A. La Garde, Surgeon U.S.A., has given this testimony:

The Cubans deceived Dr. Pope, as they had deceived Dr. Guiteras, by
telling him that there had been no yellow fever in Siboney. Dr.
Guiteras believed this. On one occasion he told me that Siboney
didn't look like a yellow fever locality, as the place was hilly and
well drained, except in a small section to the northeast of the
town, where there was a stream. Dr. Guiteras advised that hospitals
be established in houses in Siboney, and he thought there was no
danger of infection because of such action.

As I write this report the War Investigating Commission is holding its sessions, and the country is impatiently awaiting its decision as to where the blame rests for the many shortcomings that were developed during the Santiago campaign, I have just been reading the testimony of Dr. Frank Donaldson, Assistant Surgeon of Roosevelt's Rough Riders, in which he remarks:

"My experience is that the reason the Rough Riders fared so well was because we hustled for ourselves."

When Dr. Donaldson arrived in Siboney he immediately came aboard the Red Cross steamer and announced that he was about to join the Rough Riders, and would like some supplies to take out with him. He was given everything that he wanted that we had in our stores; and the next day he came with two more members of his regiment, and after having breakfast with us, made another requisition for an increased amount of good things. These were cheerfully given and, in addition, shoes and underclothing from the private wardrobes of the members of the Red Cross were added, to meet the required needs that could not be filled otherwise, owing to the fact that these things were not in the steamer's cargo.

I esteem it a privilege to be able to testify to the exactness of the doctor's testimony as to his ability and success as a "hustler," and still more to be able to show _where_ he "hustled," which appears to have escaped his memory.

A few days previous to the fever scare our supply of ice, coffee, fruit and other needful articles running short, the steamer "State of Texas" was ordered to go to Jamaica to replenish her stores. While in Kingston we met many refugees from Santiago, among them Mr. Louis Brooks and Mr. Robt. Douglas, Sr. Both these gentlemen placed their residences in Santiago at the disposal of Miss Barton; she accepted that of Mr. Douglas, and we afterwards spent several very happy and comfortable weeks within its hospitable walls. Mr. Douglas also offered the Red Cross the use of his warehouses in Santiago which was accepted, and we are indebted to these gentlemen for many other favors and their kindness is remembered with gratitude and pleasure.

RELIEF FOR CUBANS, GUANTANAMO BAY.

Commander McCalla of Guantanamo Bay had already made calls upon the Red Cross for relief supplies for the Cubans in that vicinity, and the "State of Texas" had made two trips there, leaving five thousand rations at one time and ten thousand at another. The commander then called for fifty thousand rations, and we started at once to deliver them. On our arrival at Playa del Este the commander met us in his steam launch as we were coming into the harbor, and before we had cast anchor he demanded to know if we had come from Siboney, and if any of our members had been ashore there recently. Being answered in the affirmative, he said that he could not expose the men of his fleet to the risk of taking yellow fever from us, and ordered our ship to turn about and leave at once.

While we were lying at Siboney Messrs. Elwell and Warner were kept busy with a crew of from fifty to seventy-five Cuban soldiers, in landing supplies from the steamer; and the work they did and the success they achieved calls for the highest praise, for it was accomplished under the most adverse conditions and with most inadequate facilities.

At the near-by village of Firmeza were thousands of Cuban refugees and residents, who were in abject need and many were sick and dying. Through the energetic efforts of the above named gentlemen and Dr. J.B. Hubbell all these people were fed and clothed, in addition to many more who came into Siboney.

EXODUS FROM SANTIAGO.

During the siege of Santiago General Shafter sent word to General Toral, the Spanish Commander, that unless the city was surrendered within twenty-four hours, he should bombard it. Notice was given to the citizens of that place, and the surrender was refused. An exodus of non-combatants, men, women and children, hurriedly took place; it was said there were thirty thousand of them, and they fled to the country to the north and east, some twenty thousand crowding into the little village of El Caney which normally has not over five hundred inhabitants.

The city of Santiago at that time was in a destitute condition, several people having already starved to death, and there was consequently little or no provisions for the people to take away. So this vast horde of hungry wretches overwhelmed the little country places that they come to, and the suffering that ensued was something frightful.

The officers at General Shafter's headquarters notified Miss Barton of the conditions at El Caney, and she immediately sent Mr. Elwell there to form a citizens' committee to assist in distributing the food that was to follow as quickly as we could get transportation to carry it. Every horse, mule, vehicle of any kind that could be borrowed, begged or hired, was impressed into the service, and tons of supplies were taken there at the earliest possible moment. For about two weeks the Red Cross force worked night and day in relieving this place. Mr. C. C. Bangs, an elderly gentleman from Brooklyn, N.Y., who had been sent to the Red Cross by the New York Cuban Relief Committee, was given charge of the relief supplies at El Caney, and he remained there until the surrender of Santiago, when the city people returned to their homes, faithfully working as cook and dispenser from sixteen to eighteen hours a day. The hard work, lack of sleep, and poor sanitary conditions, were too hard a strain on him and he came to us at Santiago sick and very much broken. He was attacked by the calentura and removed to a hospital where in a few days he died. He was buried by the Red Cross in the Santiago cemetery, his funeral being attended by the members of that body.

THE RELIEF EXPEDITION ENTERS SANTIAGO.

The surrender of Santiago having been arranged to take place at ten o'clock on the morning of July 17, and Miss Barton being anxious to get to that city at the earliest moment, knowing full well the terrible conditions that existed there, the steamer "State of Texas" steamed down from Siboney that day to the entrance of Santiago Bay. Miss Barton sent word to Admiral Sampson that she was ready to go in to the city whenever he was ready to have her; and he answered that he would send her a pilot to take her ship in as soon as the channel was made safe by the removal of torpedos that had been planted by the Spaniards.

Accordingly about 4.30 in the afternoon a Cuban pilot came aboard the "Texas" from the flagship "New York" and we were soon on our way to Santiago, where we arrived just before sundown. We came to anchor just off the main wharf and Messrs. Elwell and Warner went ashore to make arrangements for warehouse room and to engage men to unload the ship on the morrow.

Early the next morning the "Texas" was drawn up beside the principal wharf and one hundred Cuban stevedores began the work of discharging her. These poor fellows were a sorry looking crowd of undersized and half starved men, the effects of their long fast being plainly visible in their hollow cheeks and thin arms and legs. Many women and children were on the wharf ready to sweep up any stray bits of meal or beans that might escape from leaky sacks or boxes.

As the stores came from the ship they were loaded on hand cars and rolled to the land end of the wharf, where they were placed under a large shed and a guard of soldiers was placed over them to keep back the hungry people and dogs who hung around like a pack of famished wolves.

The same plan of distribution that we had so successfully pursued in Havana was adopted in Santiago, and with the aid of such splendid men as Mr. William Ramsden, son of the English Consul; Mr. Robert Mason, Chinese Consul and vice British Consul; and Mr. Michelson, German Vice Consul, we were soon possessed of full knowledge of the place and in perfect touch with its best people.

General McKibben, the Military Governor of the city, and many other army officers and citizens called on Miss Barton, giving her a warm welcome and offering their assistance in any way they could be of service to her.

A central committee of citizens was appointed, to whom was deputed the duty of dividing the city into districts, and of appointing sub-committees of responsible persons to distribute the supplies to the needy. All applications for relief from the sub-committees had to be approved by the general committee, and then brought to the Red Cross warehouse, where they were filled in bulk and sent back to the district committees for distribution. In this way all confusion was avoided, and our headquarters kept comparatively free from crowding.

By steady work and long hours the cargo of the "State of Texas" was discharged, and she left on her return trip to New York on the fifth day after her arrival; and we were thus left without any means of transportation that we could depend upon in any direction, the railroads being broken, and there being none but government ships in the harbor.

The government not having many delicacies for its sick men, and such as it had being so hard to get that those in quest of them could hardly get their orders filled until their patients had died or recovered, it was only natural that they should come to the Red Cross when they needed anything of that kind, where it was only necessary to state the need and write a requisition to be supplied with anything that we had in stock. That this privilege was appreciated can be attested by hundreds of chaplains, surgeons and officers; and if it was abused in rare instances, there is little to complain of when it is remembered how many lives were thus saved, and how many poor fellows were made comfortable and happy.

While we were at Santiago we were joined by Mrs. Fanny B. Ward of Washington, D.C.; Miss Annie M. Fowler of Springfield, Ill., and Miss Annie Wheeler, of Alabama, a daughter of General Joe Wheeler, the celebrated and much-liked cavalry leader. All of these ladies did splendid work in their several fields, and hundreds of soldiers will gratefully remember their kindly ministrations.

General Shafter, General Wheeler, General McKibben, General Wood, General Bates and Colonel Roosevelt; Admiral Sampson, Admiral Schley, Captain Chadwick, and in fact, almost every military and naval officer with whom we had any business relations, did everything they could for the Red Cross, and it is our proud satisfaction to feel that we met their wishes to the extent of our ability, and that the most perfect reciprocity of good feeling and mutual regard existed.

SPANISH HOSPITALS CARED FOR.

Miss Barton visited all the Spanish hospitals in Santiago and made a thorough inspection and inquiry into their needs; and subsequently furnished them with everything required that we had in our stores. The Spanish Red Cross had no active workers with the Spanish army in Cuba that we could find, and whatever was done for their soldiers by that organization must have been done through the officials of the army. It was said that Spain was well furnished with army hospitals at home, all of which were carried on by the Red Cross; and that it was the custom, previous to the breaking out of the Spanish-American War, to send all invalid soldiers back to Spain to recover.

MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL AND FREE DISPENSARIES.

The municipal hospitals of Santiago were also visited and their inmates made happy by a plentiful supply of good food and clean clothing.

The Red Cross opened a free dispensary where Drs. Gills, Carbonel, Solloso and Zuniga attended many hundred of the sick poor and dispensed medicine and delicacies to all needing them. These faithful doctors also visited the sick in their homes wherever they could find them, and did a great deal of good work.

An expedition was sent inland some seventy miles to Holguin, and the needs of all the intervening communities were carefully investigated. Miss Barton and several members of her staff also went to San Luis, and made arrangements with some of the most prominent citizens of that place to take charge of a large quantity of stores; and word was sent to all the adjacent country for forty miles on each side, notifying the people that all who were in need of help could receive supplies by coming to San Luis.

Dr. Hubbell went to Baracoa and Sagua de Tanamo before the Spanish soldiers and the inhabitants of those places had learned of General Toral's surrender; and he was obliged to go in under a flag of truce and was not generally believed when he told the people that the Province was then under the domination of the Americans. But they were in such straits of sickness and hunger that they gladly accepted the medicine and food that he proffered them.

There was at both Siboney and Santiago a great congestion of government steamers, causing much confusion and consequent delay in getting commissary and quartermaster stores ashore. The government, of course, had charge of everything, including wharves and lighters; and as we were unable to command these facilities several shipments of goods sent to the Red Cross at Santiago were never allowed to land there and were returned to the United States. They were not needed, however, as we had an ample supply for all the demands that were then made upon us. At the suggestion of Mr. D. L. Cobb of the Red Cross, a large schooner was chartered and loaded with Kennebec ice and sent to Santiago in tow, by the "Ice Auxiliary" of New York. Certainly no other of the many methods of relief that had been suggested, was more welcome or acceptable to the suffering heroes of Santiago. No single article that was sent to the soldiers gave one quarter the satisfaction to them that was given by this cooling and comforting necessity. Owing to the lack of facilities for landing, as stated above, we were unable to get the ice ashore to deliver to the hospitals; but as transports, loaded with sick and wounded soldiers were leaving almost daily for the States, we notified the captains of all those steamers that they could have all the ice they might need, and as they could easily run alongside the schooner and take it aboard they all availed themselves of the privilege until the cargo was exhausted.

When the schooner that had brought the ice to Cuba was discharged, she was towed alongside the transport "Port Victor," that had on board some seven hundred tons of Red Cross supplies, which it was impossible to land, and they were taken aboard the schooner and subsequently sent to Gibara on the northern coast.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE ICE.

The following is summary of orders (for ice) upon which the cargo of the "Mary E. Morse" was delivered:

Tons.

August 1, Captain J.H. Dizer, S.S. "Berkshire" 7
2, Captain P.H. Hanlon, S.S. "Grand Duchess" 30
1, Captain J.F. Lewis, S.S. "Mattewan" 8
1, Captain Downs, S.S. "Orizaba" 10
1, Captain Googins, S.S. "Gate City" 15
3, Captain ----, S.S. "Fanita" 5
2, Captain J.H. Byrne, S.S. "Mexico" 20
3, Swift & Co.'s representative 50
5, Captain ----, S.S. "Olivette" 20
4, Mr. Douglass 2
5, Captain ----, S.S. "Mattewan" 6
1, Captain McIntosh, S.S. "Vigilancia" 15
5, Captain ----, S.S. "Tarpon" 10
6, Captain Brickley, S.S. "Port Victor" 50
10, Captain Brickley, S.S. "Port Victor" 100
8, Captain Paul Konow, S.S. "Arnrum" 1
9, Captain ----, S.S. "Grand Duchess" 50
8, Captain Genis (Spanish), S.S. "Alicante" 7
9, Captain A.T. Anderson, S.S. "Marie" 1
9, Captain J. Hanlon, S.S. "Mortero" 6
9, Captain J.H. Dizer, S.S. "Berkshire" 3
5, Captain A.S. Johnston, S.S. "San Juan" 5
9, Captain ----, S.S. "Olivette" 20
9, Captain Charles A. Furlong, S.S. "Catinia" 15
11, Captain S. Layland, S.S. "Mobile" 25
11, Captain ----, S.S. "Vigilancia" 50
12, Captain ----, S.S. "Arcadia" 15
2, Captain John Evans, S.S. "Specialist" 7
13, Captain ----, S.S. "City of Macon" 10
8, Swift & Co.'s representative 40
1, Captain Kimball, S.S. "Louisiana" 12
10, Captain Antonio, "Alemani," "Isla Luzon" 7
13, "Olivette" 10
10, Captain Peters, transport "Miller" 20
16, Captain Aldamis, S.S. "M.D. Villarverde" 5
16, Captain Mir, S.S. "Montevideo" 10
14, Captain Antonia Jascia, S.S. "Isle Pinay" 5
10, Commander Jacobsen, German man-of-war, "Geier" 5
16, Captain ----, S.S. "Berkshire" 10
15, Captain Bie, S.S. "Sewanne" 5
14, Captain Tomaso, S.S. "Latrusgui" 12
15, Captain of S.S. "Burton" indefinite quantity
3, Master steam lighter "Bessie" 1 piece
3, To "Miami" 2 boat loads
6, Representative Swift & Co. 2 cakes
5, Government boat "Sewanne" 1 ton
5, S.S. "Olivette" 1,000 pounds
-----
10
Cargo of "Mary E. Morse" contained 792
Delivery as per above schedule 722
----
Charged to melting, etc. 70

After a five weeks stay in Santiago it became apparent that the distribution of further general relief was unnecessary and inadvisable, as the more pressing wants had been supplied, and the presence of the army, and the returning commercial and industrial prosperity had given employment to all the available laborers, who were now amply able to provide for themselves and their families. In these circumstances, it was decided to restrict the distribution henceforth to such people as might be vouched for by the various members of the committee as having no means of support.

IMMENSE STORES IN SANTIAGO.

The Red Cross had at that time in its warehouse at Santiago about eight hundred tons of stores, and the New York committee was sending more all the time. The government warehouses and wharves were overcrowded with quartermaster and commissary stores, although the troops, both sick and well, were being sent North as fast as steamers could be secured to carry them. General Wood, the military governor, was devoting all of his time to the betterment of the general condition of the people; and in addition to cleaning the streets and yards and disinfecting all foul spots, he was exercising a general oversight for the moral and physical welfare of the community.

With all this great abundance of provisions and clothing, and the small number of needy people that were within reach, and the perfect arrangements that had been made that no one needing relief should be overlooked, a longer stay of the full Red Cross staff seemed unwise and useless; so it was decided that we should go to some other field where our services could be utilized to better advantage. As a further precaution, that there might be no possibility of any needy person being overlooked, Miss Barton appointed a committee of ladies, who should by house to house inspection discover and report to the general committee any cases of suffering that might escape notice otherwise.

PRESIDENT MCKINLEY FURNISHES TRANSPORTATION.

Having heard that the port of Havana was open, it was natural that our party should be eager to return there and take up the work that we had been compelled to relinquish during the previous spring. The only means of transportation that was at our disposal to use in reaching Havana was the schooner "Mary E. Morse," and as she had been already destined for another port, and was withal so slow that she would not have served our requirements, we had no other recourse than to appeal to the government. Miss Barton accordingly telegraphed President McKinley, asking for the use of a transport, and he promptly placed at her disposal the Morgan Line steamer "Clinton," which was then in the government service. Within the following four days we loaded the "Clinton" with thirty-four mules that had been sent to us by one of the Red Cross auxiliary committees of New York, and about three hundred tons of general stores, which we hoped would serve as a starter in the distribution at Havana, other supplies having been promised to meet us at that place.

We sailed away from Santiago on the afternoon of August 21, and after a pleasant voyage we arrived at Havana on the morning of the twenty-fifth.

We learned on entering the harbor that we were as much in Spanish waters as we had been during our previous sojourn in Havana, and that there was no marked change in anything. The same customs' officers whom we had known before the war boarded our boat, and we were treated with the old-time courtesy, but there was no let up in the rigid enforcement of all the requirements of the law; the necessary clearance papers, manifests, etc., being demanded. As we were on a government transport, and carrying a cargo intended for charitable distribution, we expected to be admitted without hindrance or ceremony, but we were disappointed. We were informed that we should have to pay full duties on our cargo, which amounted to as much as the original cost of the goods; and that as we had failed to make a specific manifest of every article we had on board we must pay a fine of five hundred dollars before we should be allowed to land our cargo or to leave the harbor.

Miss Barton called upon the Governor of Havana, who received her with great urbanity, but when she told him the nature of her visit he insisted that there was no need of aid in that city, that there was no suffering, that the people were all well fed and had been all through the blockade. This call was very courteously returned by the general and staff.

No possible endeavor was omitted that gave any hope of enabling us to land our cargo, and we brought every influence to bear that we could command. After a couple of days had elapsed one of the government officials came aboard our ship and told Miss Barton that the Colonial Council had held a meeting, and that its members had voted to take the amount of money needed from some special fund that was available and pay the duties on the cargo of her ship, _provided she would turn it over to their agents to distribute_. Finding that there was no likelihood of any better terms being offered Miss Barton decided that it was useless to remain longer. Then again, the American Evacuation Commissioners were expected to arrive in a few days, and it was thought that the presence of this boatload of Cuban relief might be an embarrassment to them in dealing with the Spanish commission, and that we had better pay our fine and quietly withdraw until such time as we might return without hindrance.

During our stay in Havana hundreds of the best people of that city, including Spaniards and Cubans, came aboard the "Clinton" and assured Miss Barton of their warmest friendship and heartiest welcome, and it is believed that they did their utmost to persuade the officials to allow Miss Barton to resume her work in Havana. They told the most harrowing stories of the suffering in and about the city, and they said that with the exception of some "soup houses," which the government was ostentatiously supporting, and which gave out to the poor, miserable sufferers who called for it a small quantity of an alleged soup, in which there was not enough nourishment to keep a chicken alive, there was no other distribution of food, and that people were daily dying in the streets. We knew that this was true, as we all had seen scores of these people every time we had gone ashore.

On September first we paid our fine of five hundred dollars and arranged all other matters, so that we were ready to sail at seven o'clock that evening, and with many regrets, we started for Egmont Key, Florida, where we knew we would have to go into quarantine, before entering the United States.

As our ship's charter would expire on September 7 and she ought to be in New Orleans, where she belonged, on that date, it was decided to unload her cargo of goods at Egmont Key, and have it transferred from there to Tampa. The mules were to be left aboard, and taken to New Orleans, where they had been purchased.

Captain Wertsch and the entire crew of the steamer "Clinton," having exerted themselves to make all of our party comfortable and happy, and having succeeded in an eminent degree, Miss Barton was pleased to make acknowledgment of their courtesy in a letter, a copy of which follows.

ON BOARD STEAMER "CLINTON,"
EN ROUTE HAVANA TO EGMONT KEY, _September 1, 1898_.

CAPT. P.C. WERTSCH, _Steamer "Clinton_:"

DEAR SIR:--As we draw near the end of our voyage on the steamer
"Clinton," I cannot refrain from giving expression to the feeling of
satisfaction and gratitude that all the members of the Red Cross
party entertain for you and your crew. If you have any influence
with the gods of wind and wave, you must certainly have exerted it,
for verily we have been "sailing o'er summer seas" during the past
weeks, and a pleasanter time than we have had could not well be
imagined. It gives me great pleasure to say to you that the uniform
courtesy and consideration that have been shown our people and the
general comfort of the "Clinton" are highly appreciated. We
congratulate the Morgan Line on having such a ship and such a crew.

In saying good-bye, permit me to thank you most heartily for your
many kindnesses and your unfailing courtesy, and to wish you and all
the members of your crew a long life and the best of everything in
it.

Sincerely yours,
CLARA BARTON.

Captain Wertsch replied in the happy manner following:

ON BOARD STEAMER "CLINTON,"

_September 2, 1898_.

MISS CLARA BARTON, _President American National Red Cross_:

DEAR MADAM:--Your very kind note, in which you commend my ship and
crew, is received, and I have to return my most grateful thanks. A
commander's duties not only embrace the safe navigation of his
craft, but the comfort and happiness of his passengers and crew, and
it is a great pleasure to know that my efforts in that direction,
combined with the propitious conditions of the elements, have met
with your approval, and I shall always treasure your approbation as
one of the bright spots in my rather monotonous calling. I esteem it
one of the greatest honors to have as passenger and friend one who
has so distinguished and endeared herself to all the civilized world
by her many years of faithful and never-ceasing devotion to
suffering humanity, and it is my sincere hope that God may grant you
many years more in which to continue your work of love, and that
every success may crown your efforts. I have the honor to subscribe
myself,

Your devoted friend,
P.C. WERTSCH, _Captain_.

We arrived at Egmont Key on the morning of September 3, and the party went into camp for a five days' quarantine, which, barring the heat and mosquitoes, was rather a pleasant rest after the worry and suspense of the past week. Dr. Geddings, of the Marine Hospital Service, the surgeon in charge of the quarantine station, did everything in his power to make our stay agreeable, and he succeeded far better than we had anticipated.

As our party was about to break up, after a pleasant union of seven months, in which we had become like one family, and had conceived a mutual esteem and regard for each other, it seemed fitting that some little expression of good feeling should be manifested in a way that would be lasting and memorable. The following address to Miss Barton was accordingly drawn up, signed by all the members present and read to her:

TO MISS CLARA BARTON.

Now that our work has ceased for a time, and our party which has
labored so long and so harmoniously together, is returning home, we,
the members of the Cuban relief expedition, desire to express to
you, our leader, as delicately and fittingly as may be, our
unbounded confidence and admiration, and our sincere and heartfelt
gratitude and love. As we look back over the past few months, and
recall the many scenes of suffering and death that we have
witnessed, and remember how ceaselessly, faithfully and tirelessly
you have worked, and how much you have accomplished under the most
unpromising circumstances, our wonder grows and we cannot help but
reverence and admire your wisdom, patience and industry. No more
trying position than you have occupied during the past seven months,
could well be imagined, and no one not possessed of nerves of steel
and of ripest wisdom and the rarest judgment, combined with a
purpose as fixed as the stars could have made the great success that
you have made of the work we had in hand. When it is remembered how
many thousands of brave soldiers have been saved from suffering and
death through your efforts, and how many starving and sick people
have been brought back to health and happiness, and all with so
little cost of actual money, our warmest admiration is excited, and
we cannot withhold that praise which you so justly deserve.

Personally each of us wishes to express his or her acknowledgment of
your unfailing kindness and interest in our comfort and general
welfare, and we have to thank you for thousands of those little
considerations of word and look that go so far to brighten one's
thoughts and make life a pleasure. We all have the greatest
satisfaction in knowing that all the work we were permitted to do
has been done with thoroughness and economy, and we are vain enough
to think that no one could have done more under the conditions that
existed. We shall soon separate and go our several ways, and it will
be with the deepest sorrow and regret that we shall say good by to
our leader; but throughout life it will always be a pleasure to call
to mind her image and remember all the happy moments we have passed
with her. So in parting, it will no doubt be a satisfaction to you
to have the assurance that you hold our warmest love and good will,
and that at any time each and all of us will be ready to serve you
in any way that lies within our power.

A. VON SCHELLE,
_Membre du Comité Directeur de la Croix Rouge de Belgique, Membre de
l'Association Nationale de la Croix Rouge des Etats Unis l'Amerique_.
J.B. HUBBELL,
_General Field Agent of the American National Red Cross_.
E. WINFIELD EGAN,
_Surgeon American National Red Cross_.
C.H.H. COTTRELL,
_Financial Secretary_.
LUCY M. GRAVES,
J.A. MCDOWELL,
CHAS. R. GILL, M.D.,
C.D. COTTRELL,
ANNIE M. FOWLER,
J.K. ELWELL,
GEO. J. HASSETT.

At the conclusion of this kind and just tribute to our beloved leader there was a moment of profound silence, our feelings being too deep for utterance. At length, when Miss Barton had subdued her emotions sufficiently to speak clearly, she responded in most graceful terms, expressing her warm and sincere appreciation of the work performed, and the loyal support that had ever been accorded her; that no words could fully express the gratitude she felt for this thoughtful little memento of our comradeship, and she should prize it quite as much as any badge or decoration she had ever received.

Farewells were said, and the party separated, going to their several homes; and so ended our first Cuban expedition.

FINANCIAL.

It is a very hard matter to express in dollars and cents the value of the relief distributed, as it was all donated in either material or money which was turned into material; and the kinds were so varied, the market value so fluctuating, and the data so scattered, that only an approximation can be ventured. It is probably underestimating the amount of relief stores that have been sent to Cuba by the Central

Cuban Relief Committee and the American National Red Cross to place it at six thousand tons, approximating in value half a million dollars in New York. Had these same goods been bought in Cuba, their cost would easily have been doubled.

In estimating the cost of distribution great difficulties present themselves, as large numbers of laborers, sometimes as many as two hundred per day were paid in food taken from the stores; but such labor can only be paid in that way while the need is extreme; and the moment the direst wants are satisfied money is demanded for every service.

We found a considerable number of people who had once been wealthy, but who were utterly helpless after being despoiled of their riches, and gave up in despair, and would have died without making any adequate effort to save themselves, had not relief been brought to them. There were, however, many sterling families who had cast their fortunes with the revolution; had sacrificed everything for "Cuba libre," and were willing to give life itself, if necessary; these people accepted relief reluctantly and sparingly, and with warmest gratitude.

For nearly two months after our arrival in Havana the entire expenses of the relief work were borne by Miss Barton from her private purse. It is but just to state that when this fact was discovered, by the committee the money was refunded. Then the Central Cuban Relief Committee began to furnish her with means which came thereafter in abundance, and nothing that was needed that money could procure was ever omitted. Volunteers for work were plentiful, but they were generally without experience and therefore not available. For this reason, and considering the magnitude of the work to be attempted and the celerity with which it must be carried on in order to be effective, it was necessary to override a time-honored precedent of the Red Cross, and pay salaries to certain grades of professional workers who could not be obtained otherwise. It should be stated though, that all these people who were engaged required no more money than was sufficient to meet the necessities of those who were dependent on them; and the few salaries that were paid were very low considering the high grade of ability that was secured.

The first funds sent for our use were in drafts payable in Spanish gold at Havana. Gold was then held at a premium of about thirty-five per cent over Spanish silver, with which the greater part of the ordinary business of the country was carried on.

On entering Santiago we found both American and Spanish money in circulation, and consequently considerable confusion resulted on account of the fluctuation in values, there being no established standard. The military governor made an arbitrary ruling that there should be a premium of one hundred per cent on American money over Spanish silver, or, in other words, that one dollar in American money should be worth two dollars in Spanish silver. Spanish gold and American gold were on a par in ordinary transactions of limited amounts, but in large amounts American gold was worth a small percentage more than the Spanish.

While we were in Santiago our supply of condensed milk ran short, owing to the large amount that was used in the hospitals. Fortunately there was at that time in the harbor a merchant ship loaded with groceries which could not be disposed of satisfactorily, and we were able to purchase at a very reasonable figure quite a large amount of that greatly needed delicacy, and continue filling all requisitions.

The following is a statement of our accounts at the end of the expedition:

FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

Central Cuban Relief Committee, cash $11,296.55
Contributions 172.93
Exchange 236.83
Household Expenses $1,521.41
General Expenses 2,040.92
Cuban Relief Expenses 3,699.79
Traveling Expenses 968.22
Telegrams 105.02
Office Expenses, Stationery, etc 22.45
Salaries 2,541.24
American National Red Cross Relief Committee
Army Expenses 807.26
----------------------
$11,706.31 $11,706.31

The expense accounts will generally explain themselves by their titles, with a few exceptions which will be noted. "Cuban Relief Expenses" covered all charges for labor outside of that performed by our own party, and for supplies, etc., that were purchased outside of those we had brought from New York. "American Red Cross Expenses" included expenses of nurses and hospitals on account of army work, as distinct from Cuban relief work; also the maintenance of forty mules that had been sent us by that organization. "Household Expenses" covered house rent, servant hire, and maintenance of the entire party, which numbered as high as thirty people at times, and averaged twenty most of the time, making an average of less than $2.50 expense per week for each person. "General Expenses" included work on hospitals and other buildings necessary to make them habitable and comfortable, and all other expenses not properly chargeable to any other account.

On an estimated distribution of relief supplies, valued at half a million dollars, the cost of distribution, covering a period of seven months, exclusive of the charter price for the steamer "State of Texas," amounts to less than three per cent of the value of the goods distributed.

LETTER OF SANTIAGO COMMITTEE.

MISS CLARA BARTON,
_President of the American National Red Cross, Santiago de Cuba_:

MADAM:--The undersigned, who have had the honor to form your
committee to assist you in the distribution of relief to this city
during the permanence in it of the Red Cross, desire on the eve of
your departure to "give an account of their stewardship," presenting
at same time in a condensed form an idea of the work that has been
done.

It would probably be difficult to cite an instance in which a relief
vessel has arrived so opportunely anywhere as the steamship "State
of Texas" arrived in Santiago de Cuba. After a rigorous blockade of
two months, during which stocks of provisions had run very low, the
greatest part of the inhabitants of the city, under stress of
threatened bombardment, had abandoned their homes and taken refuge
in the neighboring villages. On their return, after the occupation
of the city by the American troops, many of the citizens found that
during their absence their homes had been looted and the small store
of provisions which they counted upon had disappeared. The same fate
had overtaken many shops, and the establishments which had escaped,
and which anyhow had hardly anything left to dispose of, remained
closed for many days. It may therefore safely be said that the
immense majority of the inhabitants of this city had nothing to eat,
and it was at this moment that you most providentially arrived with
the "State of Texas."

The organizing of a system of relief, and the discharge of the
vessel were started simultaneously and with such success that on the
twentieth of July a ration of cooked food was distributed by means
of the local "Cocina Economica," 6000 persons being relieved on that
day, and 9000 the next, the whole gratis distribution of rations by
that institution exceeding, in the three weeks such distribution
lasted, 200,000.

By advice of your committee, in order to proceed to the distribution
of uncooked food, a number of commissioners were appointed, each of
whom presented a detailed list of the families that he agreed to
distribute among, some of these lists embracing over one thousand
persons. By this means the pressure of great crowds round the Red
Cross deposits, which would have rendered impossible a prompt and
efficacious distribution, was avoided, and to the limited number of
commissioners, who had agreed to distribute among the great number
of the needy, a large amount daily was supplied.

We consider it a duty and take a special pleasure in manifesting our
appreciation of the efficiency displayed by your whole staff in
these days, and of the energy with which they discharged the vessel,
carted and stored the cargo; and proceeded with its distribution;
and can only congratulate them on the result of their labors and
yourself on being at the head of such a well-organized corporation.

In the very important items of directing the relief to be given into
proper channels and keeping it out of improper ones, your committee
had at the commencement an easy task, for the reasons already
explained, the whole city being in want, by simply giving to all
that applied, and in the first days that was what was done, so much
so that three-fourths, more or less, of the entire community
received some assistance.

But after the first ten days it began to be evident that the strain
was removing. Cargoes of provisions for sale had arrived and were
being retailed. The government were employing quite a number of
workmen on and around the wharves at high wages, and some few
workmen were moving out to the country. It behooved then the
committee to be more conservative in admitting lists of applicants
for rations, and this necessity was accentuated by complaints which
began to arise of the difficulty of getting people to work,
complaints which became general extending from the governor of the
city who could not find workmen even at good wages, to clean the
streets of the city, to the heads of households who found no one to
cook, serve or wash, while such important minor industries, as the
supplying of the city with charcoal or even firewood, were almost
wholly abandoned.

_Where it is estimated that twelve thousand people were fed with Red
Cross supplies before the surrender of Santiago._]

Finally the moment arrived when the end of the necessity of the
permanence of the Red Cross was in sight, and, coinciding with the
raising of the blockade of Havana and other large cities where want
and sickness had necessarily to be more accentuated than here, made
it a question of the greatest good to the greatest number, made its
removal to the west end of the island a necessity. There necessarily
remained some poverty, some sickness, and some misery, but the
public, and more especially the military government, had taken
efficacious measures to cope with these evils, and while in one
sense deploring your departure, your committee could only coincide
with your views on the subject, and offer their conscientious
opinion that the present state of affairs in Santiago de Cuba fully
justified the departure of the Red Cross to districts where its
presence was much more urgently required.

In conclusion, your committee beg to express their gratitude for the
confidence which you have so kindly bestowed on them, and to deplore
that owing to sickness and extreme press of work, they have not been
able so fully to assist in your benevolent undertaking as would have
been their ardent desire.

(Signed) ROBERT MASON,
H. MICHAELSEN,
WM. RAMSDEN.
_Santiago de Cuba._

REPORT OF E. WINFIELD EGAN, M.D.

When the Red Cross was asked by the Department of State, and the Central Cuban Relief Committee, to go to Cuba in charge of the relief work among the reconcentrados, the members of Miss Barton's personal staff, who had worked on other fields, were called to join the expedition. On the twentieth of February, while in my office in Boston, a telegram arrived containing the usual call to service in the field. Six days later, I reported at headquarters in the city of Havana.

Already the preliminary work was in progress. Committees were in the process of formation. A working census was being rapidly taken and information collected concerning the conditions in Havana and the cities and towns of the interior, upon which to base a plan of operations.

One of the first things essential to a systematic prosecution of the work was a commodious and convenient warehouse. This privilege was secured from the proprietors of the Almacen de San José, one of the largest bonded warehouses in Havana. Here the Red Cross supplies were carefully stored and classified, and from thence shipped upon requisitions to all points reached in the relief work.

But the feeding of the hungry was not the only work of the Red Cross. Aside from the distribution of food and clothing, hospitals and asylums were necessary for the care of the sick, and for the orphan children. One of the first asylums established was located in the Cerro, a suburban ward of Havana, and was known as the _Asilo de Niños_. Here, in addition to the usual work in the hospital department, outpatient clinics were instituted, including medical, surgical, gynecological, and, lastly, an eye and ear clinic. As the building selected for the asylum was originally built for a family residence, it was difficult to adapt it to all the needs of both an asylum and a hospital. For the last named clinic a dark room was of course needed, and for this reason this department was open during the evenings, from 8 to 11 p.m., when, with nature's kind co-operation, the necessary obscurity was always assured. The nightly attendance averaged about seventy. Among these patients, the diseases of the eye were generally traceable to starvation; the proportion of cases for "refraction" were comparatively few.

These clinics continued at the asylum until the United States Government, through the Consul-General, advised all American citizens to leave the island.

On March 2, the leading physicians of Havana were called in council, and methods of caring for the sick of the city were discussed, especially with reference to the best plan for avoiding the creation of a pauper element, through the abuse of the out-patient clinics. The plans formulated at the council were adopted and adhered to in the prosecution of the hospital work.

With the work in Havana still in progress, it was decided to make a trip to the interior. A special train was placed at the disposal of the Red Cross staff, and a visit was made to the principal towns in the provinces of Havana, Matanzas and Santa Clara. It was from the information gained by personal observation upon this trip, that Senator Proctor compiled his famous speech, delivered in the United States Senate, upon the starvation and distress among the reconcentrados in the Western Provinces of Cuba.

At Matanzas, Sagua la Grande and Cienfuegos, well-conducted dispensaries were already in existence, but were almost destitute of means. Supplies sufficient for two months were immediately ordered forward from the storehouse in Havana, and these institutions were left in good condition. After doing what relief work was possible at the time, the party returned to Havana.

On arrival at the headquarters, Miss Barton called the staff together to consider what action should be taken upon the Consul-General's recommendation that all Americans should return home. The entire staff expressed their willingness to remain, but it was decided to confer with Captain-General Blanco. The Captain-General stated that he would be glad to have the Red Cross remain, and that so far as concerned the regulars of the Spanish army, the staff and equipment would be entirely safe, but that, owing to the irregular and unruly element in the army, the volunteers, whose actions could not be controlled, he considered it best that the Red Cross should retire before hostilities began. General Blanco, however, offered to be personally responsible for the safety of Miss Barton so long as she remained.

On the ninth of April the Red Cross retired, arriving at Port Tampa on the "Olivette" three days later, and Miss Barton and staff took up temporary quarters at Tampa, awaiting the time when the work in Cuba might be again taken up.

During the stay in Tampa the nurses were daily instructed in emergency field work. All the appliances usually considered indispensable were left at the headquarters, and they were compelled to depend upon such conveniences as might be improvised on the spot. Stretchers and splints were made from the limbs of trees; bindings and bandages were made from the long grass, which was pliable and easily woven. These exercises were accompanied by lectures on discipline in the field.

On May 1, the entire party again arrived at Key West and joined the steamship "State of Texas," where the active work of relief began, our attention being first directed to the refugees in Key West, and afterward to the Spanish prisoners of war on the vessels captured by the blockading squadron. The crews of these vessels were, in many instances, short of provisions, and in some cases had had nothing whatever to eat, except fish, for fifteen days or more. The government appropriation was not yet available, and several weeks must elapse before government rations could be obtained for them. At the request of the United States Marshal, the prisoners were supplied by the "State of Texas," and were cared for medically by the surgeons of the Red Cross staff. A number of surgical operations were performed.

Not only were the prisoners fed, clothed and cared for, but by an arrangement made with the United States court and the naval authorities the men were permitted to write to their homes and friends, the letters being left open and certified by the Red Cross, and afterward forwarded to their destinations, those for Spain being transmitted through the Red Cross of Portugal, which had kindly offered to act as intermediary for the transmission of such communications. Thus the prisoners were not only enabled to write to their parents and friends, but the Red Cross was able, by this means, to show to the Spanish people in Spain and Cuba, through the letters from the captives themselves, what manner of treatment they were receiving as prisoners of war. This, it was hoped, would not fail to have its effect if in the course of the hostilities men of our own army or navy should be captured.