President again, who expressed his great pleasure that the Red Cross
will so cheerfully respond to the initiative which the President has
taken toward the relief of the suffering people of Cuba. No less
could have been expected by him in view of the good work which the
Red Cross has done in the past when called upon to fulfill its
humane mission of relieving suffering, either at home or in foreign
countries, and acting as the medium for the effective application of
the charitable gifts of our citizens.
With the President's approval, I have the pleasure to suggest to you
the way in which it is deemed that the co-operation of the Red Cross
in this humane endeavor can be most practically accomplished.
The first necessity is the organization, in New York City as the
most convenient centre of operations, of a committee whose functions
it will be to appeal to the kindly sentiments of the American people
in behalf of the sufferers in Cuba; to receive contributions in
money or in kind, and to forward the same to Havana, consigned to
the Consul-General of the United States, he having been placed by
the President, in sole charge of the receipt and application of the
relief in the island; the committee, as a whole, to act under the
supervision and direction of the Secretary of State, with whom it
may correspond on all matters of business arising and requiring
direction in the name of the Government of the United States.
In view of the generous and cordial offer of Mr. Louis Klopsch, of
the _Christian Herald_, the President desires that, if agreeable to
you, he shall be a member of the committee and, in concert with a
third member to be designated by the Chamber of Commerce of New
York, co-operating with the representative of the Red Cross to make
effective the effort which is now being put forth.
The representation of the Red Cross on the proposed relief
committee, is left to you. While the President would be most
gratified were you in person to act as the second member, he
recognizes that the duties and labors of the office might more
conveniently fall upon a representative of the Red Cross in New York
City, and will cheerfully accept your suggestion that Mr. Stephen E.
Barton, second vice-president of the American National Red Cross,
serve in that capacity.
Mr. Barton will be furnished with letters to Mr. Louis Klopsch and
to Mr. Alexander E. Orr, president of the New York Chamber of
Commerce, explaining the circumstances under which their
co-operation toward the formation of the proposed committee is
solicited. It is trusted that speedy action may be had, so that the
organization of the Central Cuban Relief Committee may be announced
to the people of the United States by the Secretary of State at the
earliest possible day.
I am, my dear madam,
Very respectfully yours,
ALVEY A. ADEE,
_Second Assistant Secretary_.
Letters of notification were then sent by the Secretary of State to Mr.
Stephen E. Barton, Mr. Louis Klopsch and Mr. Alexander E. Orr. Mr.
Barton being appointed, Mr. Klopsch having accepted the invitation to
serve, Mr. Charles A. Schieren was selected to represent the New York
Chamber of Commerce, and thus was formed what is still known as the
Central Cuban Relief Committee. The committee met early in January of
this year and organized, Mr. Barton being elected as chairman, Mr.
Schieren treasurer. This committee began active work by sending a
telegraphic appeal to the governors of all the States and Territories,
announcing the object of the committee's existence, and asking their
co-operation and active support, in order to carry out the President's
policy in the administration of relief to the starving people in Cuba.
All responses received were favorable, many committees were appointed,
and the supplies and funds began to come in. It was at this point that
the Secretary of State issued the second public appeal by the
government, on January the eighth, again urging the people, the
municipal authorities and the great corporations to assist in the work.
The first shipment of supplies to Cuba by the Central Cuban Relief
Committee was made on January 4, and the second on January 12, the first
consisting of 160 cases of condensed milk, and the second of about forty
tons of food, clothing and medicines. These supplies were consigned to
Consul-General Lee at Havana, and were transported by the Ward Line of
steamships free of charge.
In the meantime the committee issued its own circular appeal to all
local authorities, business houses, boards of trade, religious
institutions, charitable corporations, social and business clubs,
organizations and societies generally in every State of the Union.
The question of transportation and its cost now became one of vital
importance. If full freight charges were to be paid on all consignments
to the committee to the Atlantic coast, the expense of shipment might in
many cases equal the value of the supplies, and in any event would be a
serious burden upon the treasury. Accordingly, negotiations were carried
on with the principal railway and steamship transportation lines, and
with the Joint Traffic Association of New York, one result of which was
that the association shortly afterward issued its general circular of
instructions, the substance of which was:
That, responsive to the request of the Central Cuban Relief Committee,
appointed by the President of the United States and acting under the
direction of the Department of State, it shall be permissible for the
railway companies, parties to the Joint Traffic Association, to forward
free of transportation charges, from points subject to its jurisdiction
to or from New York, New Orleans, Mobile, Montgomery and Tampa,
shipments of food, clothing and medicines, and other necessary supplies
intended for the use and relief of the inhabitants of the island of Cuba
who are suffering from sickness and famine.
Through this generous action on the part of the Joint Traffic
Association, comprising the principal railroads east of Chicago, with
branch lines extending north and south, all contributions were carried
to the Atlantic and Gulf ports free. The Ward Line from New York, and
the Plant System of railways and steamships had already taken similar
action, then the great trunk lines of the West, the New England
companies, the Southern railways, and all the coastwise steamship
companies and the Munson Line united in furnishing free transportation
to the ports of Cuba. Of the steamship lines whose kind assistance did
so much to further the work of relief, special mention is due to Messrs.
James E. Ward & Co., of New York, owners of the Ward Line, whose
steamers running to Havana, Santiago, Cienfuegos and ports along the
southern shore of Cuba, not only carried the larger amount of
provisions, but unloaded it and delivered it on shore without charge.
No single agency did greater service than the press. By the daily and
widespread dissemination of news concerning the actual conditions in
Cuba, by the reports of their own representatives in the famine-stricken
districts, and by the persistent reiteration of appeals the great heart
of the American people was reached, and the response was prompt and
abundant.
Operating over such a large territory, communication by mail would have
often been too slow to be effective, and it was constantly necessary to
resort to the telegraph, and the cost of such service would have
ordinarily been very great. But the Postal Telegraph Company and the
Western Union Telegraph and Cable Company, in order to assist the work,
extended unusual privileges, the first company transmitting all messages
free, and the second accepting messages at the government rates. The
Central Cuban Relief Committee in their report to the President, extend
their thanks to many other companies, and individuals, for whose kindly
assistance they are indebted, and special mention is made of the
valuable service rendered by the United States dispatch agent, Mr. I.P.
Roosa, in the receipt and storage, the purchase and shipment of relief
supplies.
In the latter part of March a conference was held at Washington, between
the Secretary of State and the Central Cuban Relief Committee, which
resulted in bringing the committee into relationship with the American
National Red Cross, and the designation of the Red Cross as the
distributing agent in Cuba, acting for the State Department and the
committee. As told elsewhere, the work of distribution in Cuba was
scarcely begun when friendly relations between the United States and
Spain were suspended, and upon the advice of the Consul-General at
Havana, the Red Cross retired when the President called all Americans
home.
In the meantime the committee, upon the advice of the Department of
State, had chartered the steamship "State of Texas" of the Mallory Line,
and, loading her with a general cargo of food, clothing, medicines and
hospital supplies, dispatched her, under the flag of the Red Cross, to
Key West.
The purpose for which this good ship was dispatched, and the conditions
under which she was sent, are best explained by the correspondence
exchanged at that time by the Departments of State and Navy, the
American National Red Cross, the Central Cuban Relief Committee and the
naval commanders:
THE CENTRAL CUBAN RELIEF COMMITTEE,
Appointed by the President of the United States and acting under the
direction of the Department of State.
NEW YORK, _April 20, 1898._
MISS CLARA BARTON,
_President, American National Red Cross, Washington, D.C._:
DEAR MISS BARTON: In confirmation of the verbal request by the
chairman and treasurer of the Central Cuban Relief Committee, in
conjunction with the Hon. Wm. R. Day, Assistant Secretary of State,
that you proceed to the island of Cuba, there to carry on the work
of distribution and relief to the suffering people in behalf of this
committee and in co-operation with the United States Consuls, I beg
to inform you that at a special meeting of this committee, held on
thirteenth of April, 1898, the following action was taken:
WHEREAS, The Department of State having extended the authority of
this committee to the supervision of the distribution of relief
supplies, and the carrying out of all necessary relief measures, in
co-operation with the American Consuls in Cuba; and this committee,
having verbally joined with the Department of State in asking the
American National Red Cross, Miss Clara Barton, president, to
proceed at once to Cuba as the representative of this committee, and
to perform, in behalf of the committee, all necessary work of
relief; therefore be it
_Resolved_, That the chairman be authorized to write suitable
letters to Miss Clara Barton, Consul-General Lee and the other
American Consuls in Cuba, notifying them of this action.
As you are aware, this committee at request of the Department of
State, has determined to send the steamship "State of Texas," with
relief supplies from New York City to Key West, Florida, there to
await orders and instructions from the United States Government. By
instructions from the Department of State, the committee have to
send the steamship under the Red Cross flag and the provisions of
the Geneva Convention, turning the vessel over to the American
National Red Cross upon leaving New York.
I, therefore, beg to say to you that in all probability the vessel
will be loaded and made ready to sail on Saturday the twenty-third
inst., and you are expected to have such of your representatives--as
you desire shall accompany and take charge of the ship from New York
to Key West--in readiness to go aboard Saturday forenoon. The
arrival of the vessel at Key West should be reported to this
committee by telegraph immediately, when instructions will be given
by the Government at Washington for proceeding further. If
hostilities shall have begun between the United States and Spain, it
will be your duty to call upon the United States Government for the
necessary naval consort--as provided by the Geneva Convention.
This program has been proposed by the Assistant Secretary of State,
who will immediately issue the necessary orders upon hearing from
us.
Before your departure from Key West for Cuba, this committee will
give you further information as to its desires and recommendation
concerning the distribution of supplies from the different ports in
Cuba.
This committee stands ready to furnish you with the funds necessary
to carry on this work of relief to the extent of its ability, and it
is expected that you will render to the treasurer a detailed account
of your expenditures in the work entrusted to your organization.
You are requested to make requisition by letter or telegraph from
time to time, as you need further funds.
We will thank you for your official acknowledgment of this
communication in writing.
Very truly yours,
STEPHEN E. BARTON, _Chairman_.
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, _April 25, 1898_.
SIR: Miss Clara Barton, the representative of the American National
Red Cross Society, is about to proceed to Key West to take charge of
the distribution of the supplies now aboard the steamship "State of
Texas," and which supplies it is proposed to distribute among the
starving reconcentrados of Cuba. There are enclosed herewith copies
of letters from the Department of State to the Department of the
Navy and from the Secretary of the Navy to the Commander-in-Chief of
the North Atlantic Station which contain the terms upon which this
trust is undertaken, and the Department's instructions in relation
thereto.
The Department desires that you will afford every assistance within
your power to Miss Barton and her associates, while they are in Key
West.
The departure of the "State of Texas" from Key West and its
destination are, of course, matters coming entirely under the
jurisdiction of the Commander-in-Chief of the North Atlantic
Station.
Very respectfully,
JOHN D. LONG,
_Secretary_,
Commandant,
Naval Station, Key West, Fla.
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, _April 25, 1898_.
SIR: There is forwarded enclosed a copy of a letter received this
day from the Department of State, which fully states the conditions
under which Miss Clara Barton, as the representative of the American
National Red Cross Society, proceeds to Key West. You will afford
Miss Barton every facility that shall become feasible for the
distribution of the supplies now on board the steamship "State of
Texas" to the starving reconcentrados, but it is, of course,
necessary that none of these supplies shall come into the possession
of the Spanish Army, as this would result in defeating the purposes
for which the blockade has been established.
It is believed that you will fully appreciate the wishes of the
Departments of State and the Navy in this matter, and all the
details are necessarily left to your discretion.
Very respectfully,
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Force, JOHN D. LONG,
North Atlantic Station. _Secretary_.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, _April 25, 1898_.
_The Honorable the Secretary of the Navy_:
SIR: The Central Cuban Relief Committee of New York, organized by
direction and under the authority of the President, for the
collection and transmission to Cuba of supplies for the relief of
the suffering and destitute in that island, has, after consultation
with this Department and with full approval of its course, chartered
and dispatched from New York the steamer "State of Texas" laden with
supplies and sailing under the ensign of the National Red Cross. The
only passengers she carries are officers and employes of the Red
Cross for the purpose of assisting in the distribution of this
charitable relief.
As at present contemplated, the destination of the "State of Texas"
is either Matanzas or Cardenas, or perhaps, if circumstances favor,
both; but the point of landing will largely be determined by
circumstances of which the Admiral commanding the blockading force
on the north coast of Cuba will necessarily be the best judge.
Miss Clara Barton, president of the American National Red Cross, is
about to proceed to Tampa and Key West at which latter point she
will go aboard the "State of Texas" upon its arrival there.
Upon reaching Key West Miss Barton, as the person in charge of the
relief expedition, will report to such naval officer as you may
designate and take from him directions as to the movements of the
"State of Texas" from that point on.
I have the honor to commend Miss Barton to the kind attentions of
your Department in order that she may receive, before leaving
Washington, such instructions as you may deem it necessary and
proper to give her.
Respectfully yours,
JOHN SHERMAN,
_Secretary_.
With these credentials, the President and staff of the American National
Red Cross immediately proceeded to Key West, and, after reporting to the
commandant of the naval station and to the representative of Admiral
Sampson, the party boarded the "State of Texas" and awaited an
opportunity to carry out the mission of the Red Cross.
During the year prior to the outbreak of hostilities between the United
States and Spain, Cuban families were fleeing from the island, and this
exodus continued until war began. The refugees, numbering several
thousand, took up their abode at Tampa, Key West and other Atlantic and
gulf ports. They had been obliged to leave their native country hastily,
leaving nearly all their personal property behind them, and in a short
time after their arrival in America were actually without food and with
no means wherewith to purchase it.
Committees and agents of the Red Cross were established in both Tampa
and Key West, and acting as the distributing agencies for the supplies
forwarded by the Central Cuban Relief Committee, the refugees were cared
for. In Key West the number supplied with food from the warehouse and
kitchen of the Red Cross were over seventeen hundred people, and the
distribution still continues. Key West has been one of the most
important distributing stations, and from the beginning has been under
the efficient direction of Mr. George W. Hyatt, for whose continuous and
faithful service the Red Cross is much indebted.
The distributing station was kept constantly supplied by the Central
Cuban Relief Committee, and when the stock began to run low in the
latter part of July, the committee dispatched the schooner "Nokomis"
from New York with 125 tons of assorted provisions to replenish the
storehouse.
Before the "State of Texas" arrived at Key West, war had been declared
between the United States and Spain, and soon after the prize ships,
schooners, steamers and fishing smacks, captured off the Cuban coast
began to come in, in tow, or in charge of prize crews. The navy worked
rapidly and brought in their prizes so quickly that the government
officials were not prepared to feed the prisoners of war. On the ninth
of May the United States Marshal for the southern district of Florida
made the following appeal:
MISS CLARA BARTON,
_President, American National Red Cross_:
DEAR MISS BARTON: On board the captured vessels we find quite a
number of aliens among the crews, mostly Cubans, and some American
citizens, and their detention here and inability to get away for
want of funds has exhausted their supply of food, and some of them
will soon be entirely out. As there is no appropriation available
from which food could be purchased, would you kindly provide for
them until I can get definite instructions from the Department at
Washington?
Very respectfully,
JOHN F. HORR,
_U.S. Marshal_.
Attached to this letter was an official list of the Spanish prizes whose
crews were in need of food. The boats of the "State of Texas" were
quickly loaded with a supply of assorted provisions and, being taken in
tow by the steam-launch of the transport "Panther," the work of
distribution began. All the ships in need were supplied with food and
medicines for ten days, and their supply renewed every ten days for some
weeks until government rations were regularly issued and auxiliary
assistance was no longer necessary. The supplies on the "State of Texas"
being intended for the reconcentrados in Cuba, her cargo was drawn upon
to the smallest possible extent. Many of the prizes had on board cargoes
of bananas and plantains, and the wells of the "Viveros" were filled
with live fish. After some negotiating, arrangements were made to secure
these cargoes at a trifling cost, and they were distributed among the
crews of the vessels that carried nothing eatable. Tasajo, or jerked
meat, was also bought and given out in the same way, and from one of the
prizes loaded with dried meat from the Argentine, which was afterward
sold at auction in Key West, forty tons were purchased and stored in the
warehouse to supply the refugees, and to replace that portion of the
cargo of the "State of Texas" which had been distributed to the
prisoners of war.
While waiting for an opportunity to get into Cuba, the reports which
reached us showed that the distress among the reconcentrados was daily
increasing, and it was determined to make an attempt to land with the
"State of Texas," or at least to show the willingness of the Red Cross
to do so, if permitted. As the ship was under the direction of the Navy
Department, the following letter was addressed to the admiral in command
of the blockading fleet:
S.S. "STATE OF TEXAS," _May 2, 1898_.
ADMIRAL WILLIAM T. SAMPSON, U.S.N.,
_Commanding fleet before Havana_:
ADMIRAL: But for the introduction kindly proffered by our mutual
acquaintance, Captain Harrington, I should scarcely presume to
address you. He will have made known to you the subject which I
desire to bring to your gracious consideration.
Papers forwarded by direction of our government will have shown the
charge entrusted to me, viz: To get food to the starving people of
Cuba. I have with me a cargo of fourteen hundred tons, under the
flag of the Red Cross, the one international emblem of neutrality
and humanity known to civilization. Spain knows and regards it.
Fourteen months ago, the entire Spanish Government at Madrid cabled
me permission to take to, and distribute food to the suffering
people in Cuba. This official permission was broadly published; if
read by our people, no response was made, no action taken until two
months ago, when under the humane and gracious call of our honored
President, I did go, and distributed food unmolested anywhere on the
island, until arrangements were made by our government for all
American citizens to leave Cuba. Persons must now be dying there by
the hundreds if not thousands daily, for the want of the food we are
shutting out. Will not the world hold us accountable? Will history
write us blameless? Will it not be said of us that we completed the
scheme of extermination commenced by Weyler? I fear the mutterings
are already in the air.
Fortunately, I know the Spanish authorities in Cuba, Captain-General
Blanco and his assistants. We parted with perfect friendliness. They
do not regard me as an American merely, but as the national
representative of an international treaty to which themselves are
signatory and under which they act. I believe they would receive and
confer with me, if such a thing were made possible.
I would like to ask Spanish permission and protection to land and
distribute the food now on the "State of Texas." Could I be
permitted to ask to see them under flag of truce? If we make the
effort and are refused, the blame rests with them; if we fail to
make it, it rests with us. I hold it good statesmanship to at least
divide the responsibility. I am told that some days must elapse
before our troops can be in position to reach and feed this starving
people. Our food and our force are here, ready to commence at once.
With assurances of highest regard, I am, Admiral,
Very respectfully yours,
CLARA BARTON.
[Illustration: A PART OF THE AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS FLEET IN THE
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR OF 1898.
YACHT "RED CROSS."--Failed to reach Cuba in time for
service, and was used for transporting sick between
military camps and New York.
S.S. "SAN ANTONIO."--Carried assorted cargo and hospital
supplies to Matanzas and Cardenas for distribution to
the interior towns.
S.S. "STATE OF TEXAS."--Loaded before the declaration of
war, with 1400 tons of food and hospital supplies and
clothing for Cuban hungry.