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.
[Illustration: _In charge of Red Cross nurses at Nautical Club
Hospital, Santiago de Cuba._]
[Illustration: THE YOUNGEST RED CROSS NURSE, 4 YEARS OLD.]
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.
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.