Part 58

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.

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.

In the latter part of May, Miss Barton having occasion to return to Washington, the "State of Texas" left Key West and proceeded to Port Tampa. There we lived among the transports until the fleet sailed for Cuba. There is hardly space to tell in detail all the work done on shore and in the harbor. The impression that the "State of Texas," with the insignia of the Red Cross on either bow and on the smokestacks, was a hospital ship had become general among the troops, though she was really loaded with medicines, clothing and general supplies for the reconcentrados of Cuba. As this impression prevailed, and the Red Cross was desirous of assisting our own men whenever necessary and adding in every possible way to their comfort, the spacious smoking room on board the ship was fitted up as an operating room, and the purser's room converted into a dispensary. No hospital staff in any of our great institutions could have been more proud than this little band of workers with their emergency hospital equipment, and its outfit of instruments and appliances--unsurpassed by the equipment of many a first-class hospital.

Many of the cases treated were of a character that required rest, quiet and watchful care, and these patients were given rooms on board the ship, and nurses were assigned to regular duty. The following is a summary of the cases treated: cynovitis of knee joint, 5; necrosis of bones of leg, 12; scalds and burns, 29; ear affections (including one case of removal of the bones of the ear. This patient was chief engineer of transport No. 7, "The Comal"), 14; eye injuries, 19; tumors removed, 11; miscellaneous, sickness and minor injuries, 197.

On June 17, following instructions from the Navy Department, the "State of Texas" again weighed anchor and proceeded to Key West, and after a stay of two days continued her voyage to Cuba, and anchored in the bay of Guantanamo, on the south shore of the island, in the Province of Santiago, at sunset July 25.

A quantity of jerked beef and other supplies were left at Guantanamo, in charge of Captain McCalla, for distribution among the reconcentrados in the country. Leaving Guantanamo the next day we proceeded with the "State of Texas" to Siboney, reaching that place the evening of the same day.

A severe engagement was fought at Aguadores, where the Spaniards were strongly entrenched and guarding one of the roads leading to Santiago. Our warships shelled the fortifications and silenced the batteries; and our troops made a gallant charge, but were repulsed with heavy loss, and had to fall back. The wounded began to arrive, some in ambulances, in army wagons and on litters. Those who were able walked into Siboney, in order to allow their more seriously wounded comrades to ride. Major La Garde, who was in charge of the army hospital at Siboney, welcomed the Red Cross surgeons and gave them quarters and opportunity for working side by side with the hospital staff of the army, and extended every courtesy within his power.

Previously, the services of the nurses of the Red Cross were tendered to the surgeon in charge of the American hospital, but the offer was courteously declined. The aid of the Red Cross nurses was then offered to the Cuban hospital, and gratefully accepted by General Garcia. Under their direction the insurgent hospital was thoroughly cleaned, disinfected and put into excellent order. Their good work attracted the attention of the American wounded, who inquired why the Red Cross "had deserted them and gone to the Cuban army."

That evening, however, the nurses were called to the operating tents to assist in the care of the American wounded, and remained constantly on duty till all the injured were cared for.

Immediately after the first battle, fought on July 1, a Red Cross hospital was opened, and rapidly filled with American troops. In this hospital the nurses worked incessantly until, one by one, worn out by overwork, with reduced vitality, they could no longer stand the terrible strain, and were obliged to succumb and pay the debt which an exhausted nature demanded.

These young women were the first volunteer nurses or "Sisters" of the Red Cross who served in the war, and too much cannot be said in praise of their untiring devotion. Faithfully and constantly they worked. Nobly and unselfishly they labored, and their greatest reward was the gratitude of those they helped to save, and the satisfaction of a duty faithfully performed. The names of these nurses were, Sister-in-chief "Bettina," Sisters Minnie Rogal, Anna McCue, Blanche McCorristen and Isabel Olm, assisted by Mrs. Trumbull White, of Chicago.

At daylight on the morning of July 2 everything was in readiness for messengers of the Red Cross to proceed to the front, and in company with Mr. George Kennan, preceded by the Cuban guides, furnished by General Garcia, we set out for the firing line.

We reached the First Division Hospital of the Fifth Army Corps about four in the afternoon, over a rough, miry road, fording extensive lakes of deep mud, but the hearty welcome extended by Major Wood repaid us for the hard journey. The First Division Hospital was established some distance ahead of the firing lines, and it was several hours before the lines were moved beyond the hospital.

Major Wood assigned an operating table to the Red Cross. Not a light was permitted to be shown the night of the second of July, lest it should attract the fire of the enemy, particularly of the guerrilla sharpshooters who were stationed in the trees about us.

The operating tables were moved out into the open, and the operations were performed by the light of the moon. All through the night the scattering fire continued around us; generally the sharp crack of the Mauser, occasionally the louder report of the Springfield, and sometimes a heavier explosion, as of a shell or the firing of light artillery. At daylight, the firing had ceased.

No pen can describe the horrors of that night and the silent suffering of the wounded. Long rows of them, nearly a thousand, lying in pools of water and on the damp ground, for the heavy rains had fallen every day. Then, at night, the tropical dew fell like rain, adding to the general discomfort. In the morning, the great burning sun came out and the mists began to rise. Hotter and hotter it grew, until almost unbearable. To shelter the wounded, palm leaves and branches of leafy trees were placed over them.

The bravery and determined resignation manifested by the men waiting for treatment, and in the hospitals under operation, was worthy of comment. Many times, as the surgeon or nurse was proffering attention to a wounded man, or offering him water or nourishment, he would say, "Oh, give it to Tom first, he's worse off than I am." This spirit of kindness and grim courtesy was noticeable all through the campaign.

On our arrival there was no food for the wounded, no tents, no blankets. The men were without change of clothing, and in some cases what little they had required to be cut off on account of the character of the wound.

A message explaining the condition of things at the front was sent back to Siboney, from General Shafter's headquarters, and immediately army wagons were loaded with supplies by the Red Cross, and the next morning they rolled into the hospital lines, with Miss Barton and some of her staff, accompanied by Private Hassett, who had been detailed from the Thirty-fourth Michigan, all seated on top of the wagons, which carried food enough for the patients in the hospitals for several days. They, too, had to come over miry roads that lead from the coast; of the wheels no spokes could be seen, nothing but one circular, solid mass of mud, like great massive car-wheels.

There was many a moist eye and many shouts of welcome and surprise as the train came into camp. "There's a woman!" "It's the Red Cross!" "My God, boys, it's Clara Barton!" "Now we'll get something to eat!" And they did. Miss Barton, Mrs. Gardner and others prepared condensed milk, malted milk and other delicacies, and within an hour every man was served with hot gruel, milk and fresh soda biscuits. Later in the evening well-boiled and seasoned rice, fruit, canned meats and other things, including beef tea, were passed around. As the patients from the hospitals became convalescent, they were sent to the transports bound for home.