Chapter I (part 3 of 3)

Chapter I (part 3 of 3)

The main talk of the camp was now "yellow fever." On Monday night occurred one of the most fearful storms which I have ever seen--rain, thunder and lightning. Our tent had been well protected and deeply ditched, but the water rolled around it in the ditches like rivers. The thunder shook the ground; the lightning blazed like a fire. As I have said, the camp was as level as a floor. No water could really run off. During the most of that night the men in the tents laid in five to six inches of water. Before daybreak the rain had ceased, some water had run away--some soaked in--and the ground was passable. The next day followed another rain. It was now discovered by the medical authorities that from there having been at first one case of fever, there were now one hundred and sixteen; that a fever camp would probably be made there and the wounded gotten away. It was advisable then that we return to our ship and attempt, as far as possible, to hold that free from contagion. I was earnestly solicited to do this in view of what was expected of our ship and of what was expected of us--that we not only protect ourselves, but our cargo and ship from all contamination and even suspicion. I faithfully promised this, and again we called for an army wagon, leaving all supplies that were useful for the men here, sending to Caney what was most needed there and taking only our personal effects, we again placed ourselves in an army wagon with a tarpaulan over us and started for Siboney. In less than twenty minutes the rain was pouring on us and for two hours it fell as from buckets. The water was from a foot and a half to two feet deep in the road as we passed along. At one time our wagon careened, the mules were held up, and we waited to see whether it should go over or could be brought out--the water a few inches only from the top of the lower side. It was scarcely possible for us to stir, hemmed in as we were, but the men from the other wagons sprang to our wheels, hanging in the air on the upper side, and we were simply saved by an inch. The mud and water was at least two and one-half feet deep where we should have gone down.

But like other things, this cleared away. We came into Siboney about three o'clock, in a bright glare of sunshine, to find the town utterly burned, all buildings gone or smoking, Dr. and Mrs. Lesser and the faithful Sisters as well, in a "yellow fever" hospital a mile and a half out of the city, reached by rail. All customary work was suspended. The atmosphere was thick and blue with smoke. Men ran about the grounds smutted and bareheaded like children. My medical knowledge was not sufficient to allow me to judge if everybody there had the yellow fever, but general observation would go far toward convincing a very ordinary mind that everybody had gone crazy.

All effort was made to hold our ship free from suspicion. The process of reasoning leading to the conclusion that a solid cargo, packed in tight boxes in the hold of a ship, anchored at sea, could become infected in a day from the land or a passing individual, is indeed, an intricate process; but we had some experience in this direction, as, for instance, Captain McCalla in his repeated humane attempts to feed the refugees around Guantanamo had called again for a hundred thousand rations, saying that if we could bring them to him soon, he could get them to the thousands starving in the woods. We lost no time, but got the food out and started with it in the night. On reaching Guantanamo we were met at a distance out and called to, asking if anyone on our ship had been on shore at Siboney within four days, if so, our supplies could not be received, and we took them away, leaving the starving to perish.

On Friday morning the constantly recurring news of the surrender of Santiago was so well established that we drew anchor and came up to the flagship and the following letter was addressed to Admiral Sampson:

"STATE OF TEXAS," July 16, 1898.

ADMIRAL SAMPSON, Commanding United States Fleet off Santiago, Flagship "New York":

ADMIRAL:--It is not necessary for me to explain to you my errand, nor its necessity; both your good head and heart divine it more clearly than any words of mine can represent.

I send this to you by one of our men, who can tell you all you will wish to know. Mr. Elwell has resided and done mercantile and shipping business in Santiago for the last seven years; is favorably known to all its people; has in his possession the keys to the best warehouses and residences in the city, to which he is bidden welcome by the owners. He is the person appointed four months ago to help distribute this food, and did so with me until the blockade. There seems to be nothing in the way of our getting this 1400 tons of food into a Santiago warehouse and giving it intelligently to the thousands who need and own it. I have twenty good helpers with me. The New York Committee is clamoring for the discharge of the "State of Texas," which has been raised in price to $400 a day.

If there is still more explanation needed, I pray you, Admiral, let me see you.

Respectfully and cordially, (Signed) CLARA BARTON.

This was immediately responded to by Captain Chadwick, who came on board, assuring me that our place was at Santiago--as quickly as we could be gotten there.

On Saturday, the sixteenth, feeling that it might still be possible to take the supplies to Guantanamo, requested by Captain McCalla, a letter was addressed as follows:

STEAMSHIP "STATE OF TEXAS," July 16, 1898.

CAPTAIN CHADWICK, Flagship "New York" off Santiago:

CAPTAIN:--If there is a possibility of going into Santiago before to-morrow morning, please let me know, and we will hold just where we are and wait.

If there is no possibility of this, we could run down to Guantanamo and land Captain McCalla's 100,000 rations in the evening and be back here to-morrow morning.

Will you please direct me.

Yours faithfully, CLARA BARTON.

Reply to the above:

U.S. FLAGSHIP "NEW YORK," 1ST RATE, OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July 17, 1898.

DEAR MISS BARTON:--We are now engaged in taking up mines, just so soon as it is safe to go in your ship will go. If you wish, you can anchor in near us, and send anything up by boats, or, if we could get lighters, drawing less than eight feet, food may be sent by the lighters, but it is not yet possible for the ship to go in. There are four "contact" mines, and four what are known as "observation" mines, still down.

Yours very truly, (Signed) F.E. CHADWICK

It was after this that we turned back again and steamed to Guantanamo to unload our supplies at night and return the next morning.

These were anxious days. While the world outside was making up war history, we thought of little beyond the terrible needs about us--if Santiago had any people left, they must be in sore distress, and El Caney--terrible El Caney--with its thirty thousand homeless, perishing sufferers, how could they be reached?

The diary at this point says: On returning from our fruitless journey to Guantanamo we stopped at Siboney only long enough to get our dispatches, then ran down directly in front of Santiago and lay with the fleet. A personal call from Admiral Schley, Captain Cook and other officers served to show the interest and good will of those about us. Between three and four o'clock in the afternoon a small Spanish steamer--which had been among the captures of Santiago--ran alongside and informed us that an officer wished to come aboard. It proved to be Lieutenant Capehart, of the flagship, who brought word from Admiral Sampson that if we would come alongside the "New York," he would put a pilot on board. This was done and we moved on through waters we had never traversed--past Morro Castle, long, low, silent and grim--past the Spanish wrecks on the right--past the "Merrimac" in the channel, which Hobson had left. We began to realize that we were alone, of all the ships about the harbor there were none with us. The stillness of the Sabbath was over all. The gulls sailed and flapped and dipped about us. The lowering summer sun shot long golden rays athwart the green hills on either side, and tinged the waters calm and still. The silence grew oppressive as we glided along with scarce a ripple. We saw on the right as the only moving thing a long slim boat or yacht dart out from among the bushes and steal its way up half hidden in the shadows. Suddenly it was overtaken by either message or messenger, and like a collared hound glided back as if it had never been. Leaning on the rail half lost in reverie over the strange quiet beauty of the scene, the thought suddenly burst upon me: Are we really going into Santiago--and alone? Are we not to be run out and wait aside and salute with dipping colors while the great battleships come up with music and banners and lead the way? As far as the eye could reach no ship was in sight. Was this to remain so? Could it be possible that the commander who had captured a city declined to be the first to enter--that he would hold back his flagship and himself and send forward and first a cargo of food on a plain ship, under direction of a woman? Did our commands, military or naval, hold men great enough of soul for such action? It must be true--for the spires of Santiago rise before us, and turning to the score of companions beside me I asked, "Is there any one here who will lead the doxology?" In an instant the full rich voice of Enola Gardner rang out: "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow." By that time the chorus was full, and the tears on many a face told more plainly than words how genuine was that praise, and when in response to a second suggestion "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" swelled out on the evening air in the farewell rays of the setting sun, the "State of Texas" was nearing the dock, and quietly dropping her anchors she lay there in undisputed possession of the city of Santiago.

It has been remarked that Mr. Elwell had been a resident of Santiago and connected with its shipping for several years. It was only the work of an hour after landing to find his old-time help. A hundred and twenty-five stevedores were engaged to be on the dock at six o'clock next morning, to work for pay in rations.

The dock had its track and trucks running to its open warehouses. As we had entered we saw it bare of every movable or living thing. Want had swept it of all that could be carried away, and the remaining people dared not approach us. Six o'clock next morning changed the scene. The silence was no longer oppressive. The boxes, barrels and bales pitched out of that ship, thrown onto the trucks and wheeled away told the story of better days to come; and it was something to see that lank, brawny little army of stevedores take their first breakfast in line alongside of the ship.

The city was literally without food. In order to clear it for defence, its inhabitants had been ordered out, ten days before, to El Caney, a small town of some five hundred people, where it was said thirty thousand persons were gathered, without food, shelter, or place of rest. Among these were the old-time residents--the wealthy and the best people of Santiago. Its British consul, Mr. Ramsden, and his family were of them, and the care and hardship of that terrible camp cost his life. A message from the headquarters of General Shafter, telegraphed to us even after leaving Siboney, said:

"The death rate at El Caney is terrible. Can you send food?"

Word went back to send the thirty thousand refugees of El Caney at once back to Santiago;--we were there and could feed them--that the "State of Texas" had still on board twelve hundred tons of supplies for the reconcentrados. That day poured in upon us all that had strength to make the journey, of the thirty thousand starving wrecks of El Caney. If there were any at night who had not received food, no one knew it. The fires were rekindled in the great steam soup kitchens of Mr. H. Michaelsen--that name should be carved in marble and lettered in gold in Santiago--that had run uninterrupted for nearly two years, until within a few weeks of the surrender, when there was no more food for its kettles. Ten thousand persons had hot soup there the first day, and it was estimated that ten thousand more had dry food of crackers, meat and meal. To the sick were distributed condensed and malted milk as fast as it could be gotten to them.

Of the districting of the city, the formation of committees for the distribution of food, the care, the justice, and the success with which it was done, I leave to the reports of my experienced staff officers and assistants and to the committee of Santiago, which nobly volunteered its aid. These persons performed this work--they were a part of it--and no one can describe it so well as they. I refer the reader to the reports of Dr. Hubbell, Dr. Egan, Mr. Cottrell, Miss Fowler, now the wife of Baron Van Schelle of Belgium, and the committee of Santiago composed of H. Michaelsen, vice-consul for Germany, Robert Mason, Chinese consul and vice-consul for England, and Wm. Ramsden, son of the late Frederick Ramsden, British consul. With these latter gentlemen, together with twenty of the leading ladies of Santiago, was left, one month later, the supplies remaining in our warehouses, and the oversight of the poor of the city, over whom their care had extended so tenderly and so wisely in the past, and on whom as helping them back into citizenship it must largely devolve in the future.

Returning to our first day in Santiago, it is remembered that this narration has thus far left the navy, its flagship and commander at the entrance of the harbor in obscurity. It would seem but just that it reproduce them.

Until ten o'clock on Monday the eighteenth we saw no sign of life on the waters of the bay--neither sail, steam nor boat--but suddenly word passed down from the watch on deck that a ship was sighted. Slowly it came in view--large, fine, full masted--and orders went to salute when it should pass. At length here was something to which we could pay deference. The whistles were held, the flag was ready for action, ropes straight and without a tangle--all stood breathless--but she does not pass, and seems to be standing in. In a minute more a stout sailor voice calls out: "Throw us a rope," and here, without salute, whistle or bell, came and fastened to the stern of our boat this glittering and masted steamship from whose decks below Admirals Sampson and Schley and their respective staffs shouted up their familiar greetings to us.

The view from their ship enfiladed, to speak in military parlance, our entire dock. There was every opportunity to see how our work was done and if we were equal to unloading our ship. The day was spent with us till four o'clock in the afternoon; and when about to leave and the admiral was asked what orders or directions he had for us, the reply was, "You need no directions from me, but if anyone troubles you, let me know."

Many months have passed since that day, and I write this without ever having seen again the face of the commander who had been so courteous and kind, and so helpful in the work I went to do.

Under date of July 23 is found the following entry in the diary which sums up the entire matter of facts, dates and figures in few words:

"The discharge of the cargo of the 'State of Texas' of over twelve hundred tons, commenced at six o'clock Monday, July 18. One hundred and twenty-five stevedores were employed and paid in food issued as rations.

"On Thursday, the twenty-first, at six o'clock p.m. the discharge was completed, and the following morning, Friday, July 22, the ship left for New York.

"During that time the people had returned to Santiago, numbering thirty thousand, and all were fed--ten thousand a day from the soup kitchen of Mr. Michaelsen, the others with bread, meat and milk.

"The present general committee was formed, the city districted into sections, with a commissioner for each district, selected by the people themselves living there.

"Every family or person residing in the city is supplied by the commissioner of that district. All transient persons are fed at the kitchen, the food being provided by the Red Cross.

"Although the army has entered the city during the latter part of that time, there has been no confusion, no groups of disorderly persons seen, no hunger in the city more than in ordinary times. We wait the repairs of the railroads to enable us to get food and clothing to the villages enclosed within the lines of the surrender."

We had done all that could be done to advantage at that time in Santiago. The United States troops had mainly left; the Spanish soldiers were coming in to their waiting ships, bringing with them all the diseases that unprovided and uncleanly camps would be expected to hold in store. Five weeks before we had brought into Santiago all the cargo of fourteen hundred tons of the "State of Texas," excepting the light hospital supplies which had been used the month previous among our own troops at Siboney, General Shafter's front and El Caney during the days of fighting. To any one accustomed to apportioning food, it would be at once apparent that these twelve hundred tons of heavy supplies, of meal, meat, beans and flour, etc., were too much for distribution at one time for a little town of thirty thousand, which naturally partly fed itself. But it must all be stored.

The "State of Texas" discharged her cargo and left for New York on the fifth day, leaving us without a particle of transportation, and in the pressure and confusion none could be obtained. Let those who tried it testify. The two railroads leading out of the town were destroyed. The ports were not open, and the country portions of the province reached only by pack mules. Later, forty large, fine healthy mules were shipped to us, but the half score of fully equipped ambulances, harnesses and between four hundred and five hundred bushels of oats were on the transports which brought them, could not be lightered off, and up to the time of our departure were never seen.

The schooner "Morse," which, following the behest of an angelic thought of some lovely committee of home ladies, had come in laden with a thousand tons of ice. The tug "Triton," which towed her all the way from Kennebec, and was to have been held for our use, was at once seized by the government. Santiago had neither an ice house nor a pile of dry sawdust, and the ice remained on the "Morse" till discharged order by order among the transports of sick, wounded and convalescing as they sailed one after another with their freight of human woe. Slowly, painfully waiting, but gladly, piece by piece, the ice went out, filling to repletion the box of every transport sailing north, and something glistened on the weather-beaten bronzed cheek of more than one of those long-serving, faithful, north Atlantic captains, as he tried to say what it would be to the poor fever-burnt sufferers he must take.

Visions, of the schooner "Morse" when she should be unloaded constituted our only transportation up to the day we left Santiago. I cannot say that other visions did not obtrude at times. In our perplexity, memory pictured, as in another life, the hundreds of strong-built, luxuriantly-furnished, swift-running steam tugs, yachts and house boats of the restful "Thousand Islands," and the health and pleasure-giving resorts of the lovely Jersey coast; but they were only visions, quickly put aside for the stern realities of the inevitable surroundings. The "Morse" did well its blessed work, but never came to us.

Neither for love nor money could transportation be gotten. I did, however, near the last, obtain the use of a leaky lighter for two hours to get off some mules, but I might specify that it was on neither of the above considerations.

Some reporter is responsible for the statement that a large ship seen floating near the dock that morning had been seized. While it might not be possible to verify this statement by actual facts, it was not so very far out of the way in theory.

These were the last days of General Shafter in Santiago, who was, as he had at all times been, the kind and courteous officer and gentleman.

General Wood, alert, wise and untiring, with an eye single to the general good of all, toiled day and night.

The government warehouses were so filled with supplies that there seemed no room for more. The harbor filling with merchant ships for the trade, would soon come to regard with a jealous eye any body of persons who dispensed anything without price to even the poorest and most destitute.

But all this did not stay the marching stride of the native fever, so persistent in its grasp as scarcely to merit the appellation of intermittent. Day by day I watched my little band ever growing less; out of twenty which the good "State of Texas" brought, seven were on their feet; twelve had sickened, been nursed and gotten off home, and one had gone to heaven. Of our own band of the national Red Cross workers, none had actually gone down; of those who had joined us as assistants, few remained.

At this juncture news came that Havana was open. In all the country I knew but one person who had the power to order one of those waiting transports to take myself, staff and some supplies to Havana, and my dispatch went to President McKinley, with the suggestion kindly and thoughtfully made by Major Osgood who had just come in on the "Clinton," that in order to economize time and labor, possibly the President might furnish a ship already loaded with government supplies, and let us repay from our supplies on shore. This dispatch brought the following prompt reply from the Secretary of War. It was a glad reminder of the kindly courtesy and friendship of many years. I give the text of both the dispatch of the Secretary and my reply, in order to set right a misunderstanding on the part of the public, which I have observed with pain:

WASHINGTON, August 18, 1898. MISS CLARA BARTON, Santiago de Cuba:

"Clinton" cannot be used until unloaded. Stores aboard were sent on special request and are necessary for the comfort of officers and men at Santiago. The government will send as soon as ship can be loaded at Port Tampa two thousand tons of supplies for relief of destitute. This accomplishes same result and in shorter time. Will not this meet your wishes even better than recommended in your cablegram yesterday? Would it be asking too much for you to go to Havana to superintend the distribution of these stores under the law? Only the destitute and those in immediate danger of perishing can receive these supplies.

R.A. ALGER, Secretary of War.

SANTIAGO DE CUBA, August 18, 1898. PIERSON, War Department, Washington:

Tell Secretary Alger I appreciate to the greatest possible extent his responsive and practical sympathy. His suggestions are better than I had asked, and are promptly accepted. If the "Clinton" is unloaded in time, I will leave here Saturday morning. Will take forty mules from here. Need ten additional wagons and harness for all my mules. Please give me some horsefeed from here.

CLARA BARTON.

The reloading was quickly accomplished, the direction of our remaining affairs placed in proper hands, and on the twenty-first of August, just five weeks to an hour since entering the harbor, we retraced the waters we had sailed over coming from Siboney to Santiago. The same golden sunshine rested on the hills and tinged the still waters of the bay, but we were no longer the only ship. The transports to take our soldiers home lay there; the great Spanish liners to take the Spanish soldiers to Spain; the hospital ships with their fevered weight of glad woe "going home," dotted the sea and skirted the shore.

All who understood our movement saluted, and with tearful glances back to the little spot of earth which had given so much pain, made so many homes in both lands desolate, we ordered on full steam and glided away. Five days of continuous sunshine and scarcely wind to fill a sail brought us to Havana. I had cabled the Spanish authorities on our departure from Santiago and notified them of our arrival, and was courteously referred to the Civil Governor of Havana, on whom I called and received in return a most cordial visit, with the added respect of bringing his entire staff with him.

No supplies from Port Tampa having arrived we spent the second day in Matanzas, receiving from the good Governor and his amiable household such a welcome as one might expect from those they had known longest and loved most. We then hoped to go there at once and leave the supplies they so badly needed.

Next day there came into harbor the steamship "Comal," from Port Tampa, laden with sixteen hundred tons of government supplies for distribution. We exchanged visits with her gentlemanly and sensible officers, who had governmental instructions to take their cargo to Havana and distribute it, but no instructions to act in conjunction with us or with any one; and we, on the other hand, received no intimation that her supplies were in any way intended for our use.

Both ships alike met the restriction of the customs duties, and while I felt that it might be well for a governmental cargo to test its position with the law of nations, under the circumstances, it was by no means the course for the Red Cross to take--an organization which never leads, but follows, in all military matters.

No commissioners had arrived, and feeling that we might become a source of irritation to them by remaining, and being unable to distribute our supplies, we decided to withdraw. Our captain, having been trained in the merchant service and being unaccustomed to military shipping, had neglected some little formality on leaving Santiago, which admitted, or perhaps called for, a fine of five hundred dollars. This we promptly paid, and with the best understanding with all parties, Spanish, Cuban and our own, no coercion on the part of any one, impelled by nothing but our own sense of the situation, we decided our course. In fact, strenuous efforts were made by the Spanish officials, notably the Secretary of State, to open the way for us; and while they could not override the law and positively remit a duty, they offered in this case to pay the duty themselves, and take part in the distribution. We appreciated the courtesy, but still felt that we might in some way become a hindrance to the pending negotiations by remaining, and after careful consideration, decided to draw anchor and steam for Port Tampa, leaving the "Comal" with its full cargo and efficient officers to meet the situation in the good governmental way, we were sure they would do.

This explanation is given to set right the general impression that the "Comal" was a Red Cross ship. There was no connection whatever between the "Comal" and ourselves, excepting through good will and good fellowship; and again the impression that we were mistreated by the Spanish government at Havana, subjected to discourtesy or requested to leave is a mistaken one. The facts are quite the contrary. We entered under the supposition that Havana was open, as Santiago was open; but it was not an open port. We were in Spanish waters, subject to Spanish laws and customs, and so regarded them, as we should have expected to do in any country, remembering experimentally that our own country is not too much inclined to easily remit its custom duties.

Dividing the time of our Cuban campaign into sections, the incoming days fall exclusively to Santiago. Days of an army in one sense inactive, in another rushed and crowded beyond its powers to meet or control. Days when everything is needed and nothing can be gotten at. No one knows where anything is--must have a formal order to obtain it when it is found, and cannot get the order. Officers clamor for their needy men, the sick list increases, complaints are rife, patience gives place to desperation, and a time of general confusion follows.

Again I would say that to those taking the first lessons in army life, all these things seem incomprehensible, to say the least, and "Who's to blame?" seems to be floating in the very atmosphere about them.

Deplore such a state of things as we will, it is still a part of army life. It belongs to war, and the grey-haired military chief, whom all would recognize were I to name him, was correct when he once said to me: "Strange as it may seem, the days of 'rest' at an active field are its hardest days."

The ofttimes perplexed officers at Santiago will neither exclaim nor disclaim against this little statement, if it should ever meet their eyes. They will realize, however, that there were others, near them having no power, or scarcely place, who could yet comprehend their perplexities, and sympathize with the distressing conditions surrounding them.

They will also recall that from this source no unreasonable request was ever made of them, no impatient word spoken--only thanks for needed facilities that could be granted, for those withheld, respectful acquiesence.

To every officer on that first conquered field of Cuba, who extended to the organization I had there the honor to represent, or to myself personally, the smallest recognition or kindness, if it were only a mere courtesy, I tender in behalf of the Red Cross, honoring gratitude and heartfelt thanks. As soldiers, they performed their duty; as men, they sustained their own manly self-respect.

Knowing that several of my aides have kept their own notes during the entire campaign, especially as pertaining to the department occupied by each, I have for the sake of accuracy and perspicuity, invited them to contribute, from their notes, reports to this hastily written volume. These reports must perforce so completely cover the time of this rather uneventful period, until we should again enter upon some more active operations, I decide to leave this space to them, referring the reader, if he have the interest to follow, to these reports, and especially to the letter from our Santiago committee, composed of the leading men of the city, whose faithful service, wisdom and care for the interests of their community, lends a halo of grateful remembrance to the very mention of their names.

REPORT OF DR. A. MONAE LESSER.

In response to a call from the president of the American National Red Cross, I left this city with Mrs. Lesser for Key West on June 15. On my trip South, a train of recruits commanded by First Lieutenant Heavey, First Infantry, joined us on their way to Tampa. There were a number of sick on this train; I offered my services to the lieutenant, which he accepted, and I attended the sick. Most of them had bowel troubles; either diarrhoea or constipation; several had fever, and some sore throats. One private was very ill, and lay on a short bench in a Southern Railroad coach. His temperature was high, and his condition somewhat alarming. I engaged a section in a sleeping car, saw that he was made comfortable, gave him medicine, and Mrs. Lesser nursed him until we arrived in Tampa. The lighter cases as well as the one special case were much improved when we arrived at Tampa, still I mentioned that the patient be taken in an ambulance which the lieutenant ordered by telegraph before we reached Tampa. We then proceeded to the steamer "Mascot," bound for Key West. On board were a number of marines of the United States Navy, several of them suffering from the same troubles as Lieutenant Heavey's recruits. Among them was one case of erysipelas, due to improper care of a vaccinated pox. We attended him, and left him and all the others comparatively well in Key West, where Mrs. Lesser and myself joined Miss Barton and staff on the steamship "State of Texas."

The following morning, June 20, we started for Cuba, reaching Santiago after a six days' journey. On June 26, Mr. George Kennan, vice-president of the American National Red Cross, interviewed Admiral Sampson for instructions, and the steamship "State of Texas" was directed to Guantanamo, where we remained over night.

The following morning, June 27, a correspondent of a New York paper boarded the "Texas" and informed Miss Barton that a battle had been fought at the front, and that there were a number of sick and wounded at Siboney.

Miss Barton gave orders for the ship to return immediately to Siboney (a little village between Santiago and Guantanamo), at which place we arrived at 9.20 p.m.

WORK IN THE FIELD.

Upon arriving at Siboney, although it was late in the evening, I was directed by Miss Barton to go ashore to inquire into the needs of the hospital, and if any, to present her compliments, and to make the following offer:--Although the "State of Texas" was sent to feed the refugees and starving Cubans, it carried some persons and articles that might serve for hospital purposes, and that the Red Cross considers its first duty to be to help those who are nearest.

There was a large barn to which I was directed when I asked for the hospital. I introduced myself and staff to the physician, extended the compliments of the president of the Red Cross offering the services of her staff, as well as needed supplies. The physician in charge very courteously answered that he had been ordered to go to the front the following morning, and not needing anything, thanked the Red Cross for its offer.

Westward from the landing place was a pond of stagnant water. Upon a little hill across a railroad track stood a number of wooden cottages. The first large one, which seemed to have been some kind of a store, and a barn westward from it was pointed out to me as another hospital. (It was the same house which later was used as a post-office, in which Postmaster Brewer contracted yellow fever, but which was never used by the Red Cross.) There were a number of sick soldiers lying around on the floor, Surgeon-Major Havard being in command. I made the same offer to the major as I had made in the first place, and the condition of affairs being apparent, I tendered him the services of the Sisters, as well as cots and blankets for his sick; for which he thanked me, adding that he would accept the cots and blankets, but that he did not require nurses. I invited him to the steamship "State of Texas" to see Miss Barton, so that he might select such articles or service as he desired. From there I went with the staff to Dr. Virano, surgeon-in-chief of the Cuban Hospital, making the same statement and offers to him. He introduced us to General Garcia and his staff, and thankfully accepted the offer of the Red Cross. His patients were lying on cots and on the floor, little care apparently having been given to put the house in fit and proper condition. This ended our duty of the evening, and we returned to the ship.

The next morning, June 28, Major Surgeon Havard visited Miss Barton on the "Texas," as also did a Cuban delegation; the former made a request for cots, and the latter for the assistance of nurses, and food for the sick. Sister Isabel, Sister Minnie, Sister Annie and Sister Blanch under the direction of Mrs. Lesser went to the Cuban Hospital, taking with them proper nourishment for the sick, and utensils for preparing the same. The work of relief then began at the Cuban Hospital, and beds and blankets were sent on shore for Major Havard.

The same morning Miss Barton directed me to go to the front and find out if anything was needed at the camps, and accompanied by Mr. George Kennan and Mr. Elwell I started about 10.00 a.m. A large detachment of infantry which the night before had camped along the shore of Siboney, had gone on the road up the hill about a thousand feet in height, while another detachment of infantry and artillery took the lower road in the valley, being the only road for vehicles which leads from Siboney to Santiago. The men looked well, although the heat prostrated a number of them on the march. We walked along the latter road as far as the Camp of Rough Riders, which on that day was the furthest in front, a distance of eight miles from Siboney. It was several days after the battle between the Rough Riders and the Spaniards.

The next day, June 29th, I returned to the shore with the Sisters, whose work and value had been observed by others. Siboney with a large water supply and a sea breeze was selected for the Reserve Divisional Hospital of the Fifth Corps. Surgeon-Major La Garde, of the regular army service, was the chief of the department. His supply was small, and conveniences still smaller, which he said was owing to the fact that through military necessity medical and hospital supplies of the army were still on the transports, with no means of unloading. There were but few hospital tents, and the cots in them were occupied by a number of patients, in whom Dr. Fauntleroy took great interest. I offered the services of the Red Cross, as directed by the president. The major, a man with humane ideas, unable to get such supplies as were needed, accepted any reasonable aid that he could receive.

Our offer came at a moment when we could be of help. Surgeon-Major Havard with his staff had been ordered to the front and was unable to place the cots we had landed. His patients, who were suffering from typhoid fever, measles and other diseases, were transferred to Major La Garde's camp. Battle was expected every day, and the major in order to be as well prepared as possible, accepted the offer of assistance made by the Red Cross, and placed a house at our disposal to serve as a hospital. He addressed a formal letter to Miss Barton, who answered at once in kind words and deeds. We also immediately sent word to Miss Barton, describing the requirements. The Sisters cleaned the muddy house, then disinfected it; Miss Barton sent from the "State of Texas" cots and bedding; food, stoves and utensils to prepare the same. In a few hours our house was disinfected and in order, and about thirty-nine patients were carried to it; most of them had typhoid fever and a few had measles.

The night of July 1, however, our work had to be changed. The major called for all assistance possible to attend the wounded who were arriving from the battlefield of Santiago. Large numbers of the wounded were brought down, many of whom walked miles. Men with bullet wounds through their lungs walked and crept for hours to get to the hospital. There were hospitals nearer to the front, but all seemed to have been overcrowded by the work of that day, and many soldiers had lost their way in the undergrowth and wandered about until they found the nearest road to a hospital. Many walked because they complained that the rough roads and heavy wagons increased their pains with every jolt. Surgeon-Major La Garde's management can never be too highly praised. The wounded men that came down in the wagons were examined by him and laid somewhere to be comfortable until they could have attendance. By "comfortable" I mean as far as the situation would permit.

Every surgeon and nurse was put to work. Mrs. Lesser and the Sisters were called to assist at an operating table, and Sister Annie McCue and Mrs. Trumbull White were left in charge of the hospital building. At first I had the pleasure of assisting a very able army surgeon, Dr. Fauntleroy, but the same evening a table was assigned to me by Major La Garde. There were six tables in the tent, which were in charge of the following surgeons: Drs. Fauntleroy, Ireland, Nancrede, Munson, Parker, Howard and myself, some coming later than others. The work continued all night, each operator having one assistant and one of the Sisters at his table, continuing all of the following day. As the wounded came down in numbers, and there were not cots for them, they had to be left in any position around the ground. Major La Garde and Chaplain Gavitt were at all times kept busy having long flies put up to protect them in case it should rain.

Every moment news of another battle was expected; the experience of the first, with no better means as yet at hand, was a matter of great concern and worry to all present. Suggestions were made and discussed. Finally it was agreed to request more Red Cross aid by telegraph. A call for one hundred Sisters was suggested, and Mrs. Lesser was consulted in the matter. We had fifty trained nurses and assistants on our lists, also women to act as matrons to distribute nourishment; we promised to send for that number immediately, as we had sent for twenty-five already. That morning Miss Barton, with Mr. Kennan and several of her staff, had gone to the front, and before leaving, Miss Barton instructed her secretary, Mr. C.H.H. Cottrell, that, at our request, he should cable in her name for such persons and material as should be needed in the Hospital Department. We cabled for fifty nurses, ten assistants, a number of immune physicians, complete hospital equipment, and a quantity of surgical material, sufficient to make at least five hundred patients comfortable.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RESERVE DIVISIONAL HOSPITAL, FIFTH CORPS, SIBONEY, CUBA, July 23, 1898.

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

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

May God's blessing be with him and his.

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

RELIEF WORK IN CUBA.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RELIEF DISTRIBUTION FROM THE SAN JOSÉ WAREHOUSE.

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

OPENING A HOSPITAL AND ORPHANAGE.

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

LOS FOSOS, THE HORRIBLE!

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

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

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

RELIEF WORK DISCONTINUED.

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

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

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

ARCHBISHOP OF HAVANA BLESSES LEE ORPHANAGE.

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

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

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

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

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

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

RECEPTION AT TAMPA.

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

THE RELIEF PARTY RETURNS TO KEY WEST.

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

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

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

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

FEEDING SPANISH PRISONERS.

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

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

NEW YORK RED CROSS RELIEF COMMITTEE.

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

EMERGENCY RELIEF AT PORT TAMPA.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SAILING FOR CUBA.

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

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

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

DEPARTURE FOR SIBONEY.

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

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

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

CUBANS GLADLY ACCEPT ASSISTANCE.

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

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

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

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

URGENT CALL FOR HELP AT THE FRONT.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

On July 5, Dr. Gardner and I, after securing an ambulance and loading it with canned meats, crackers, pilot bread, milk, rice and other foods and delicacies, walked beside the loaded wagon, drawn by army mules, until we reached El Caney. We arrived just as the refugees were coming in from Santiago, from which city they had fled, fearing the bombardment that was threatened by the American forces around the place and the ships of the North Atlantic Squadron, lying off the mouth of the harbor.

At El Caney there was not even water to drink, food was very scarce. Hundreds of hungry refugees were coming in. There were poor women with children in their arms, and there were men with hands full of gold which they offered for the food they could not purchase.

A distributing committee was formed at once, including Mr. William Ramsden, son of the English consul at Santiago, the French consul, two Cuban officers, and other gentlemen whose names I do not now recall, and the relief of the refugees began. Following close behind this first ambulance of supplies for the refugees at El Caney, came a well-loaded army wagon in charge of Mr. C.C. Bangs of the Red Cross staff, who worked here, as he always had, with great vigor. He finished his work at El Caney, superintending the relief of the refugees until they could return to their homes, and then joined the Red Cross party at the First Division Hospital. Mr. Bangs was always a hard and enthusiastic worker, but he could not withstand the climate and the constant fatigue. He was at last taken ill and never rallied. He died and was buried on the field, faithful to the cause to which he had pledged his service.

On the evening of the twelfth of July Major Wood announced his intention of breaking camp and moving nearer to Santiago. Miss Barton and staff then returned to Siboney, reaching that place after dark the following day. The Signal Corps were unable to communicate with the ships in the harbor, and so there was no way in which we could join the "State of Texas" that night. Miss Barton slept in a room tendered her by Postmaster Brewer, who subsequently died at the Red Cross hospital of what the doctors said was yellow fever.

Dr. Hubbell and I lay on the floor outside, and enjoyed the sleep we could get, when we were not troubled by a species of shell fish called "land crabs," which are perfectly harmless, but have a body about four inches wide, six inches long and three inches thick, with legs ten inches long, and, standing erect on their legs, they go up and down stairs at leisure. They always take the shortest road, never go around anything, but hobble over every obstruction.

Mr. Kennan rolled himself up at right angles with Sir Alfred Paget on the floor of the veranda. We were all up at break of day. A call from Captain McCalla for 50,000 rations for Guantanamo met with an immediate response. The "State of Texas" was dispatched, but on arriving there the surgeon in charge of the fleet asked if any of the relief party had been on shore, and on being answered in the affirmative, he refused to allow the goods to be landed, being afraid, as he said, of infection. The vessel returned to Siboney and there continued to land and store what was needed at that place, preparatory to leaving for Santiago.

On July 17, the "State of Texas" while lying off Morro Castle, Santiago, at the entrance to the harbor, was boarded by Admiral Sampson, Commodore Schley and Captain Cook, who came to pay their compliments to our commander. Never was there an action more gallant and graceful than the voluntary offer of these commanders to allow Miss Barton and her staff, with the "State of Texas" to enter the harbor of Santiago first, as the Red Cross and the relief ship represented the principle for which the war was waged--humanity.

Those on board will never forget the experience of that afternoon as the good ship steamed in, past the "Merrimac," past the sunken ships of the once proud navy of Spain, on to relieve the hungry and despairing people who crowded to the wharves to look at the ship with the insignia of good will flying from her masthead. As the vessel steamed slowly in, from her forward deck floated the strains of the "Doxology" and "My Country 'Tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty."

The cargo of the "State of Texas" was quickly unloaded and stored in spacious warehouses, under the supervision of Mr. Warner, and the good ship, under command of her captain, F.A. Young, who had grown to be a Red Cross man at heart, accompanied by Mrs. J. Addison Porter and Sister Blanche McCorristen, steamed away to New York. For the warehouses the Red Cross is indebted to Dr. Douglass, who also placed at our disposition his residence and corps of clerks to assist in the work.

A distributing committee was at once formed by Miss Barton and staff, consisting of Mr. Mason, Mr. Michaelsen, Mr. Wm. Ramsden, Jr., who was also on the committee at El Caney. Mr. Ramsden, as chairman of the committee, gave his entire time to the work, and his courtesy and executive ability did much to prevent confusion and misunderstandings, and thus kept the way smooth for effective work. Through the co-operation of this committee, nearly 40,000 people were fed and made comfortable in four days.

The army were unable to get their provisions, owing to the inability of the Commissary Department to fill the orders. Two men were kept constantly employed in the warehouse of the Red Cross issuing foods, medicines and delicacies to fill requisitions from the officers of the army. To the soldiers themselves a large quantity of food of all description was given, sometimes singly, but where it was practical they were given as much as they had transportation for, to provide for the sick in their locality.

A dispensary was opened in Santiago by the Red Cross, where some 400 patients were prescribed for daily. This dispensary was in charge of Dr. J.B. Sollosso, the assistant surgeon of the Red Cross on the Cuban field, assisted by five others. Their work brought comfort to many a sick soldier and was a great credit to all connected with it.

At the Red Cross headquarters, an Out-patient Department was established and placed in charge of Dr. Gill. This department developed so rapidly that local doctors were brought into the work, and all applicants reported to headquarters, requiring medicine or medical aid, were at once referred to one of the visiting staff. Medicines and instruments for all were furnished by the surgeon placed in charge of the Supply Department. In this department were treated many American soldiers who had been stationed away from their regiments and who consequently could not get to their regimental surgeons.

When the Red Cross staff left on the transport "Clinton," bound for Havana, the remainder of the supplies were left in charge of Mr. Warner. On August 27 we arrived in the harbor of Havana. The following day the Civil Governor and his staff came on board the "Clinton" to pay their respects to Miss Barton, and expressed their gratitude for the work of the Red Cross among the reconcentrados.

The weather was very warm, and with forty mules between decks the situation was not all that could be desired for a protracted stay in a harbor like Havana. An effort was made to land the cargo of supplies, but we were met with a refusal to allow the goods to enter without payment of duties, and, because of some technical oversight in clearing the vessel from Santiago, a fine of $500 was imposed. The fine was promptly paid, and with no hope of being able to land soon, the "Clinton" was ordered by Miss Barton to weigh anchor and proceed to Egmont Key, where we would go into quarantine before proceeding North. The stay of five days in quarantine at the Key would not have been unpleasant, except for the gnats, mosquitoes, sand fleas, snakes and the daily storms, which made it necessary to call all hands at all hours to hold down the tents.

The general cargo of the "Clinton" was unloaded at Egmont Key, and as the charter of the vessel expired in a few days, she was hurried away to New Orleans, carrying the forty Red Cross mules in charge of Mr. C.H.H. Cottrell, financial secretary.

Accompanied by Dr. Hubbell, I then proceeded to Tampa to arrange for the shipment of the general cargo of the "Clinton" to that port, where much of it could be used for the Cuban refugees at that place who are being cared for by the Red Cross. The supplies were delivered to Dr. S.S. Partello, field agent at that point, whose efficient service among the Cubans, and in the auxiliary relief work in the army hospitals, has elicited many words of satisfaction and praise.

A few days later Miss Barton and staff, accompanied by General Von Schell, of the Belgium Red Cross, left Tampa for Washington.

Not long after our arrival, word came that the steamer "City of San Antonio" was loading in New York with relief supplies. Mr. J.K. Elwell was assigned by Miss Barton to go to Cuba with this ship in charge of its cargo and I in charge of the medical and hospital supplies.

On the arrival of the ship at Matanzas, the large warehouse owned by Brinkerhoff & Co., was placed at the disposition of the Red Cross. With the large lighters, of which there are many at this port, the vessel was quickly discharged and released.

The governor of Matanzas, Senor Eduardo Diaz, a man pre-eminently fitted for the position of responsibility which he held under the Spanish Government, contributed much of his time and means in furthering the work of relief. Day and night he went about investigating the condition of the people, placed at our disposal every facility, and furnished special trains when needed. He was not only an able and just administrator of public affairs, but a humanitarian as well. Taking him all in all, he was a man among the men of his country.

In Matanzas women and children walked the streets day and night begging. I suggested to the governor that it would be well to have all these poor people collected in institutions where they could be clothed, fed and cared for until they were able to care for themselves. In twenty-four hours after the governor's order was issued, these people were all housed and being fed from the stores of the "San Antonio."

At Matanzas we found a dispensary conducted by the Firemen's Association. It was a model institution, and here 300 to 400 little children were fed every day, but their scanty store of provisions was running out, and so we left with them general food and delicacies and medicines sufficient for three months.

All places in the western provinces were handled after the manner of Matanzas. Twenty-two institutions, including hospitals and asylums, were opened, and the sick, the women and the children, for the first time in many months, were sheltered and made comfortable. The regeneration of the hospital at Jovellanos will serve as an example of the work that had to be done in many of the interior towns. The building itself manifested signs of former prosperity and cleanliness. It was a stately edifice, after the Doric style. The pillars were crumbling and broken, the patio was a pool of mud, the yard in the rear was a laboratory of infectious germs, and all in a filthy condition. A Chinaman lay in what was called the "dead house." He had died of starvation; so they said. The three coffins which had been repeatedly used to carry the dead to the grave, stood up against the wall. It was a perfect picture of poverty and filth.

The Chinaman lay on a slightly inclined board, with no clothing, covered only by an old blanket. Removing the blanket from his body revealed the fact that the man was not dead, but still breathing. He was at once bathed, removed to a clean bed and given light nutriment at intervals, and the next day was sitting up smiling his appreciation, for he could not speak English at all, and but little Spanish.

The following day the coffins that had done service for seven years, formed the basis of a large bonfire, to which was added all the decayed wood flooring, garbage, old clothing and bedding--the accumulation of years. A band of workers, about sixty in number, carpenters, masons, painters, cabinet-makers and representatives of other trades, were put to work renovating and rebuilding. With only rations for pay, these men deemed it a privilege to be permitted to assist. These men were in a few days relayed by others, so that both the work and the food might be divided. Great quantities of lime and paint were used, the building was raised in some places, and in others completely rebuilt, and ventilators put in. A marsh which had existed near the hospital and extending into the yard, was drained and the dense vegetation removed. The land around the building is now dry and clear, and is used for laundry purposes and for sunning the bedding and drying the clothing.

After the building was repaired, painted, whitewashed and disinfected, even below the foundation, new cots were placed in the "Salons" and the wards arranged. The patients were brought in until the hospital was filled, the women and children being first cared for. Thus the streets were cleared of all mendicants. The institution was then provided by the Red Cross with medicines and general provisions for three months, and a good supply of clothing and bedding furnished. Dr. Mena, the city physician, was appointed to take charge with a corps of select assistants, and the hospital was left under the supervision of the alcalde, or mayor, and we passed on to other places where assistance was badly needed.

After opening all the institutions which our stock of supplies from the "City of San Antonio" permitted, we returned to Havana.

Shortly afterward, in company with Mr. D.L. Cobb, of the Red Cross, a final tour of inspection was made, and all the institutions left in good running order. Through the efforts of Mr. Cobb, assisted by Dr. Sollosso and others, permission was obtained from the Spanish authorities in Havana to open a hospital at Mariano, a suburb some seven miles from the capital. A Central Committee was formed in Havana, and the women of the city interested in the work. A large amount of money and supplies were contributed, and the hospital at Mariano is now one of the most complete and practical in all the western provinces. In addition to the usual wards, there are administration offices, a fine dispensary fully stocked, a modern kitchen, bath rooms, operating room, a steam laundry plant and storerooms. The sanitary arrangements are as perfect as could be attained under the circumstances, and everything is neat, clean and orderly. The institution was established especially for the sick, wounded and enfeebled men who had served in the insurgent army, many of whom had been without proper medical attention for months, with their old wounds still open and in bad condition.

Over five hundred have been treated at this hospital, out of which number but twenty-six have died, a remarkably good showing considering the terrible condition in which the patients were brought from the interior.

All the members of the American Evacuation Commission were always courteous and kind; they were helpful in their advice and otherwise assisted the work in many ways. To Mr. S.M. Jarvis, vice-president of the North American Trust Company, the fiscal agents of the United States Government in Havana, the Red Cross is indebted for valuable suggestions and material aid. The tour of inspection being completed, I returned to Havana with Mr. Cobb, and, in response to instructions by cable from headquarters, we left for Washington on the "Mascotte" sailing November 30.

CLOTHING DEPARTMENT.

REPORT OF MISS ANNIE M. FOWLER.[G]

On July 26, in the large back room on the ground floor, and opening out upon the flagged courtyard of the warehouse, Casa Buena Santiago, was undertaken, under the direction of Mrs. Gardner, the work of the Department of Clothing, to sort out the garments as to kind and quality, and to re-pack them for distribution among the people of Santiago, and the outlying districts and towns.

On August 1, Mrs. Gardner returned to the States, and the responsibility of carrying out the work so ably directed by her, fell upon me.

During the twenty days since, until our departure for Havana on the twenty-first of August, the work of examining boxes, barrels, trunks and sacks of clothing, and keeping a minute record of each case, where it came from, by whom sent, its contents and condition, etc., has gone steadily on, taking out the various provisions ranging from canned meats, soups, vegetables, fruits and condensed milk; flour, corn meal, beans and various preparations of cereals, sugar, tea, chocolate and coffee; hams, bacon, salt pork, dried beef and codfish; dried fruits, even to roasts of once fresh meat, potatoes and eggs packed in February and March; in varying conditions of preservation according to the dual factors of kind and mode of packing.

That nothing should be lost, such packages of meals and grains as had been broken in transportation and had become mixed in the box's contents, were put into barrels to be sent to the Public Soup Kitchen, that worthy benevolence of one public-spirited citizen of Santiago.

In the process of its repacking for wholesale distribution from the various centers, the department was able to give much individual aid in clothing to those cases whose needs were made known to it. Not among the fewest of these were the soldiers whose privations and forlorn condition would have to be actually seen to be fully appreciated. The officers, being unable to procure the necessary articles of clothing, food and medicine for themselves, their men and their sick, the Red Cross had the privilege of lending a hand to these brave men who so uncomplainingly suffered danger, hardship, exposure, sickness and death for their country's sake, and who so gratefully appreciated the least office done for them. As one man said to me: "The Red Cross has been a fairy godmother to us men."

[G] Now Baroness von Schelle of Belgium.

Could the story of these sufferers be individually told there would not be wanting subject matter of much interest; in many cases the thrilling, tender, or romantic element stands forth.

Perhaps one of the most romantic instances is that of a young American. A fine specimen of manhood as he stood before me and quietly told me his story, led on by my interest and questioning: tall, erect, well-knit and seasoned to meet emergencies; a refined, open, strong face, a well poised head; one felt the real courage in the man. Over three years ago, led by high hopes inspired by the cause of suffering Cuba, as set forth in our land of free press agency, and fanned to a holy flame by the pen of a ready writer, he set out with the zeal of a crusader to plant the ensign of true liberty. A handful of comrades they were with hopes high, burning to do a righteous deed.

Landed upon Cuban soil at evening, this little body of men was embraced by the natives; on the morrow these new-found friends had looted even the luggage of their would-be helpers. The life of frontier warfare began; in combat the Americans were always given the exposed positions of danger, and were accordingly picked off one by one.

Over a year ago, the friend of this young hero was dangerously wounded in the hip. A Cuban operation was performed; finally a piece of bone has worked itself out from the injured hip. The condition of the injured man becoming serious; food, medicines and clothing growing less; no possibility of carrying the injured man to find help, the case became desperate, and for his comrade's sake, the young warrior started overland to Santiago, a distance of some three hundred miles, in quest of aid. He, a young French captain and two servants made up the little caravan for this journey.

Any one who has experienced Cuban roads in the rainy season can imagine what such a journey means through woods and marsh, over mountains and across burning plains. That he was not to be daunted he proved by safely reaching Santiago. Horses had to be discarded and the journey over the mountains made on foot. Tales of destitution and suffering he brought from all the country through which he came. People were so scantily clad that they could not come out to offer a glass of water. Lands laid waste where the guerilla force had swept by like a swarm of locusts and had left nothing but desolation behind. It was, indeed, a pleasure to give of our stores such as the young officer could venture to carry upon that hazardous return journey, unarmed, for even his weapons had been stolen, and his recital in Santiago of his experiences had caused scowling looks from under drawn brows. His hope was to get his wounded comrade home, or at least where surgical aid may be had before it is too late.

One of the thrilling tales is that of Marco Sancho, a Cuban warrior, who was brought in to be clothed. He had been in the country whither he had deserted from the Spanish ranks to join the Cubans. While one of the Red Cross staff had been making an overland tour of this province he had discovered the man and had told him to come to Santiago for medical treatment. He came with a companion. There his former captain, a Spaniard, discovered him, had him arrested, threatened him with death when he was returned to Spain. Fortunately the Cuban bethought himself of the Red Cross physician and sent word to him of this peril. At the jail the prisoner was brought out between two guardsmen. A needless precaution one would think to see the diminutive form of the man.

The Spanish captain was over-confident of his right to punish his soldier. The thought was suggested that he, a prisoner himself, had no right to punish a man, who by birth a Cuban, had served in his country's cause. Pompously he could not see it until by the persuasion of General Wood's order to liberate the man at once, he became servilely humble. Marco Sancho was so rejoiced at his escape from horrors untried, that his agile little framework expressed his entire satisfaction in the situation by turning a complete somersault.

The tender side to hard soldier life is not wanting. A young lieutenant, refined yet every inch a soldier and a gentleman, with a something indefinably fine above the common lot of man, brought in a little Cuban lad of eight years. He had lost his mother five years ago, and in the encounter in July his father had been killed. Three officers had adopted the boy, and were about to take him North when they returned. The difficulty of introducing a Cuban lad into our civilization habilitated after the fashion and condition of his native land faced them, when they bethought themselves of the resources of the Red Cross. The boy himself was a pitiful object; he had had the fever, the results of which had left him with a partial paralysis in the hips; he seemed out of physical proportion; his bright, intelligent eyes, and that peculiar pathetic soprano of the voices of many of the children in Cuba made him a strangely picturesque figure. But the manly tenderness of the young officer as he did the little offices of the toilet for the lad, the unconsciously gentle tone of his voice as he spoke, the kindly gleam of his eye as it lighted upon the boy, made a picture not to be forgotten. As they rolled away in one of the quaintly primitive-looking Cuban carriages, the front seat stacked with gifts, the little fellow delightfully spick and span, and confidingly trustful of his future in the hands of his youthful protector who sat beside him, one felt a quickening at the heart-strings to know what the adopted son of the regiment would become, how it would all turn out. Surely, so far as the boy is concerned, unusual opportunities have opened.

Contrasts stand ever quietly side by side, telling their story to him who will read, perhaps nowhere else more markedly than here in Cuba, where the conditions of life are most abnormal.

These few snap-shots at history, as it is making in these stirring times, show that even behind the closed doors of a wareroom, where the overlooking, assorting and repacking of cases of garments, which the kind hearts of people at home have prompted them to send, is not without its human, vital interest. Meanwhile the work goes steadily on; as each case is repacked, it is nailed up. A Red Cross label is pasted on, below the label its contents are duly noted in blue pencil, and the box is neatly piled, with like cases and barrels, ready to be sent out to the commissioners, the hospitals, orphanages, medical clinic, outlying towns whenever the call may come.

Fifty-eight barrels and fifty cases of clothing were put on the "Clinton" to be taken to Havana. A hundred and eight cases and barrels have been distributed. About six hundred cases are left in the warerooms of Casa Buena, there to be distributed by the commission of ladies who have consented to give out this clothing to the needy. Three hundred and ninety-eight cases were opened, sorted and repacked, making a total of about 800 cases, mainly from the cargo of the "State of Texas."

THE RED CROSS OF OTHER NATIONS.

THEIR SYMPATHY AND ACTIVE CO-OPERATION.

It is with feelings of pleasure and satisfaction that I record the fact that the Red Cross of the United States is, in its relations with all the foreign branches of the International Society, on terms of mutual confidence and esteem; and that the utmost cordiality is maintained through a constant interchange of correspondence.

During many years, before our organization received the attention and official recognition in this country that it was entitled to, coming as it did with the prestige of a splendid record in Europe, and the patronage of the elite of the Old World, I was encouraged and strengthened by those friends of many nations, but of one humanity, to hold to the good work until the United States should place itself in the van of enlightenment and civilization, and catch step in the grand march onward to universal peace. Many times discouragement and despair battled with me; and but for the never-ending kindly words that bade me strive on, I fear I should have been inclined to give up the fight.

The American people are ever so active and full of the work of the present, that it is a hard matter to interest them in anything that may be of remote utility or even mercy. Certainly, no other people have quicker instincts or more generous impulses than they; and none respond with more alacrity and abundance with the need is present. It was almost an impossibility to make the average American believe that his country would ever go to war again; therefore, why should he trouble himself about war cares or appliances; there would be time enough to think about those things when war was threatened. Surely no one wanted to fight us. We, as a nation, attended to our own business, and didn't interfere in the affairs of other nations; and thus were in no danger of getting into serious trouble with any one.

Of course, the history of the world was all against any such optimistic reasoning; but, then, it was said, America was a new country, and laid on peaceable lines; its intentions were good and honorable and would be respected; besides, it was so powerful and so remote from other nations that it was in no danger of attack under any circumstances. That was the kind of argument one met, when vouchsafed an opportunity to speak in behalf of the Red Cross. Fortunately, though, there were a few more thoughtful and reflecting people who could look ahead and see the dangers; who knew that, however carefully navigated, there were winds and tides that might veer from her course the good ship of state, and wreck or damage her on the rocks of discord. These few friends rallied to the support of the Red Cross, and stood by it through all the dark days; and now that it has received its "baptism of fire," and the gracious acknowledgment of gratitude from the President of the United States, and the blessings of thousands upon thousands of the citizens and soldiers who have felt its beneficence, they feel, with its president, that there is at least some truth in the old saying that "all things come to him who waits."

The alarm of war was all that was needed to bring the American people quickly to a realization of the necessity for the services of the Red Cross; and that necessity once recognized, they gave an unstinted support of themselves and their means. Had there been need for them, the Red Cross could easily have recruited an army of twenty-five thousand from the flower of American womanhood. Rich and poor alike gave their money freely; and doctors and nurses from every part of the country offered their services for no greater compensation than the privilege to serve suffering humanity.

To our friends of the Red Cross in Europe and in Asia--nearly all of the nations of which contributed liberally to our needs during the late war--we have no words that will adequately express our appreciation and gratitude for their timely aid; and if I fail to make proper acknowledgment it is because I am unable to say all that wells up to my heart for utterance. Let it suffice for me to say that the Americans are enthusiastic, affectionate, and appreciative; and a kindness once shown is never forgotten. God grant that other nations may not have to settle their differences by an appeal to arms; but should such an unhappy fate attend them, I can say with certainty, that the Red Cross of America will be only too happy to reciprocate the many kindnesses that have been equally shown to us and to our late opponents.

To the Red Cross of Spain we extend our loving hand, with the hope that our two nations shall never more be anything but the warmest friends. We know how our sister society suffered in this last struggle; and we, who labored under the banner of "humanity and neutrality"--we, who could harbor no animosity for a brave people struggling, as they were, for what they believed to be their rights--lent our assistance to its countrymen wherever we found them, on the fields, or in the prisons and hospitals; and it is our proud privilege to say that the Red Cross of Spain has officially recognized in a most graceful and welcome manner its high appreciation and gratitude for the good offices we were able to render in the line of our duty to its sick and wounded countrymen during the late war.

Remembering with heartfelt gratitude the munificence of Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Russia, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Greece, Turkey and India, I trust it will not appear invidious for me to especially commend two of their sister countries.

The Red Cross of France, acting in strict accordance with the principle of neutrality, gave generously and equally to the Red Cross societies of Spain and the United States for the benefit of the sick and wounded; while many of its private societies and citizens sent us substantial remembrances of the long-continued friendship that binds together the two countries. To all these we say: "God bless you; we shall not forget."

Soon after the United States had declared war against Spain I received a letter from the Duke of Palmella, the President of the Portuguese Red Cross Society, in which he tendered the services of his society to act as a friendly intermediary between the societies of the belligerent powers. The geographical position of Portugal, being on the border of Spain, and the well-known neutrality of her people, made her the natural agency for this purpose; and as all mail facilities between Spain and the United States had ceased, we gladly availed ourselves of this opportunity to communicate with "our friend, the enemy." Of course, the same offer was tendered to Spain and accepted by that country.

The prime reason for the duke's suggestion was his desire to open a way for the prisoners of war of both countries to inform their relatives and friends of their condition and whereabouts. The arrangement worked perfectly, and many anxious hearts were saved from the rack of uncertainty; while others were informed of the sad fate that had befallen their loved ones. How well satisfied our Portuguese friends are with the service that was rendered is best told in the following copy of a letter received some time since:

LISBON, October 22, 1898.

The American National Red Cross, Washington, D.C.:

DEAR MR. SECRETARY:--We beg to acknowledge receipt of your esteemed favor of the first October, enclosing three more letters, the last to be returned to Spain.

Our work being now arrived at a close, we take advantage of this opportunity for presenting to the American National Red Cross and your worthy president our earnest thanks for their kind support in the accomplishment of the task we have undertaken in behalf of Spanish prisoners in the United States and their relatives and friends in Spain.

Again, we have true pleasure in acknowledging, in the name of hundreds of mothers and wives, whose sorrow and anxiety were extreme, the invaluable services you and your government have rendered to them, in order to assure correspondence between the prisoners and their families--a fact quite new in the annals of war--the benefits of which are certainly to be valued and cherished by every sensible heart. For we must not conceal that when we were determined to ask the assent of the American and Spanish Governments for such a work, through your kind mediation and that of our friends in Madrid, most people shook their heads incredulously, and while admiring the spirit that animated our good wishes, feared that our efforts would be in vain, and that the Red Cross would find itself hopelessly out of place in the unusual position it was about to fill. It is a consolation--indeed, amidst such gloom it is a transient happiness--to know that such was not the case; and we feel happy in proclaiming that the most efficient part of that work was, undoubtedly, yours.

Please accept, dear sir, my sincere regard and distinguished consideration.

Sincerely yours, DUKE OF PALMELLA

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES

The following address was prepared to be read before a special meeting of members of Congress as early as the summer of 1888. The news of the death of General Sheridan prevented the meeting, and no other opportunity having ever presented, the remarks have waited all the intervening years. What were the facts then are none the less true now, either for the Congress or the people, and I adopt the usual custom in such cases, and ask "leave to print."

GENTLEMEN:--While proceeding to lay before you the various measures to which I have taken the liberty of inviting your honored consideration, it may be well to refresh your memories in regard to the principles involved in the subject of the Red Cross; to recall how, under the treaty, it stands related to our government, and how, through the same feature, it relates us to other governments.

The code of ten articles, forming the international compact or Treaty of Geneva, pledges each nation which unites with it to certain methods of neutral action and humanity never before formally admitted by nations at war, and it removes, to the greatest possible extent, all needless severities hitherto practiced under their usages.

This treaty, said to be the first compound treaty ever formed, came into existence at Geneva, Switzerland, in 1864. It now includes some thirty governments. The first efforts towards our own adhesion were made with the Executive Department; but as it was thought that the text of the treaty called for some changes in the "Articles of War," it was submitted to Congress, by which body the adhesion was made in February, 1882.

It ever remains an undisputed fact, that the medical department of an army never is, nor can be, made adequate to the needs of the sick and wounded of its battles. Hence the inevitable suffering of the men, the terrible anxiety and agony of friends at home, and the loss of countless lives.

The Red Cross creates an organized, neutral volunteer force, from the people, supplied by the people, but still subject to the regulations of the military in the field, recognized by and working in full accord with it, bringing all needed aid in the form of intelligent, disciplined assistants, and abundant supplies to the direct help and use of the medical department of an army, and with which department it works, as if belonging to it.

It created, with great care, an insignia to be the one known and recognized sign of neutrality in the relief of the sick and wounded of armies, and in the protection of the military hospital service, the world over.

This insignia, which has given its name to the treaty, has become universally known and respected. There is no other military hospital flag, and no other sign marks the relief designed for the succor of the wounded soldier, nor protects from capture or harm, either himself or the non-combatant who goes to administer. It is probable that no sign nor figure in the secular world is sacred to so many eyes as the Red Cross of Geneva.

This treaty takes its powers from the common consent of the united governments of the civilized world. Their rulers sign it. Its ratifications are officially made by the Congress of Berne, Switzerland. It recognizes no other features than the relief of the victims, and the mitigation of the horrors of war.

In its short life of twenty-five years it has assumed the conduct of the entire auxiliary relief work of the armies of the world. It has given rise to more valuable inventions, and under its humane impulses sanitary science has made rapid growth.

By common consent of the powers, at the formation of the treaty, the worthy body of Genevese gentlemen, who called and conducted the convention, was formed into an International Committee, through which only medium the various nations within the treaty communicate, and which holds the direction of all international relief in time of war. Each nation, upon its accession to the treaty, is requested to form a national committee, which committee shall constitute the medium by which the other governments, through the International Committee, may communicate with its government.

These national committees are usually presided over by officers very near the crown or high in authority; as, for instance, the national president of the Red Cross of Germany is Count Otto de Stolberg, who recently crowned young Emperor William. Of France, Marshal McMahon; of England, Lord Lindsay; of Belgium, the King himself.

Their patrons are always of the crown or royal families, as Empress Augusta of Germany, Victoria of England, Dagmar of Russia, Marguerite of Italy, and the Royal Grand Duchess of Baden.

Although the object of the organization is people's help for national necessities, its national branches receive strong governmental recognition, and encouragement. Every facility which can be is afforded them, and the patronage of the crown or government in monarchical countries, unlike our own, means substantial aid, which is afforded in many ways.

Each nation is left free to form its national committee in accordance with the spirit and needs of its nationality. In the formation of our own, it was thought possible to include other relief than that of war, and as you already know, America organized for the relief, first of war then of other great national calamities, such as the government is liable to be called upon to aid through its public treasury.

We were accepted by the ratifying powers at Berne, with this digression, and although novel, it has won great approval and is known abroad as the "American amendment."

Under this civil feature the American Red Cross has aided in twelve great calamities: one forest fire, five floods, three cyclones, one earthquake, one famine and one pestilence. It has brought to the aid of the victims of these disasters, in money and material, many hundred thousands of dollars, acting as a systematized and organized medium of conveyance and distribution for the relief which the people desired to contribute. It has never yet solicited aid, it has scarcely suggested the raising of relief, but has endeavored to administer the relief which was raised wisely and faithfully.

[H]Since our adhesion to the treaty two international conferences have been held: the one at Geneva, by the International Committee, in 1884; the other at Carlsruhe, by the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Baden, in 1887.

As president of the American National Red Cross the honor has been accorded me to represent the government in each of these conferences. Some of the questions therein discussed, being of both national and international importance, will be later submitted for the consideration of your honorable legislative body.

The foregoing explanations made, I will, with your kind permission, gentlemen, venture to name to you some of the more personal features, of our own national branch of this world-wide organization, touching its conditions, positions, relations and requirements, inviting your thoughtful consideration to the same. I must do this, not only as its chief executive officer, but as the person who has been wholly responsible for our ever having had any connection with it. I alone brought this subject before the government, as the official representative of the International Committee, asking its adoption as a treaty, if found desirable; and was shown the exceptional courtesy of a unanimous accord in a most unfamiliar subject, by the largest, and, as I hold, the highest legislative body in the world.

[H] Since, then, however, the international conferences have numbered six and the relief fields twenty.

During the intervening seven years, I have done my best and my utmost to properly test the value of the obligation taken, and to learn, from actual and practical experience, if the results would warrant a continuance of effort on the part of the national committee, and to some extent the encouragement and active co-operation of our government, without which the objects of the treaty would be misapplied, and its results practically lost.

These efforts have been made in the face of the open world. No action has been covered, none exaggerated. On its own fair merits, the American branch of the Red Cross stands before the government and the people it has served for their judgment.

If it has been an idle body?

If a parasite, drawing sustenance from others?

If it has promised and not performed?

If its work has been actual, or merely appeared upon paper?

If it has found favor with the people it has gone to aid?

If it has gained or lost in public estimation?

If in any way it has disappointed the expectations of the country or the people?

If it has given cause to the government to regret its admission?

If it has sustained its national standing in good repute with the affiliating nations of the world?

If it has been a costly adjunct to the government?

Like a gleaner it brings in its sheaves at the end of its seven years of faithful trial, and asks that its work be judged. If for any cause, the organization be looked upon as not meriting or justifying encouragement and co-operation of the government, which its peculiar relations to it demand, and it is thought wisest or best to withhold them, it will be a simple and perhaps welcome thing to let go and rest. Unless one is actually going down hill with a load, it is always easier to stop than to go on. In this case vastly so.

It is now thirteen years ago, during the administration of President Hayes, that I first brought this matter to the attention of our government, believing it to be, perhaps, the work of a month. From that day to this, I have found time for nothing else. I learned that its broad humanities were the belt that spanned the world. Dependent, as it is, upon the co-operation of the government, being substantially a link between it and the people at large, I should not have been justified in proceeding to organize great bodies of persons under its regulations, until I was assured what position the government would take in regard to it. I could not ask this decision of the government until actual results had proven to it, and to myself as well, that the position required was one worthy to be taken. Thus the trial has been made single handed. Not a penny of tax nor dues has ever been asked for the expenses of the National Red Cross.

The general impression prevails that it is actively a branch of the government, and of course, provided for by it. This impression has, pecuniarily, been heavily against us, as it enters no philanthropic mind to extend a generosity to the Red Cross, any more than to the War, or State, or Navy Departments, or any other branch of protected government service. No freight bill on shipments has ever been remitted, nor agent ever passed free over a road up to this time; and no bequest has ever been made to it. Postage is not even paid.

The government is supposed to do all these things, and it is generally believed that its officers have large salaries. In one way this impression has been helpful. It has doubtless given prestige; but it is a costly luxury, and not to be forever afforded.

The actual expenses of the government since the first, have been as follows: an appropriation in 1883 of one thousand dollars, expended in government printing of a little pamphlet history of the Red Cross, written by me, at the request of the Senate committee, for circulation after the adoption of the treaty--two thousand copies. As neither frank nor postage were provided for the mailing, the transmission of each copy cost some ten cents. The issue is exhausted. Appropriations of $1000 and $2000 respectively for expenses of governmental delegates to the International Conferences of 1884 and 1887, held at Geneva and Carlsruhe, the delegates giving their time and services, and meeting all costs, excepting those actually incurred en route, and provable by vouchers. Thus making an aggregate of six thousand dollars in eight years expended in its own behalf, with as much in value, in each instance, added by the committee, as otherwise appropriated. These are the only demands ever made upon the government. This balances our accounts to date.

We now reach a point where I may name some directions in which the government might properly extend its protecting and its helping hand. The International Committee of Geneva makes the National Committee of America the recognized medium of communication with our government. It sends its official communications to the president of the American National Red Cross, with directions that this officer present the same to our government, and duly transact the required business. But unfortunately, there is opened no legalized medium through which the Red Cross is expected to confer with the government, through either its executive or its legislative branches. "What is everybody's business is nobody's business." The entire system has each time to be explained to busy men, precedents to be found, and, however willing and anxious, no one can be quite certain if he is right. The naming of two or three gentlemen from your own honorable body to act permanently as a committee on the affairs of the Red Cross would remedy all this, and render simple and efficient what is now complicated and awkward. It would then be _some_body's business. The subject would be understood, the needs comprehended, suitable advantages taken, mistakes avoided, time saved, prestige given both at home and abroad, and the unavoidable communications between the committee and government officials come to be regarded as legitimate business, and not as favors personally sought and graciously listened to.

I regard the appointment of this committee as a most important step, if any steps are to be taken--perhaps indispensable, in view of certain measures which must come officially before Congress.

At the last two International Conferences resolutions were passed requesting that each government within the treaty take firm measures for the protection of the international insignia of the Red Cross, from misuse and abuse by unauthorized persons and parties, as methods of popular advertising for speculation and gain. The patent office is besieged by applicants demanding the Red Cross for trademarks.

It becomes our duty on behalf of these conferences to present these resolutions to the government, together with the statements of the various countries through their delegates, and to ask its consideration, and its official action, in common with that of other nations. Our duty to the government demands this as well.

The great query which confronts us, and often with a tinge of seeming reproach, is: "Why is so little known of your organization? Why is it not written up, and circulated among the people for general information? Even the army knows nothing of it. Where shall we find something published about it?" And these inquiries come from the officers of the Regular Army, the National Guard, the Grand Army, and the medical fraternity in general, not to mention the people at large.

There is probably no one in the land who would more gladly see these questions favorably met, and the information go out, than the parties supposed to be responsible for this dereliction. It has sometimes occurred to me that a little "dangerous surplus" might be safely disposed of in that way without compromising any leading issues.

Governmental bureaus, with full powers, have been commenced requiring less of actual labor, method, skill, clerical ability, and official expenses than are expected and provided yearly at the private headquarters of the American National Red Cross, and with less of general demand for them, and smaller visible results.

Fortunately its president has been always able to furnish space for the Red Cross headquarters in her home, and as it was her child, she has naturally and willingly provided for it. But, gentlemen, children grow! In no other country does the organization of the Red Cross stand as an ordinary benevolent society. In all others its relation to the government is defined, pronounced, and its prestige assured. This is wise and just, and only this can make it of greatest service to the government and to the people.

It is a peculiar institution, without nationality, race, creed or sect, embracing the entire world in its humanizing bond of brotherhood, without arbitrary laws or rules, and yet stronger than armies, and higher than thrones.

I desire to have it better comprehended and more fittingly appointed in our great and advancing country. I would like to see for it a headquarters which, in point of activity, would be a national honor to us. The Red Cross of America should successfully undertake some difficult problems. Hospital and emergency work naturally fall to it. It has come to be the first thought of by any community suddenly overtaken by disaster.

With all our misdirected, criminal and incendiary immigration, which nothing seems to hinder, with our dangerous foreign leaders and teachers, our strikes, mobs and dynamite, who can foresee the moment when the United States flag shall be called to make peace and hold it? And wherever that symbol goes, the Red Cross must follow, and only one step in the rear. The first man who falls must see it on the arm that raises him, and the last must know it has not left him. The National Red Cross of America is not without possibilities for occupation, and these neither theoretical nor sentimental.

Gentlemen, there are some points in reference to which I desire to guard against misapprehension on your part. Of all things, I would not have you get the impression that I desire to foist the Red Cross upon the government for support. That, because I say it is liable to equal a government bureau in point of work and care, I desire to have it made a government bureau. Nothing is more impossible. I would not have you feel that we have carried it to a certain extent, and now want the government to take it up. These things could not be; it would at once defeat the very objects of the organization, which mean people's help for national needs, not national help for people's necessities. Still, there is a certain fitting and customary connection between the two, which it is proper to recognize. Certain protection of the rights and welfare of the organization, which it is suitable and for the interest of the government to maintain, as, for instance, the protection of the insignia. Its acts of incorporation--some aid in the circulation of information respecting it, its charters, etc., through its official printing bureaus, and some direct channel of communication, and advice opened between the government and the organization, as customary in other countries, and without which I think we cannot reasonably hope to stand upon a respectable basis in their estimation.

If Germany can place Count Stolberg, one of its highest official dignitaries and officers, at the active head of its Red Cross, we can scarcely do less than to permit a small advisory committee of our legislature to at least confer with ours.

These are all very small and inexpensive demands upon a government like ours, and from their apparent unimportance, likely to remain unconsidered. Still, they are important to the work that seeks them. With these assured, the National Committee can safely permit the people to take their place in the work, and if the time never comes when the country has need of the help for which they organize, it will be only a too fortunate land.

The part which I have thus far been privileged to take in this work has but one merit. It has been faithful, and I believe, unselfish. With better judgment, greater strength, wealth, power and prestige, or the ready help of those who had, I might have accomplished more. I have nothing to gain from it, and never have had. I have no ambitions to serve, and certainly no purposes. I regret only the years which have gone by in feeble, unaided effort, which, I feel, with stronger help, might have been more serviceable.

All I am worth to it to-day is the experience I have gained. I have no more time for trials, nor proof, and of these, no more are needed. The facts are established. I have stated what is needed of the government, before it can go on, and I ask your kind consideration of the same.

TO THE COMMITTEES OF THE RED CROSS.

AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

To our tireless Executive Committee, and to the great and energetic Red Cross Relief Committee of New York, who undertook the concentration of the war relief and the administration of the generous gifts of the people, and who have so faithfully stood by me in the work during all these months, no words can adequately express my gratitude and the appreciation of the National Committee.

For them no task was too great; no requisition was ever refused. To their zealous labors is due, in a great measure, whatever success may have attended the Red Cross in its mission for the relief of the sick and the wounded.

TO THE AUXILIARIES OF THE RED CROSS

AND

THE NURSES WHO WENT TO THE WAR.

To the army of women, brave, generous and true, who either as auxiliaries at home, or as nurses at the field, who made up that magnificent array of womanhood, ready for sacrifice on the altar of humanity and their country--no words of mine can do justice. The monument deserved and traced in that glowing pen picture of the melting tribute of another pen, I beg to place here with my tears of acquiescence, to sanction every line.

A TRIBUTE TO THE RED CROSS NURSES.

By FRANKLIN B. HUSSEY, of Chicago.

* * * * *

The war is over. Now let us rejoice. Now erect your tablets and monuments to the heroes of the war--the living and the dead. Write their names on the long roll of honor: Dewey, Schley, Hobson and Wainwright, Roosevelt, Lee, Wheeler and all the rest, and alongside their names write those of the private soldier and the "man behind the guns." They "remembered the Maine." And while we rear our symbols of marble and of bronze to commemorate their brave deeds, there is one we must not, we cannot, forget.

When our brave boys left home and marched proudly down to war they did not go alone, for the gentle presence of woman walked beside them, to assuage with her soft touch the grim horrors of carnage. A few days ago the busy thoroughfares of our city resounded with the music and fanfares of a great jubilee. I saw the towering fronts of the thronging palaces of trade put off their accustomed garb of work-a-day gray and drab and bedeck themselves in carnival attire, while stretched across from roof to roof for miles hung festoons of glittering lights, banners and flags in a bewildering chaos of red, white and blue. I saw triumphal arches spanning the streets, adorned with the portraits and names of patriots, but I saw not hers of whom I speak.

Under those arches, attended by all the pomp and splendor of the trappings of war, keeping step to the glad music of victory, marched ten thousand men, at their head the Chief Executive of the nation. I saw senators and judges, diplomatic representatives and statesmen, generals and heroes of the army and navy, veterans and volunteer soldiers pass in glittering procession, while a million voices shouted loud huzzas that told of a nation's tribute of gratitude to all those who had contributed to the great victory; but for her I looked in vain.

At night I saw a great feast spread, honored by the presence of the nation's leader and all those who had ridden in the grand pageant. The toasts went round and the glasses clinked, but never a word of her of whom I speak.

Not that she was forgotten; not but that cheers would have rung out at the mention of her name; but because she went about her duty of self-sacrifice so simply, so modestly, without even a thought or expectation that any one would ever know or care whether she lived to come back from the death-laden fever swamp, or not, her part in the great victory had been, for the time being, overlooked; and while gifted tongues are paying their tributes of burning eloquence to our heroes, without seeking to detract one whit from their glory and fame, which they so richly deserve, may I draw nigh, with uncovered head, and cast a flower at her feet? She asks no recognition. She seeks no praise; but on some sunny slope of one of our wooded parks I want to see a simple shaft uplifted in memory of the girl with a red cross on her arm. She went forth to war with no blare of trumpets or beat of drums; the first to go, the last to return; she carried neither sword nor musket, but only the gentle ministrations of a woman's hand and heart; not to make wounds, but to heal them. If you seek fitting words in which to embody her record, go ask those whose fevered brows her cooling palms have pressed, whose bloody wounds her hands have stanched, but the lips that could best tell her noblest deeds lie cold and still, wrapped in the sleep that heeds no bugle call. She carried balm and healing not only to broken and bleeding bodies, but to broken and bleeding hearts as well, and stood through long pestilential nights, like a ministering angel of heaven, beside the weary pillow of pain, and when all that human hands could do had been done, and the dying soldier murmured last words to mother, wife or sweetheart, hers the ear that caught the last faint whisper, hers the fingers that penned the last letter home, hers the voice that read from the thumb-worn page, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.... Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death"--while with his hand clasped in hers, his soul passed on through the "valley" and the "shadow" up to "the sandals of God." Yes, raise aloft her statue in the streaming sunlight. Let some great sculptor, catching aright the inspiration of his theme, outline that slender form--that woman's form, with melting heart and nerves of steel, against the soft blue of the summer sky, with her lint and bandages in one hand and her Bible in the other, the sign of the cross upon her sleeve, and the glory of the countenance of the "Son of Man" reflected on her face, and underneath let these words be traced:

To the nurses of the Red Cross--those angels of the battlefield--who ministered to our soldiers and sailors, the thanks of a grateful nation; for "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto Me."

* * * * *

AS THE SUN WENT DOWN.

Two soldiers lay on the battlefield At night when the sun went down, One held a lock of thin, gray hair And one held a lock of brown.

One thought of his sweetheart back at home, Happy and young and gay, And one of his mother left alone, Feeble and old and gray.

Each in the thought that a woman cared, Murmured a prayer to God, Lifting his gaze to the blue above There on the battle sod.

Each in the joy of a woman's love, Smiled through the pain of death, Murmured the sound of a woman's name, Tho' with his parting breath.

Pale grew the dying lips of each, Then, as the sun went down, One kist a lock of thin, gray hair, And one kist a lock of brown.

ANON., in Town Talk.

UNWRITTEN THANKS.

Dear readers, I pray you accept this last word from me: "Poor even in thanks"--the thanks with which the heart is burdened but cannot speak. The acts of kindness shown during these waiting, and oft weary years, that crowd and clamor for expression, would duplicate this volume many times, and the cherished names that the hand struggles to write, would turn these pages into a biographical dictionary.

Let me pray, then, that every person who takes up this volume and recalls a kind act done me, or a friendly, encouraging word spoken in all the years of the busy period which it covers, shall read between the lines, the cherished memory, the thanks, and the blessing so richly deserved and so fully given.

A WORD OF EXPLANATION.

May this book before quite leaving the hands of its author be permitted this word of explanation.

Its subject took its rise in, and derived its existence from, war. Without war it had no existence. The watchword, indeed one might almost say, the "war cry" of our country and of our people was "peace." War was obsolete--out of date--out of taste--in fact, out of the question: hence there existed no need for providing relief for it; and thus the Red Cross has stood, unrecognized in the shadows of obscurity all the eighteen years of its existence among us, waiting for the sure, alas, too sure, touch of war, to light up its dark figure, and set in motion the springs of action.

A few believed, and like disciples, waited with it. If at any time, during that period, one had presumed to offer to the American public a book treating exclusively upon the Red Cross, the production would have found neither publishers nor readers; but now that the stroke of war has fallen and the interest comes home to ourselves, neither can wait for the book to be properly written, hence the unfinished and unsatisfactory condition in which it must present itself.

CONCLUSION.

In the foregoing pages is outlined the history of the American National Red Cross in peace and in war.

We have seen it grow year by year, from the persistent, almost unaccountable rejection of the Treaty of Geneva by our government for eighteen years. We have seen it beginning in the cordial recognition of Blaine, and Garfield, and Arthur, gradually increasing in the amount and scope of its labors, growing, in the slowly gained influence and support of public confidence, to its present condition of general recognition in all parts of our own country, and in the warm appreciation of all the nations that have acceded to the Treaty of the Red Cross. There is, we are happy to believe and to assure our readers everywhere, a warmth and an enthusiastic appreciation of the Red Cross that brings added honor to the country, and that everywhere recommends the principles and the practices for which the sacred symbol stands. No American citizen will hereafter travel in foreign lands any less securely since the American National Red Cross has been before him in Russia, and in Armenia, and in the high conferences where the treaty nations by their representatives from time to time assemble.

It is founded in the soundest and noblest principles, in the deep needs of human nature, and in the enduring instincts and feelings of mankind. It has come to quicken into fresh, new growth the best things in human life. Like the Banyan tree, wherever an auxiliary branch of the Red Cross exists, it will so drop roots into human character and life, that it will make it a parent trunk in turn to send out influences that shall bring other affiliating branches, so that it shall at last cover the earth with its grateful shade, beneath which the tramp of armed men shall cease, and the battle flags be furled. Then, although the original purpose and object of the Red Cross was indeed to heal the wounds and sickness incident to warfare, there will remain the work under the "American Amendment," in which the Red Cross goes forth to heal other great ills of life.

The future of the Red Cross then will be worthy of the labors and sacrifices in which it originated, worthy of the care and tender solicitude with which its growth and progress has been watched and tended.

Into the hands of the coming generations it will be given as the best legacy that the All Father has at any time given to His children--the spirit and the power symbolized and consecrated forever by the Red Cross of Geneva.

NOTES.

AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS.

The Red Cross is often referred to by the press and by many of our friends in correspondence, as a "society." From this practice, it appears that a misapprehension exists regarding the official title of the national organization in this country, and a few words of explanation seem necessary.

As contemplated by the Treaty of the Red Cross, and provided by the regulations of the International Committee, there is formed in each of the countries adopting the Treaty of Geneva, one Central National Committee of the Red Cross, with headquarters at the seat of government.

In this National Committee of each country, authorized by the International Committee and recognized by its own government, is centred the power of organization and direction of all matters connected with the administration of relief contributed by the people in the name of the Red Cross. This authority includes the sole right to form innumerable branches, subject to the direction of the National Committee. These branches, created by the National Organization, may be known as Auxiliary Societies of the Red Cross, or by any other appropriate name, but the central national organization is not a society; it is a National Committee.

Therefore, in referring to or addressing the parent organization, it is improper to use the term "society." It should be remembered that the Central National Committee of the Red Cross for the United States of America, has, for sake of convenience, been incorporated under the title: THE AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS.

RELIEF OF WOUNDED IN WAR.

The Central National Committee of the Red Cross in each country, being duly accredited by the International Committee and officially recognized by its own government, is the lawful means of communication between the people and the armies in the field, acting as the administrator of the contributions of the people for the relief of the sick and wounded in war.

CORRESPONDENCE IN TIME OF WAR.

When hostilities are in progress, and the usual means of communication between the belligerent countries are suspended, prisoners of war are enabled to communicate with their homes through the medium of the Red Cross of neutral nations. Thus, for example, during the late Spanish-American war the prisoners on board the prize ships at Key West were, by an arrangement made with the authorities of the United States Government, permitted to write to their friends and relatives. The letters were, of course, first viséd and certified by the American National Red Cross, and those addressed to persons within the Spanish lines were forwarded through the Red Cross of Portugal.

WOUNDED AS PRISONERS OF WAR.

Formerly a wounded man, as such, had no particular rights which any one was pledged to respect. Now, however, the Treaty of Geneva provides that the wounded immediately become neutral and are entitled to the care and consideration of their captors. There is also preserved to them the right to send messages through the lines, informing their friends of their whereabouts and condition.

THE RED CROSS AND LOCAL CHARITY.

The National Committee of the Red Cross and its branches, not being a local benevolent institution, the Red Cross takes no part in the distribution of local charity, when the distress is such that it is within the power of the community itself to relieve. Therefore, members of auxiliary societies when engaged in the usual charities of a local nature, should not act as the representatives of the Red Cross. The Red Cross in times of peace can only be called into action when a disaster occurs which is of such magnitude as to be considered national in its character, and beyond the control of the immediate community.

NO REFLECTION UPON THE GOVERNMENT.

By their adhesion to the Treaty of Geneva, and by their recognition of the National Committees in each country, the nations of the world have declared that, no matter how extensive the preparations, nor how complete may be the organization of the medical department of an army, it is beyond human possibility to provide for all contingencies. For this reason the National Committees of the Red Cross were created. The necessity for auxiliary aid by the people, through the Red Cross, existing as it does in all the treaty countries, is in no wise a reflection upon the Medical Department of the Army, nor upon the ability and faithfulness of its officers. Hence, the timely acceptance of this auxiliary aid, the necessity for which all nations have publicly acknowledged, brings with it no discredit; it is only its rejection that opens the door to censure.

MEMBERSHIP IN THE RED CROSS.

In the past many applications have been received for membership in the American National Red Cross, to all of which it has been necessary to make the same reply. The central organization being a National Committee, membership thereon is only conferred by election and appointment, not by application. Membership in the Red Cross may, however, be obtained through the auxiliary societies. During the Spanish-American war many auxiliaries were formed for temporary work, but have not yet been received and accredited as permanent societies of the Red Cross. It is hoped, however, that the time may soon come when the local branches of the Red Cross may be found everywhere, and when any one who is acceptable may become a member by joining the nearest auxiliary.

INDEX.

A. Page.

Address by Clara Barton to the President, Congress, and People of U.S. 60

Address by Clara Barton: "What is Significance of Red Cross in its Relation to Philanthropy?" 97

Address by Clara Barton to Congress 666

Accession of U.S. to Treaty of Geneva and Additional Articles of Navy 80

Adhesion of U.S., translation from International Bulletin, April, 1882 87

Articles of Red Cross Treaty, or the Convention of Geneva 57

Articles, additional, of Oct. 20, 1863 74

American Amendment of Red Cross 383, 668, 681

Appia, Dr. Louis 23, 48, 61

Aguadores, shelling of 561, 645

Americans advised to leave Havana, April 9 549, 603

Amputations few 593

Army Surgeons Accept Red Cross Help 560, 562, 588, 589, 590, 615, 616, 645, 647

"As the Sun Went Down" (Poem) 679

Auxiliaries 474-480

Austrian Committee 31

ARMENIAN RELIEF FIELD, 1895-96: Red Cross requested to take charge of relief 275 Armenia, conditions in 276, 279, 320 Turkey, signatory power to Red Cross Convention of 1864 276 Public gatherings in the United States, effect of 276 Obligations of neutrality imposed upon the representatives and workers under Geneva Treaty 277, 279, 280 Red Cross forbidden to enter Turkey by Turkish Minister in Washington 277, 278 Turkish Minister's action politically justifiable 277 Red Cross pledged to go to Turkey 277 Red Cross sails from New York, Jan. 22, 1896 277 Dr. Hubbell dispatched to Constantinople 278 Conference with Missionary Board at Constantinople 278 U.S. Minister A.W. Terrell 278, 279, 299, 314 Conference with Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tewfik Pasha 278 Plan of Relief outlined to Turkish Minister 279 Permission to work and protection of Turkish Government assured 280 Preparations for dispatching agents begin 283 Relief delayed by denunciatory utterances in the U.S.; sample; "Pro-Armenian Alliance" 283 Currie, Sir Phillip, suggests Southern Route 284, 288 Expeditions start via Alexandretta (Iskanderun) 285 Doubts and discouragements from home 285 Massacre at Killis, Turkish Government anxious 286 Letter to Frances Willard 286 Zeitoun and Marash epidemics 287, 335, 350, 353, 354 Harris, Dr. Ira, expedition of, and report 287, 294, 336, 350 Perplexing cablegrams from U.S. 288 Cabled American Committee that Red Cross will finish field alone 289 Letter to Red Cross officer, P.V. De Graw, in U.S. 289 Course of expeditions 290 Shattuck, Miss Corinna, at Oorfa 293, 335 Kimball, Dr. Grace, Bitlis 293 Expeditions reach Harpoot 293 Typhoid and typhus in Arabkir 293, 337, 338 Fifth expedition 294 Harpoot 293, 295, 337 Diarbekir 295 Farkin 295 Furnishing tools for building and harvesting 295 Wood, Chas. King 296, 297, 334, 335, 337, 356 Wistar, E.M. 334, 335, 345, 356 Gates, Rev. C.F., D.D. 296 Cattle for plowing and planting 296 Return of expeditions from Asia Minor 297, 298 Balance of funds placed with W.W. Peet, Treasurer 297 Peet, W.W. 297, 298, 299, 324 Hardships endured by our men 297 Dwight, H.O., D.D. 298, 315, 324 Green, Jos. K., D.D. 298 Hamblin, Dr. Cyrus 299 Washburn, Geo., D.D. 278, 299, 324 Selamlic 299 Time spent socially in Constantinople 299 Respects paid to new Turkish Minister to U.S., Moustapha Tehsin Bey, 299 Decoration and diploma, Armenian and Turkish 300, 303 Returning home 304 Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Baden, visit to 304 Constantinople massacres renewed, and Red Cross proposed to return, if needed 305 Distances and difficulties of travel, transportation and communication in Turkey 305 Turkish telegram 307 Funds, never embarrassed for 307 Methods of work, general 310 Difficulties of relief committees at home, and causes 310, 313 The Press and contributors 313 (To the) Government at Washington, and To the U.S. Legation at Constantinople 313 Ambassadors and representatives of other nations 315 Commendatory 315 "The Independent," report 315 "Marmora," poem 319 Conditions in Armenia, summary of 320

FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S REPORT, ARMENIA: Turkish money, intricacies of, and varying values 324 Post, Dr. Geo. E., letter of 324 Para, copper coin, value, one-tenth cent 325 Piaster, equal forty para, about, 4½ cents 325 Lira, gold 325 Volunteer aid 326 Money, banking, express 326 Bakshish 326 Method and manner of distribution 327, 328 Raising of funds, popular impression and actual experience in 329 Balance sheet 333

GENERAL FIELD AGENT'S REPORT: Preparations for interior travel 334 Fuller, Rev. Dr., Aintab 334, 335 Killis 334 Aintab 335 Red Cross methods 328, 329, 335, 336, 339, 345, 355 Marash filled with refugees and epidemics prevailing 335 Marash, Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Macallum 336 Surrounding country pillaged, people killed 335 Trail route, Marash to Harpoot 336 Marash without foods or medicines 336 Arabkir epidemic 294, 337 Hintlian, Dr. Hagop 338, 339 Bush, Miss Caroline E. 338, 339 Arabkir, welcome to 338 Egin City and Aghan villages 343, 344 Gratitude of people 343 Barnum, Rev. H.N. 346 Post, Dr. Geo. 350 Tribute to Red Cross non-sectarian methods, by Dr. Harris 355 Returning expeditions 356

B.

BARTON, CLARA, LETTERS AND CORRESPONDENCE: Autograph translation of Mr. Moynier's letter to President of U.S., on adoption of treaty 37 To E.M. Camp, Ed. "Erie Dispatch" (The Little Six) 130 To Ed. "Charleston News and Courier," subject, Sea Island Relief 268 To Sea Island Committeemen, planting 273 To Frances Willard, Armenian relief 286 To P.V. De Graw, Armenian relief 289 To Admiral W.T. Sampson, Cuban relief, entering Havana 370 To Cuban Relief Committee, New York Cuban relief 374 To Surgeon-Major Louis A. Le Garde, Siboney Hospital 560 To S.E. Barton (cable), Siboney 562 To Admiral Sampson, entering Santiago 574 To Capt. Chadwick, flagship "New York," entering Santiago 575 To R.A. Alger, Secretary of War, transportation, Santiago to Havana 584 To Capt. S.C. Wertsch, S.S. "Clinton," thanks 631 From J.G. Blaine, Secretary of State 41 From Mr. Moynier, Pres. Comité International 81 From "The Little Six" 132 From A.A. Adee, Secretary of State, Cuban relief 362 From S.E. Barton, Cuban relief 365 From John F. Hoar, U.S. Marshal, Key West, Spanish prisoners 369 From Admiral W.T. Sampson, Cuban relief, entering Havana 373 From R.A. Alger, Secretary of War, Red Cross Treaty 395 From C.H. Allen, Secretary of Navy, Red Cross Treaty 395 From Surgeon-Major Le Garde, hospital work 560 From S.E. Barton, transportation and nurses 562 From Capt. Chadwick, flagship "New York," entering Santiago 575 From R.A. Alger, Secretary of War, transportation, Santiago to Havana 584 From Capt. P.C. Wertsch, acknowledgment 631 From members of Red Cross field staff on separating 632 From Santiago Relief Committee 639 From Duke of Palmella, Red Cross Intermediary 665 From Spanish Red Cross

Barton, Clara, reimbursed by Congress 78

Barton, Clara, starts to Cuba Feb. 6, 1898 519

Bangs, C.C., work at El Caney and death at Santiago 620, 650

Baracoa and Sagua de Tanamo 623

Battleship "Maine," visit to 523

Battleship "Maine," blowing up of 524, 600

Battleship "Maine's" dead 526

Beckwith, General A. 120

Bell, Major Wm. Duffield, statement of conditions at front hospital, Santiago 616

Bellows, Henry W. (effort to bring U.S. into treaty) 36

Blaine, Secretary James G. (letter to Clara Barton acknowledging Mr. Moynier's) 42

Blaine, Secretary, transmits articles Geneva Convention to President 73

Blanco, General, courtesy of, and co-operation 547, 643

Bulletin, International 27

C.

CAMPS AND CAMP WORK, extracts from reports of 484

ATLANTA DISTRICT: Camp Fort McPherson, Ga., Rev. Orville G. Nave, agent 420 Atlanta Committee of Red Cross 421 Red Cross work, observation on 421 Camp Hobson, Ga., Lythia Springs 422 Diet Kitchen, Miss Junia McKinley 422

CHATTANOOGA DISTRICT: Camp Thomas, Chickamauga, E.C. Smith, agent 408 Typhoid fever in camp 411, 502 Hospital "Sternberg" 412 Hospitals "Sanger" and "Leiter" 412 Nurses, great lack of, at first 411 Nurses, 140 women graduate at one time 412 Camp "Shipp," Anniston, Ala. 413 Hunters Island, 507

JACKSONVILLE, FLA., DISTRICT, Rev. Alex. Kent, agent 414 Camp Fernandina 418 Camp hospitals, conditions to be expected in 418 Camp Miami 418 Hospital, recuperating, Pablo Beach 416

LONG ISLAND AND NEW YORK DISTRICT: Long Island Relief Station, Mrs. A.G. Hammond, superintendent 489, 490, 505 Camp Wyckoff, Montauk Point, L.I., Howard Townsend, agent, Dr. Brewer, assistant 426 Bureau of Inquiry and Correspondence 429 Diet Kitchens 429, 505 First work supplying water 426 Hospital, railway emergency 430 Quarantine officer, Dr. Magruder 429 Troops arriving on transports (feeding of) 429 Nurses, 140 Red Cross 429 Supplies, promptness in ordering and receiving 426 Camp Black, nurses at 506

PORTO RICO FIELD WORK, Horace F. Barnes, agent, General W.T. Bennett, assistant 460 Camp Barton 467 Field agent, qualifications necessary for (Barnes) 470 Method of work 468 Sick, large percentage of, in Porto Rico 468, 469 Sickness, some of causes 469

TAMPA DISTRICT, Dr. S.S. Partello, agent 493

WASHINGTON, D.C., DISTRICTS: Camp Alger, Washington, B.H. Warner, field agent 397 Camp Bristow Diet Kitchen 400 Camp Point Sheridan visited, Mrs. Mussey 399 Fort Meyer Diet Kitchen, Dr. Mary E. Green 400 Post Hospital, Washington Barracks 399 Camps and camp regulations, suggestions 405 Common sense criticism 405 Green, Dr. Mary E. 400 Ice plant auxiliary of New York 402 Legion Loyal Women 403 Medicine and supplies furnished promptly by Red Cross 399 Nurses, experienced, needed 399, 401 President and Secretary of War always interested in efforts of Red Cross 405 Red tape hinders needed supplies 399 Returning troops at Fortress Monroe, meeting of 401 Troops en route, sick and well, care of 401 Testimony of officers, surgeons and soldiers to work of Red Cross 403 Tribute to the Red Cross 406 Sag Harbor Home 507

CAROLINA SEA ISLANDS HURRICANE AND RELIEF 197 Hurricane, description of 197 Hurricane, Admiral Beardslee's description 203 Sea Islands, geography, people, conditions, religion 203, 205, 209 First local aid 202 Red Cross called by the Governor of South Carolina 201 Sea Islands Hurricane, needs and methods of relief 208, 210 Relief work in Sea Islands Hurricane, district report of J. MacDonald, Hilton Head 211, 219 Report of Mrs. MacDonald, clothing 220 Report of warehouse and shipping department, Dr. E.W. Egan 222 Medical and sanitary, Dr. E.W. Egan 228 Report Beaufort District, Dr. J.B. Hubbell 232 Report Charleston District, H.L. Bailey 244 Report of clothing department, Mrs. Jos. Gardner and Mrs. H.L. Reed 252-263 Sewing circles 257 "Christmas Carol," poem 261 Summary of work done 268 Leaving the field 268 Circular letter to committeemen the year following, Feb., 1895 273 Cobb, D.L. 360, 361, 420, 624, 655

CUBA AND CUBAN RELIEF: Casino, Havana 521 Cuban Central Relief Committee, formation of 362, 363, 634 Cuban relief, first efforts fail from political and other influences 516 Cuban relief, numerous obstructions, political and sensational 514 Spain addressed, requesting permission to distribute in Cuba 515 Spain's courteous and generous response, a courtesy carelessly overlooked by Americans 515 Conference with President and Secretary of State on Cuban relief 516 Cuba, conditions of country and people (Senator Proctor) 534 Cuban Congressional Committee 546 Cienfuegos 544, 643 Cisneros, Miss 543 Co-operation of Cuban physicians 643 Cuban refugees, relief, Tampa and Key West 368 SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR 360 Cuba and the Cuban campaign 514 Cuban Hospital, Siboney 557, 614 Cargo for north coast of Cuba, Mary E. Morse 624 Chadwick, Capt., battleship "New York," correspondence 575 Clinics while waiting 551, 644, 645 Clothing report, Miss Fowler 656 "Clinton," steamer furnished by Government for Red Cross transportation 583, 629 "Clinton" leaves Havana, Sept. 1 1898, 585, 630, 652 "Comal," steamer arrives Havana 585

Committees, central or national 27, 28

Charities, difficulties in administering 166

Conference of 1863, preliminary to the Convention of Geneva, of Aug. 22, 1864 23, 24, 28, 35, 36, 38, 51, 52, 53

Conference, second, Oct. 20, 1868 74

Congress votes $1,000 for printing 92

Convention of Geneva, Red Cross, Aug. 22, 1864 24, 57

Conclusion 681

Correspondence in time of war 608, 644, 683

"Crevasse," escape from a 121

Cyclone of Mississippi and Louisiana 112

Cyclone of Mount Vernon, Ill., Feb. 19, 1888 143

D.

Death rate from wounds, small 593

Diet Kitchens 400, 402, 429, 505

Distribution places, Havana 522, 600, 601

Douglas, Robert, house and warehouse for Red Cross, Santiago 619

Dufour, General 23, 50

Dunant, Henri (Swiss) 23, 48

Distribution, a criminal neglect in, the occasion of great disturbance in the United States 547

E.

Egan, Dr. E.W. and Geo. Kennan, to the front, Santiago 646

Egan, Dr. E.W., report 642

El Caney and Firmeza refugees, supplies for 577, 619, 620, 649

Emergency package, good results 593

Explanatory note to readers 680

F.

Federal Council of Switzerland 24

Fields of work from 1881 to 1894 104

Field drill 643

Financial secretary, Cuban work, report 600

Financial statement, Cuban relief 635

First relief committee for Cuban help not successful 515

Flood of Mississippi river, 1884 119

Floods of Ohio and Mississippi, 1882 and 1883 104, 111, 112

Floods, Ohio and Mississippi, 1884, government account of Red Cross work 128

Food and supplies for sick soldiers, scarcity in Cuban campaign 595

Food and hospital supplies, scarcity of, at front 616, 649

Franco-Prussian war 25

Forest fires of Michigan, 1881 108

French, Alice (Octave Thanet) 177

French Red Cross 33, 664

G.

Garcia, General Calixto 560, 561, 614, 645, 646

Geneva Convention Treaty in United States (translation from International Bulletin) 77

German-Austrian war 25

German Red Cross 32

Government relationship to the Red Cross 377, 378, 379, 380, 383, 384, 395

Guantanamo, June 25th 560, 610, 619, 645

Guantanamo, Captain McCalla asks for 100,000 rations for Cubans 574

Guantanamo supplies for Cubans declined for fear of yellow fever contagion 574, 619

Governments that have adopted treaty, list 58

Governmental recognition of the Red Cross 28, 80, 85, 91, 92, 377, 378, 379, 380, 383, 395

Geddings, Surgeon (Egmont Key, Fla.) 632

H.

Havana, arrived at, August 25th 584, 629

Harbor clinics 606, 644, 645

Havana custom duties, excessive, prevent unloading supplies 585, 629, 652

Havana citizens, cordial co-operation in relief work 601

Havana harbor, fine of $500 imposed 585, 627

Havana, "Maine" victims at San Ambrosia Hospital 525

Havana, Red Cross headquarters 528 del Cerro 526, 601

Havana understood to be open port 583, 626

History of Red Cross, preparation of, in 1883 96

HOME CAMPS AND AMERICAN WATERS 362-513

Homes of Hunter's Island and Sag Harbor 507

Hospital, Charleston city, nurses sent 496

Hospital, Siboney, Cuba 557, 561, 590, 614

Hospital, Fort Hamilton, nurses at 497

Hospital, Fort Monroe, nurses sent 496

Hospitals, Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, nurses sent to 497, 502

Hospital, Governor's Island, nurses at 497, 502

Hospital, "Leiter" 495

Hospital at Siboney, opened July 2d 561, 590, 615

Hospital ship "Solace," Captain Dunlap 555, 610

Hospital supplies from "State of Texas" 595

Hospital supplies at Santiago 562, 651

I.

Ice schooner "Mary E. Morse" 559, 580, 624

Incidents of workroom 659-661

Incorporation of American Red Cross 47, 94

Intermediary offices of Red Cross 664, 665, 684

Intermediaries in Spanish-American war: Switzerland 384, 386 Portugal 608, 644, 664, 665, 683 France 664

International Committee 27, 28, 667, 682

International Committee, circular announcing formation of the American National Red Cross 91

International Committee, medal of honor to Clara Barton 82, 83

International conferences, representation in 668

International communications, made through the International Committee 667, 682

International Committee, twenty-five years' record (illustration) 84

International relations of National Committees 28

Iron Cross of Prussia presented to Clara Barton 83

Italian Red Cross 31

J.

Jaruco, condition, relief (Cuba) 527

Jaruco's tribute to the dead of the "Maine" 530

JOHNSTOWN FLOOD, PA., 1889 157 Benevolent Union of Conemaugh Valley 164 Johnstown flood, incidents 171-173 Johnstown flood, "In Memoriam" 174 Five o'clock tea 163 Johnstown Finance Committee, extract from report, sheltering people 169 Johnstown contributions, general fund, $1,600,000 168 Johnstown's farewell to Miss Barton 169 Red Cross houses, warehouse and infirmary 164 Johnstown houses, removal of 167 Johnstown infirmary 164 Poem, "The Dread Conemaugh" 170

Jorrin, Senora J.S. 526, 530

Jovellanos (Cuba) 654

K.

Kennan, George 395, 587, 646

Klopsch, Louis, assumes charge of distribution in Cuba 547

L.

La Yocabo, Havana 521

Landing supplies, difficulties, Siboney 563

Late in Siboney, we cannot reach our ship 568, 650

Le Garde, Major-Surgeon Louis A., request for Red Cross help, 560, 589, 618, 645

Le Garde, Surgeon-Major, testimonial to Red Cross physicians and nurses 599

LESSER, Dr. A. MONAE (report of) 587

Lesser, Mrs. A. Monae (Sister Bettina) 531, 545

Liabilities to war in United States less than in other countries 35

Liberality of transportation companies 364

Los Fosos, Havana 521, 522, 545, 546, 602

M.

MacClenny nurses, story of 147, 148

Matanzas (Cuba) 546, 547, 653

Matanzas, condition of hospitals and people 531

Matanzas, Governor of, Francisco de Armas 532, 546, 547

"Mattie Bell," steamer on Mississippi 118

Marianao hospital 655

Mason, Robert 578, 621, 651

Maxwell, Miss 502, 503

McCalla, Captain 560, 610, 619, 645

McKibben, General (military governor, Santiago) 621

Membership in Red Cross 684

Methods of relief 310, 328, 329, 370, 421, 426, 438, 484, 498, 579, 601, 607, 608, 615, 621, 626, 642, 643, 644, 654, 661, 683

Method of collecting supplies for reconcentrados 363

Method of sending nurses quickly 498

Michaelson, H. 578, 579, 621, 651

Military and medical preparations never adequate in battle 666, 683

Mines, submarine, Santiago 575

Mississippi and Louisiana cyclone 112

Modus vivendi between Spain and United States 384-394

Moynier, President Gustave 23, 50

Moynier, President Gustave, letter to Miss Barton on adhesion of United States to treaty and status of American Red Cross Committee 81

Moynier, President Gustave, letter of (autograph translation by Clara Barton) 37

Moynier, President Gustave, letter of thanks to Clara Barton on receipt of official documents of treaty 90

Moynier's letter to Mr. Blaine 42

Moynier, President, letter (Garfield's indorsement) 40

Moynier, President Gustave (letter to President of United States) 36, 41

"Moynier," steam launch, 394

N.

National committees, character of 668, 682

National committees, relations of 28

Navy, articles for 74

Navy, courtesies of, to the Red Cross 367, 550, 555, 576, 578, 606, 610, 651

Neutral countries, 34

Neutrality in Red Cross principles recognized 547

Neutrality in war pledged 666

Neutrality of wounded 683

Neutrality of supplies and personnel 24

Notes on the Red Cross 682

Nurses, 28, 30, 399, 401, 411, 412, 429, 435, 436, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 502, 506, 590, 595, 596, 646, 663

Nurses and assistants, more telegraphed for 590

Nurses, lack of, at first 399, 411, 595, 646

Nurses of the Red Cross, tribute to, by Hussey 677

Nurses in operating tents 646

Nurses for Siboney carried to Porto Rico 492

O.

Objections to Red Cross answered 26

Official instructions to officers, land and naval, concerning steamship "State of Texas" 367

Officers in the field, kindness of 664

Ohio river floods, 1884 115

Ohio river flood, "Josh. V. Throop," Red Cross steamer on Ohio river, 1884 114, 124

"Olivette," United States hospital ship 559

Opinions of a major surgeon about women on the field 569

Organization and methods of work (see methods) 27

Orphanage in Havana 531, 545, 602, 642

P.

Packing supplies for shipping, suggestions 656

Palmella, Duke of (President Portuguese Red Cross) 664, 665

Partello, Dr. S.S. (field agent at Tampa) 653

Phinney, Miss, death of 495

Pinar del Rio, Artimesa 540

Plans for self-help formulated with co-operation of General Blanco 547

Poem, "The Women who Went to the Field" 509

Proctor, Senator Redfield 531, 533, 534

Porter, Mrs. J. Addison 567, 569, 570, 643

Portuguese Red Cross, intermediary between United States and Spain, 608, 644, 664, 665, 683

Postmaster Brewer at Siboney 568, 650

Preparations for war 25

Press, the support of 364

President Arthur, declaration of the articles of navy 80, 385

President Arthur explaining articles of navy 555

President Arthur recommends treaty in message, December, 1881 72

President Arthur, special message giving adhesion of United States to treaty and additional articles 80, 385

President Arthur transmits treaty papers to Senate 73

President Arthur's proclamation of treaty of Red Cross 85

President Garfield (Moynier's letter presented to) 41

President Hayes (Moynier's letter presented to) 41

President's Cabinet the Board of Consultation for National Red Cross 92

President McKinley's call for reconcentrado relief 361, 516

President McKinley requests Red Cross to return to Cuba with supplies for reconcentrados 549

President McKinley asked for transportation, reply 583, 629

Projet de concordat, propositions and resolutions 51

R.

Ratifying power for Red Cross treaties--the Congress of Berne-Switzerland 667

Reincorporation of American National Red Cross 94

Relief of wounded soldiers, first proposition for 23

Red Cross accepted by government 395

Red Cross American amendment 383, 668, 681, 683

Red Cross constitution 46, 94

Red Cross, first in United States 36

Red Cross history, 1882 96

Red Cross, introduction into United States 668

Red Cross incorporation, original 47

Red Cross insignia 24, 58, 75, 76, 390, 667

Red Cross insignia, protection of 671, 673

Red Cross international conferences 176, 668

Red Cross international committee 667, 682

Red Cross intermediary offices 664, 683

Red Cross in sanitary science 667

Red Cross in floods of Ohio, Chicago "Interocean" 117, 119

Red Cross, congressional committee needed 671-673

Red Cross not branch of government 670

Red Cross national committees, of other countries 667

Red Cross national committees 668, 682

Red Cross, objections to, answered 26

Red Cross, peculiar institution, definition 25, 666, 672, 682, 683

Red Cross of other nations--their co-operation in Spanish-American war, relief 662, 663

Red Cross prestige in other countries 673

Red Cross, relationship to government 378, 379, 380, 383, 384, 395

Red Cross, recognition in United States tardy 61

Red Cross should not be government bureau 672

Red Cross, when government aid should be given 673

Red Cross work no reflection on military medical departments 683

Red Cross service accepted by Secretary of Navy 395

Red Cross relief, Ohio river, reference to, in government report 128

Red Cross "Farewell," Evansville Journal, May 28, 1884 126

Red Cross "Society" 682

Red Cross of Dansville, N.Y., first local society in United States 107

Red Cross Society of Rochester, N.Y. 109

"Red Cross Work," Evansville Journal, extract 119

RED CROSS MEMBERSHIP 684 Railway companies, courtesies and co-operation (Cuban) 643 Ramsden, Fredk 577, 578, 621, 650 Reception at Tampa 606 Reconcentrados 360, 361, 528, 534, 537 Reconcentrado relief, first shipments to Cuba 363 Reconcentrado hospitals and clinics 531, 532, 642 Reconcentrado relief, Red Cross called to 365 Red Cross of other nations, co-operation in Cuban war 384, 386, 662, 664, 665, 683 Red Cross services accepted by Cuban surgeons, Santiago 588 Red Cross staff 601, 606, 609, 622, 623, 646 Red Cross president arrives Havana, February 9, 1898, general conditions described 520, 600 Refugees at Key West and Tampa 603, 605, 608, 644, 653 Reid, Mrs. Whitelaw 506 Report of Dr. E.W. Egan 642 Report of Miss Annie Fowler. Clothing 656 Rough Riders' battle, the first news of 557, 610 "Red Cross Flag is Flying," poem 359

RED CROSS RELIEF COMMITTEE OF NEW YORK FOR THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR: Officers, members and subcommittees 473 Treasurer's report, May to December 1, 1898 474 Auxiliaries, women's committee on 474 Auxiliaries, supplies contributed through supply committee, $80,000 477 Supplies shipped by transports 470 Auxiliaries, special work 478 Auxiliary No. 1, ambulances, mules, launches, disinfectants, etc. 475, 478, 489 Auxiliary No. 2, workrooms for families of enlisted men 475, 478 Auxiliary No. 3, maintenance of trained nurses, 412, 426, 429, 475, 478, 488, 489, 491 Auxiliary No. 3, report 491 Nurses sent to Santiago and Porto Rico 492 Hospital ship "Lampasas" 492 Nurses' work in Tampa 493 President and Secretary of War, committee's conference with 494 Auxiliary No. 5, equipped cots 475, 479 Auxiliary No. 10, ice and ice plants 402, 475, 479, 486 Auxiliary No. 17, supplies 475, 479 Auxiliary No. 19, laundry 475, 480 Auxiliary No. 22, garments, food, reading 475, 480 Auxiliary No. 40, emergency hospital furnishings, soldiers' families 475, 480

CALIFORNIA RED CROSS: Mrs. Willard B. Harrington, president 431 Letter of secretary, Mrs. L.L. Dunbar 431 Early work, supplementing government necessities 431 Executive board 433 Organization 434 Red Cross delegate to Pacific coast, Judge Sheldon 435 Manila, nurses sent to 435 Transports, nurses and agents with 435, 436 Field hospital to Manila 436 Soldiers' home built at Presidio 437 Manner of work 438 Identification medals 438 Financial statement, consolidated, California Red Cross societies 439

RED CROSS OF OREGON: Mrs. Henry E. Jones, president; Mrs. F.E. Lounsbury, secretary 441 Auxiliaries of Oregon 449 Emergency funds 444 Novel contribution of Lipman, Wolf & Company 447

RED CROSS OF ST. PAUL, MINN.: A.S. Talmadge, president; Miss Caroline M. Beaumont, secretary 425

RED CROSS OF WASHINGTON STATE: Mrs. John B. Allen, president; Miss Marie Hewitt, secretary 452 State of Washington Emergency Corps, extract from report 458

SEATTLE RED CROSS: Mrs. J.C. Haines, president; Mrs. H.C. Colver, secretary 455

TACOMA RED CROSS: Mrs. Chauncey Griggs, president; Mrs. H.M. Thomas, secretary 456

WALLA WALLA RED CROSS: Mrs. Lester S. Wilson, president; Mrs. Eugene Boyer, secretary 456

SPOKANE RED CROSS: Mrs. Virginia K. Hayward, president; Mrs. A.J. Shaw, secretary 457

RUSSIAN FAMINE: Russian famine, extent of 176, 189, 192 Russian climate, 175 Russian peasant, customs and religion 175, 176, 189, 193 Russian famine, numbers affected 30,000,000 176 Russian-American relief, beginning of 177 Tillinghast, B. F. 177 Corn from Iowa, 225 carloads 177 United States Congress, action regarding Russian famine 177 The "Elks" 177 Russian and American friendship 178 "Tynehead" steamship 178, 180, 186, 187, 195 International conference of 1892 at Rome 178 Russian government, activity in famine 179, 191, 192 Russian people, activity in famine 179, 191, 194 Russian famine, official report, Honorable Chas. Emory Smith 179 Russian appreciation of American help 180, 181, 187, 193, 196 Bobrinskoi, Count Alexander 180, 181 "Dimitri Donskoi," royal naval flagship, at Philadelphia, anniversary of "Tynehead" in Russia 180 Gifts from the Czar to American commissioners 181 Testimony from peasants of Libeau 217 Testimonial from nobility of St. Petersburg 181 Hubbell, Dr. J.B., report 182 Russian Red Cross, letter to president, General Kauffmann, with reply 182, 185 "Tynehead," arrival and unloading at Riga, 307 carloads 185, 186 Nijni Novgorod 190 Russian schoolmaster, incident 195 Corn, questions of ocean transportation answered 195 American distribution in Russia most satisfactory 196

S.

CUBA AND CUBAN CAMPAIGN:

Sagua la Grande 542, 643

Salaries 634

Sampson, Admiral 367, 370, 373, 555, 574, 576, 610, 621

Sampson, Admiral, letter concerning entrance to Havana 370

Sampson, Admiral, letter to, concerning entrance to Santiago 574

Sampson, Admiral, Red Cross reports to, off Santiago, June 25th 555, 574, 576, 610, 621

San Luis and Holguin districts visited 623

Santa Clara, Sagua la Grande 542, 643

Santiago front, division hospital, Major Wood 563, 564, 616, 646

Santiago, to the front of 563, 616

Santiago, concerning entrance to, July 17, 1898 574, 575, 576, 578, 651, 652

Santiago, conditions in 577, 639

Santiago general relief committee 639, 651

Santiago hospitals, clinic and dispensary 623, 651, 652

Santiago fed 579, 621, 626

Santiago, committee of women appointed 626

Santiago, sailed from, August 21, 1898 574, 629

Schley, Admiral 576, 578, 651

Secretary of Navy, instructions concerning "State of Texas" 367

Secretary of Navy accepts Red Cross service 395

Secretary of State, letter, reconcentrado relief 361, 362

Secretary of State 361, 362, 377, 385, 386, 388, 516

Secretary of War 395, 396, 494

Secretary of War, instructions concerning establishment of Red Cross camps 395

Secretary of War arranged 2,000 tons relief supplies for Havana, requests Red Cross to distribute 584

Shafter, General Wm., returns Spanish wounded prisoners to their friends (article XI) 570

Siboney, American surgeons decline woman's help, but Cubans accept 557, 588, 613

Siboney, opening of Red Cross hospital 561, 590, 615

Siboney, Kennan, Lesser, Elwell, go to front 558, 589

Siboney burned 574

"Sisters," Red Cross 560, 588, 645, 646

"Solace," the first hospital ship under the treaty (see article XI, articles for navy) 591

Sollosso, Dr. J.B. 652

Spanish-American war 360

Spanish authorities co-operate in Cuban relief 529, 547

Spanish protection to Red Cross property 604

Spanish prisoners, relief for, on captured vessels 551, 591, 607, 644

Spanish hospitals at Santiago 622

Spanish naval prisoners on transport "Harvard" 591

Spanish prisoners treated and fed 596

Spanish authorities, Havana, propose paying custom duties and distributing our goods 629

Spanish prisoners, Portsmouth, N.H., and steamships, nurses to 506

Spanish reception of Red Cross nurses in Spain 507

Spanish money 634

Spain, to the Red Cross of 663

Steamship "State of Texas," arrangements for sending 365

Steamship "State of Texas," correspondence relating to sending of 365

"State of Texas" sails from New York, April 23, 1898 550, 605

"State of Texas" reports to Admiral Sampson off Key West 606

"State of Texas" leaves Key West for Santiago, June 20th 555, 609

"State of Texas" under protection of navy 550, 606

"State of Texas" goes to Jamaica for ice 618

"State of Texas," discharged July 22d 580, 622

Steamer "San Antonio," Cuban relief 653

Supply committee, requisitions filled, from June 22d to December 1, 1898 480

Supplies American-Cuban, 6,000 tons 634

Surgeon-General, letter of, accepting services of women nurses 494

Surgeons cannot get their supplies from transports (Santiago) 589

Surgeons work by moonlight as precaution against sharpshooters 646

Swiss government as intermediary 384, 386

Sanitary commission of United States 31

Services in time of war 30

Services in time of peace 29

Servian Red Cross, decoration 83

Sick and wounded, improvements for 30

Sign of neutrality 24, 58

Society of Public Utility of Switzerland 23, 48, 50

Solferino 23

Southmayd, Colonel F.R., and New Orleans Red Cross 148

Syracuse Red Cross 110

Swiss Federal Council 24

"Six, The Little," story 130

"Six, The Big" 134

T.

Tampa during preparations for war 555, 643, 644

Tasajo (jerked beef) 609

Telegraph companies' assistance 365

Texas drought, 1887 134

Texas drought, action of Congress vetoed 137

Texas drought, report to President Cleveland 137

Texas drought, state appropriation, $100,000 139

Tolstoi on peasants and famine 174, 187, 188

Thurston, Senator and Mrs. 546

To the auxiliaries of the Red Cross 677

To the committees of the Red Cross 676

To Miss Barton, by her assistants, on dispersing 633

To the nurses of the Red Cross, tribute (Hussey) 677

To the Red Cross of Spain 663

To the people, "a word" 13

To the reader 681

Treaty in U.S., persons who gave effective help in securing 89

Treaty of the Red Cross, accession to, by U.S. 80, 85, 87, 385

TREATY OF GENEVA: Ambulances and hospitals Par. I, 57 Arms, incapacity to bear " VI, 58 Brassard, regulation concerning " VII, 58 Enemy, occupation by " III, 57 Equipment of hospitals " IV, 57 Evacuations, participants protected " VI, 58 Flag, distinct and uniform " VII, 58 Hospitals and equipments " IV, 57 Houses sheltering wounded " V, 57 Inhabitants assisting wounded " V, 57 Property, personal, of staff " IV, 57 Sick and wounded, care of " VI, 57 Staff, medical and hospital " II, 57 Wounded, delivery to outposts " VI, 57

THE "ADDITIONAL ARTICLES": Ambulances, definition of " III, 74 Boats, assisting wounded and wrecked " VI, 74 Cargo, neutrality of " X, 75 Flag, distinctive, regulations " XII, 75 Hospital ships " IX, 75 Auxiliary Red Cross vessels, regulations " XIII, 76 Military, how distinguished " XII, 75 Merchant ships " X, 75 Neutrality of vessels " IX, 75 Neutrality of cargo " X, 75 Officers, wounded, detention of " V, 75 Property of staff " VII, 74 Quartering troops " IV, 75 Red Cross, auxiliary hospital ships " XIII, 76 Sailors and soldiers, wounded " XI, 75 Salary of neutral persons " II, 74 Search, right of " X, 75 Ships, hospital " IX, 75 Auxiliary Red Cross " XIII, 76 Military " XII, 75 Staff, hospital and religious " VII, 75 On captured ships " VIII, 75 Staff, withdrawal of " I, 74 Suspension of treaty, rights of " XIV, 76 Troops, quartering of " IV, 74 Vessels, neutral " IX, 75 Wounded, detention and delivering of " V, 74 Picked up by boats " VI, 75 Sailors and soldiers protected " XI, 75

Transportation of corn by water? Answered 193

Transportation companies, generous assistance 364

Transportation, difficulties in all kinds of 583

Tribute to the Red Cross, by B.H. Warner 406

Trocha 534

Tug "Triton" 580

Typhoid epidemic, Chickamauga 502

U.

United States, action with the treaty, and additional articles 72, 80, 85, 385, 393

United States accession to treaty of the Red Cross, March 1, 1882 80

United States, tardiness in giving adhesion to treaty 36, 663

United States Senate, first action towards adhesion of treaty, May, 1881, 73

United States, thirty-second nation to adopt treaty, and first to adopt the articles of navy 86, 87

W.

Warehouse, San Jose, Havana 521, 600, 642

Wertsch, Captain P.C., letter and reply 631

Women's auxiliaries of the Red Cross relief committee, report 491

Women nurses 28, 30, 401, 411, 412, 429, 435, 436, 492, 493, 494, 590, 595, 596, 646

Women nurses, testimony of army surgeons 403, 504

Women nurses accepted by Surgeon-General 494

Women's work in foreign countries 28, 30

Wounded, all available assistance requested 593

Wood, General Leonard, military sanitary work 626

Wood, Surgeon-Major, Red Cross surgeon 646

Wounds, character of 593, 594, 595

Wounds heal rapidly 593, 594

Wounded of the "Maine" in hospital 525, 600

Wounded, working among, at the front 564, 590, 616, 646, 649

Y.

Yacht "Red Cross" 429, 559

Yellow fever in Florida, 1888 147

Yellow fever nurses, Howard Association of New Orleans 147

Yellow fever nurses declined by superintending surgeon 147

Yellow fever in Cuba 574, 650

Yellow fever, first appearance at Siboney 596

Yellow fever talk at the front and Siboney 573, 574, 617

Yellow fever scare prevents landing supplies for Cubans at Guantanamo 576, 619

Young, Miss, concerning Red Cross nurses 505

Transcriber's Notes

Inconsistencies in punctuation, especially in the index and tables, have been corrected silently.

Despite the presence of copious quoted material which may or may not reproduce errors in the originals, minor typographic and spelling errors likely due to printer's errors, have been corrected. When a lapse of spelling or grammar seems to be the author's, it is noted and retained.

An attempt is made to make consistent the spelling of the many proper names in this text, where it is clear that each reference is to a single person. As an example, the name 'De Graw' appears both with and without a space. In the Contents, the town of Jaruco appears as ‘Jaruca’ and has been corrected.

On p. 186, the word 'Czarovitch' is also spelled 'Czarowitch'. Both are retained as printed.

On p. 457, the name "Grace O. Isaaca" most likely should be "Grace G. Isaacs". A woman of that name was active in community life in Walla Walla, WA and would have been 33 at the time indicated.

On p. 513, the footnote for "brassards" is missing its symbol, which has been added.

On p. 530, a heavy black border underlining the inscription "To the dead of the Maine" is indicated as [ BLACK BORDER ]

On p. 593, the name "Mancrede" is most likely a reference to a Dr. Nancrede, mentioned in the same list of surgeons on p. 590. The name has been changed to "Nancrede".

In the Index, on p. 688, the reference to a letter from the Spanish Red Cross does not have a page reference. It may be an incomplete reference to the Diploma of Gratitude from the Red Cross of Spain on p. 592. It is left blank here as well.

In the Index and the text, mention of the "Duke of Parmella should have been "Duke of Palmella", which appears correctly elsewhere. Both have been corrected.

No systematic attempt was made to verify the accuracy of page references as printed in the index or table of contents. However, one error has been corrected. The final reference in the Contents to the section on 'Notes' was printed as p. 683. That section begins on p. 682, and has been corrected.

Other issues are noted below and their resolutions described below.

p. 18 upon its humblest ministers and assistants[.] Added.

p. 37 THE TREATY OF GENEVA.[.] Removed from caption.

p. 50 shall render the [the] useful institution Removed.

p. 53 com[m]mit[t]ees of the different nations Removed/added.

p. 60 monarchial government sic.

p. 64 rec[c]ommend Removed.

p. 68 less[o/e]n Corrected.

p. 79 p[o]eople Removed.

p. 80 theref[or/ro]m Transposed.

p. 88 Senator E. [P.] Lapham, sic. The reference is to Elbridge G. Lapham.

p. 100 th[o]roughly Added.

p. 110 organ[i]zation Added.

p. 131 the mother said ["(/("]for it was a good, strong house) Transposed.

p. 139 a grea[l/t] deal of unkind criticism Corrected.

p. 141 in the case[.] Lacking this Added.

p. 145 w[ie]rd sic.

p. 176 'Oh, right enough, God be praised!["\'] Corrected.

p. 192 From Nijni we take steamer sic.

p. 220 servic[e[able Added.

p. 222 distributers sic.

p. 229 laperotomy sic.

he go way down in de leg.["] Added.

p. 230 it[s] was hard for them Removed.

p. 238 Stuart's Point, Place[,/.] Corrected.

p. 241 ["]July 24, 1894, inspected this work Opening quote is missing. Probable start.

p. 257 c[h/l]othing Corrected. wom[e/a]n Corrected. that [come] to my assistance sic.

p. 278 accompa[in/ni]ed Transposed.

p. 293 mag[n]ificent Added.

p. 300 crossed the Bosporus[ ]to a magnificent Added.

p. 304 assem[p/b]led Corrected.

p. 306 Alexa[n]dretta Added.

p. 308 freq[n/u]ently Corrected.

p. 336 our own[,] use 500 lire--$23,000[.] Comma removed. Period added.

p. 389 ad[d]itional Added. in case of military necessity[,/.] Corrected.

p. 425 loyal[i]ty Removed.

p. 432 statu quo sic.

p. 436 transport[at]ing sic.

p. 438 Presido sic.

p. 455 p[er/re]vailing Transposed. p[er/re]vaded Transposed. San Francis[c]o Added.

p. 479 Vol[un]teers Added.

p. 480 suppl[i]es Added.

p. 491 Executive Commit[i/t]ee Corrected.

p. 496 physic[i]al Removed.

p. 515 happened [to] it? Added.

p. 537 Sagua La Grando sic.

p. 538 coll[e]agues Added.

p. 545 M. Sr. J. Palacios [z/y] Airoso Corrected.

p. 574 the surrender of Santi[a]go Added.

p. 583 a large [c/s]hip was seen Corrected.

p. 596 dou[b]tful Added.

p. 600 occur[r]ed Added.

p. 619 s[ei/ie]ge Transposed.

p. 634 this fact was discovered[,] by the committee Removed.

p. 651 accompa[in/ni]ed Transposed. Mr. Micha[e]lsen Added.

p. 656 responsibil[i]ty Added.

p. 664 Duke of Pa[r/l]mella Corrected.

p. 666 us[u]ages Removed.

p. 703 Chic[k]amauga Added.

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