The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1898-04-01

She had numerous conferences with
the State Department on the subject,
and the Government officials recogniz-
ed the necessity for food, clothing and
medical treatment on the war-cursed
island.
Then a Central Relief Committee,
consisting of Stephen e. Barton, neph-
ew of Miss Clara Barton, and repre-
senting the Red Gross; Charles A.
Schieren and Louis Klopsch of the
Christian Herald, were appointed to act
under the direction of the Department
of State.
Appeals were al once sent out to
the Governors of the different States,
Mayors of cities and other officials for
money and supplies to be distributed
in Havana under the supervision OF
General Fitzhugh Lee.
The response, both on the part of in
dividuals and organizations, was i'm
mediate and generous. Railroads and
steamship lines co-operated with the
contributors, and from all parts of
the country provisions and articles of
clothing were transported free of
charge to New York, which became the
central depot for supplies, although a
few things were sent by way of Flori-
da. Free transportation was also fur
nished from New York to Cuban ports
by the steamship lines.
Miss Barton went to Havana to es-
tablish hospitals, and to carry relief
to the sick and starving Cuban mothers
and their children. She carried with
her letters of introduction and COM
mendation from the .. Department of
State and from President Mckinley to
Consul General Lee, also letter from
the Spanish Minister at Washington,
expressing the full approval of her mis-
sion by the Spanish Government.
The Christian Herald had already, at
General Lees request sent 100 beds for
children suffering from the effects of
hunger and neglect, and had authorized
the Consul General to hire twenty-five
nurses at SIS per month. So that when
Miss Barton arrived she found that a
good start had been made toward def
mite and systematic relief.
The Spaniards have great respect
for the Red Cross, the Queen Regent
herself being a member, and Miss Bar
ton and her assistants can go in safety
anywhere on the island.
1t is none too soon if any Cubans are
to be left alive on the island. Almost
half million are known to have per-
ha of
yet alive is more deplorable than that
of their brothers and sisters who have
given over the struggle and have end
ed their sufferings in death.
The United States sanitary inspector
in Havana is authority for the state
ment that "all home products were
consumed months ago." In their ex-
tremity the people have lost all sense
of delicacy or sensitiveness. They
will eat anything that will appeasa
their craving for food. Cats are
much sought after as an article of food
in some districts, but even they are too
expensive for the poor, a cat having
market value of about thirty cents.
The relief committee has been send
ing beans, rice, condensed milk, flour
and potatoes. The latter are especial
ly priced by the famished Cubans and
lard is delicacy which they seize
upon with eager relish. AS soon as it
is known that help is being given at
any place haggard, listless, bony wo-
men come with their starving, sad
eyed babies in their arms, hundreds
and thousands Of them at time.
Sometimes they faint or die before
their turn comes. Sometimes there is
not enough to go around, and they go
away despairing. Those who have not
died of actual starvation are now fall
ing victims to smallpox. malaria, fever
and other diseases produced by lack of
sufficient food and deplorable sanitary
conditions, and the greater nuEnber of
these victims are the unoffending wo-
neE and children.