The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-21
SMUGGLED INTO CUBA
HOW RED CROSS AGENT EyADED
DUTIES ON PROVISIONS.
Spanish Laws Ignored In Order that
proved by the BartOns.

NEW YORK, Sept. 2O.-When Stephen E.
Barton, chairman of the Central Cuban Re-
lief Commission and chairman of the Red
Cross executive committee, returned from
a vacation to his Office in this city he
learned that during his absence Charles A.
Schieren, treasurer Of the Ameaican Ma
tional Red Cross and Red Cross Agent
Hyatt, at Key West had solved the knotty
problem of supplying Cubans with provi-
sions-a problem which had proved too diff
cult for Miss Clara Barton and which
caused her to give up her work in Cuba and
return to the United States Miss Barton
it will remembered was told that she could
not land a cargo of supplies in Havana
without first paying a duty of $4,000 to the
Spanish authorities. She refused to do this
and returned to Florida, bringing some of
her supplies with her. Leaving these to be
distributed among Cuban refugees she went
to her home, in Washington. and has been
there ever since
Red Cross Agent Hyatt, however, was
not to be intimdated by the big demands
of the Spaniards nor held in check by
mere formal thing like a protocol. He
learned that the Cubans were starving
faster and faster. and he Informed Mr..
Barton's office that he could get the $50
ports if he only had the authority TO do So
Mr. Barton being away, the matter was re-
ferred to Treasurer Schieren. Mr.. Schieren
thought it would be all right to help the
Cubans if possible, and told Agent Hyatt
TO go ahead. Agent Hyatt went ahead In
the name of the American National Red
Cross and backed up by the authority of
Mr. Schieren, Mr. Hyatt proceeded to carry
out Mr.. McKinleys policy of humanity for
humans by sending goods into small Cuban
seaport towns Unfortunately his methods
were of a sort not wholly sanctioned by
publicists.
Mr.. Hyatt had done business for Havana
and the smaller seacOast towns. He knew
his ground and he went at this work in a
buSinesS-like way. So FAR as is known, he
did not consult Miss Clara Barton nor any
body else, excepting Mr.. Schieren. Mr..
Hyatt met with such signal success in his
first attempt a smuggling goods into Cuba
III olveis Small steamers tnat Wnen ne got
rid of the Nokomis's cargo he was so highly
elated that he determined to make call
on Mr.. Schieren to suspend the operation of
the protocol. So he cabled Mr.. Barton's
office again, saying that the government
transport Comai. laden with relief supplies,
had returned to Key West and that if the
land and distribute them on the north coast
of Cuba without the payment of duty at ALL
This cablegram unfortunately for the hun
cry Cubans. fell into the hands of Mr.. Bar
ton. He Straightway sent cablegram to
find out how Mr.. Hyatt could do all this by
himself, when the President of the United
States and Miss Clara Barton could not
manage it together. Mr.. Hyatt's explana-
ton is still awaited.
Mr.. Barton also wired Treasurer Schieren.
who is in Washington. telling him what Mr..
Hyatt wanted to do and asking him to in
vestgate the matter and make a report.
The Comal being a government transport,
ard her cargo being also the property of
Uncle Sam. Mr. Barton did not see how he
could turn 1t over to Mr. Hyatt. Mr.. Bar
ton said that if there was any prospect of
entering goods in Cuba free in the near flu
ture the San Antonio. with her eight hun
dred tons of supplies, would be sent at once
to Key West and held in readiness to go
to the rescue of the starving Cubans. Treas
urer Schieren went to Washington Satur-
day to see Miss Barton, and it is probable
that the two had conference with Presi-
dent Mckinley. Mr.. Scnieren will return
to-day and report the result of his visit.
After this a preliminary conference will be
held between Messrs Stephen A. Barton.
Joseph Sheldon, George w. Roldt and 9TH
ers of the Red Cross executive committee,
with a view to calling a general meeting of
Red Cross and Cuban relief officers to de-
termine what steps shall be taken in the
matter of supplying food to the Cubans,
for it is pretty well settled in Mr.. Barton's
mind that it is not good policy to continue
in the course of the present Red Cross
agent at Key West.