New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-13
NEGLECT or THE WOUNDED
A SHOCKING STORY FROM AN OBSERVER
BACK FROM THE FRONT.
,,.s,.r,,c,rxr PREPARATION RESULTED IN TER
RrpLr SUFFERING AFTER THE E'ohriS"
BETORE SANTIAGO.

INSUFFICIENT PREPARATION RESULTED ~ '""
,,o,r s,.rrrKrNd AFTER THE FIGHTING
BEFORE SANTIAGO.
r.m,a Fla. July 10 (Spec'aD-When inc
army OF invasion left this port. some "c'"'
ago military men who had seen ser'"e WI"
dered at the small size Of the ambulance co'p'
which had accompanied the expedition III"
mediately after the skirmlsh OF the lst 'o.'
unteer Cavalry. better known az me Hous"
Riders, there came a telegram from MAJOR
General Shafter, asking for more ampulanceS'
more surgeons and more medical supplies
These were hurried of at once and IL was ap-
parent that a mistake had been made III NOT
providing more thoroughly against poss'p'e
emergencies. This mistake became stu more
apparent after the battles in front Of Santiago
on June 30 and July and .
From newspaper correspondent who reached
here last night on the transport Cherokee wnicn
brought back nearly three hundred ana nt'y
wounded enlisted men, the writer learned addi-
tionaI facts, which tend to prove that some one
has Numbered. The facts. as related ny the
man referred to. show that deplorable condi-
ton OF affairs existed In the American camp
near Santiago I'D to and including July 4, when
the Cherokee started north.
Il was at the 'front.'" said this correspondent
during the fighting on July and 2 and what-
ever the errors that may have been made In the
conduct OF those battles they lose Vaiue as
compared with the inefficency In the handiins
OF the wounded. both shore and on the way
home. In the first place. no apparent eHor'
was made to relieve the sufferings or the me"
who fell on the field. l don't say that the le"
surgeons who were there did not work. Tor they
did. and they worked like heroes But they
were unable. from mere lack OF numbers 10
attend to all the cases.
ION the night OF July I was forced 10 re-
tire to the shore, because OF Illness anu 'he
sights that met my eyes as trudged aiohs '"'
road made an impression that VIII never cali
never be forgotten. On my way passed. nun
dreds Of men who had been woundeo orass'ns
themselves along. many OF them on their "a"u'
and knees each step adding to their agony anu
,essenine their chances OF recovery. Enlisted
men. some Of them bleeding from puiie' "'u"u''
could be seen carrying their officers, who were
more seriously hurt, and all along the rou'e
were others whose injuries were too severe to
hermit them continuing their journey without
assistance. The little stream which crosses the
rood rear S,bonev was absolutely red with the
blood of men who had stopped to rest them
pitiful almost beyond description
AS fast as these unfortunate fellows reacneo
the hospital they were cared for. but the ac
commodations were overtaxed. and Gehera'
Shafter then decided to send away all VINO were
able to stand the voyage Looking at II III Inc
light of what happened after the return Trip "e
gan, 1t seems as IL 1t would have peen Hioio
humane to have kept them there Tor the co'l-
ditions on the Cherokee were sucn as 10 re'aro'
instead Of hasten, the recovery or the poor le'
lows who were sent aboard her. In the first
place. the hold Of the ship gave forth the most
disgusting odors from the bgewater when mao
been collecting in her for the last month. Iheh
the decks Of the ship were oVercrowdeo WIN
wounded men. Verse than all, the medicai at
tendance was grossly insufficient. For the three
hundred and fifty men on board there was only
one surgeon and three or four hospital stewards
When / tell you that in one day this surgeon
made 40 redressings, you Will see that ne had
a greater burden than he should have had
MANY Of his cases were so serious that amputa-
tons may be necessary to save the lives OF his
patients and the overcrowding Of the vessel
made the existence OF all Of them almost un-
bearable
mo provision had been made for the COM
fort Of the poor fellows, and probably fourth
OF them were without blankets, and many or
them without even clothing sufficient to cover
their nakedness. The hot days In Cuba had
caused them to throw away their blankets. and
numbers Of them had lost their clothing In the
battles with the Spaniards On the way here
the supply Of bandages became exhausted and
for this reason the sufferings OF all were un-
necessarily increased by some ones negligence.
I don't care to locate the blame, but somebody
In authority will have a great crime to answer
FOR Union tho day Of reckoning comes"
When the Cherokee was tied to her pier a
large number Of surgeons we're on hand to care
for the wounded men and make them comfort
able for their ride northward on the ambulance
trains which In waiting. In squads OF
fourteen the men were sent from the ship. their
wounds dressed and good food issued to them.
The work was well and promptly done and
within a few hours the journey to Fort McPher-
son was begun.