The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-15
NURSES H SANTIAGO
Some ofthe Narrowing Things
They See and Hear.
CASE OF PERSONAL SPITE
Which Yellow Journals Would
Probably Call Algerism.

Santiago. Sept. 4. 1Sss-we are not ex-
actly taking boarders" in TIE Nurses
Home. but our family has lately been
augmented by two young soldiers. it
came about in this way: One day a
Michigan corporal came 70 beg us 70 take
into our house the captain and lieutenant
OF his company. He said they were both
very SICK. out in camp. wnere they were
lying OF the ground under leaky pup
tents" with no attendance but such as
he was able 20 give them in his hours of
duty. With tears in nis eyes, he added
that, besides their bodily ailments which
were serious enough. both of the officers
were so homesick and respondent that
unless some change came speedily
they would surely die. II We would only
give them shelter and the atmosphere Of
2 home for a week or two. he would see
that rations and cook were furnished
and a man detailed to take care Of me
invalids when he himself was on duty.
Well what would you have done in such
case? The whole upper floor of our big
casa. with several airy chambers. we're
unocupied. as the nineteen nurses pre-
ferred 10 sleep below. barrack fashion.
close together. Every instinct Of kindness
prompted the granting of the request
But We reflected that hundreds of other
men were sick unto death in the camps
unable 10 get into the crowded hospitals.
It would never DO to turn the Nurses
Home into an asylum for sick soldiers;
would il be wise to set up a precedent
By taking in these? Fortunately for the
feelings Of all concerned, it happened that
two convalescents were about to be dis
charged from the water-side hospital.
The captain and lieutenant were a once
established in the vacated cots, and made
SO comfortable under Miss Wheeler's
gentle ministrations that both mended
rapidly and in due course were discharged
70 make room for others. This led to two
things-a pleasant acquaintance with the
young Michiganders (the Oldest of the
trio is not yet 24,)and an unquiet con-
science concerning those spacious cham
bers of ours-going to waste, so to say.
While Uncle Samuels boys In the pesti-
lential camps were lying on the wet
ground and dying for lack Of comforts
Therefore we lent a reader ear when
the little corporal came with another tale
of woe. This time he wanted shelter for
his particular friend and chum, whose
story was as follows; The boy was only
twenty, and the possessor Of a fortune so
large that its income amounted to about
300 month. When the call for volunteers
came he was travelling, with his mother
and sisters, in Europe, and came home
70 enlist as a private. He carried slim-
self well through the fight. escaped with
out a scratch, and nobody ever heard him
complain of the hardships OF campaign
Ing. Afterwards. during weeks Of idle
ness in the dreary camp. three miles from
Santiago he came into town one day
without the formality of a pass OF
course. this was contrary to rule: but IS
done every day by hundreds of soldiers,
and nothing is said about Il. Unfortun-
stely, an officer of the company-a gro
Gerry clerk from tsle same Michigan town
cherished a grudge against the youthful
millionaire. born OF jealousy. because OF
the latter's superior position at home.
The. officer saw his pet aversion" cut
without a pass and had him arrested.
Fne penalty inflicted was a severe one,
Under the ciTcumstances-to work two
NeChS Win tile gang VINO were cleaning
the streets Of Santiago. The cleaning
brigade is mostly made up Of the off
securing az the country-negToes,C Chinese
Cubans, sneakthieves from the ialls and
criminals Of all degrees and colors The
poor fellow began his punishment bravely
enough, but the shame Of 81, the horrible
stenches Of the cutters and the course
prison fare soon made him i'll. His hands.
unused ID labor. became a mass Of blisters
and working in the heat of the day
brought on fever.
A PECULIARLY Of the local calentura is
that il goes 70 the head" particularly
when the patient is exposed to the noon
CAV sun. The officer however. declared
that the boy was only shamming. or
drunk, and ordered him TO the guard
house There he lay several DAYS. alter
nately shivering with chlls and scorc4ed
hy fever, without food or medicine; and
there he would probably have died. had
not MS friend the little corporal. sought
him out and Interested some higher power
IN his behalf. When the sufferer was re-
leased, slis wits seemed hopelessly gone.
Ills friend nursed him as best ne could
out in camp, and after the fever subsidized
reason in measure returned. But now
the poor fellow brooded upon hIs dis
grace and the dreaded mai de pias Choma
Eickness) which has killed many a brave