New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-21
THE SENECA AT QUARANTINE.
HELD BY DR.. DOTY. OWING TO SUS-
PICIOUs CASES OF ILLNESS ON BOARD.

FILTHY CoNDITioN-No PRO
VISION FOR THE SICK.
The United States transport Seneca. Captain
Decker. six days from siboney. with ninety nine
sick and wounded soldiers and forty eight pas
sengers. arrived at Quarantine at 1920 o'clock
yesterday morning. The transport was mme-
datey boarded by DR.. Doty. the Health Ofiicer.
who made an examination Of the sick and or
dered the vessel detained the investigation
showed fourteen suspicious cases OF fever on
board DR.. Doty said that the illness was not
we'll marked. and that 1t might not be yellow
fever He was unwilling to take any chances
however. and the fourteen patients were re-
moved to SwInburne Island for observation
Late in the afternoon the steamboat Fidelity
Of the Charities Department went to Quaran-
tine to move other patients who required surgi-
cal attention to Bellevue Hospital. On board
were President John w. Keller and several doc
tors and nurses, with medical equipment. The
Fidelity was taken alongside the Seneca ana
thirty-fve patients and immunes were taken on
board
The Ward Line tug ~ 3. Starbuck also
brought some fresh meat vegetables and Ice.
The complete list Of those sent TO Swinourhe
Island includes six patients and eight suspects
Among
wasJ G. Coolidge. of the Boston family OF that
name. Mr. Coolidge had yellow fever IN Brazi'
several wears ago. and is considered immune.
While attempting to jump on board the s'ea'h-
boat Mr.. Coolidge fell overheard. but was
promptly hshed out. nothing the worse lot the
duckIng. Mr.. Coolidge says that he has many
friends among the Rough Riders. ana merely
went to Santiago to see the fun
ALL UNDER OBSERVATION.
All Of the other persons who came OH ''e
Seneca. except the crew and officers. were re-
moved to Hoffman's Island The crew ana ON
GERS remain on board This arrangement places
the entire number OF those who came on the
Seneca under observation
Dr. Doty said yesterday that 1t would take
from twenty four to forty-eight hours to deter
mine the exact nature Of the fever. he also
said that the Seneca would be thoroughly dis
infected and washed from top to bottom, as she
is one Of the dirtiest vessels that has ever ar
rived at Quarantine. The ship mas not peeh
cleaned since she carried the first load OF soldiers
to Cuba When originally built she was IN
tended for freight and had only few INFERIOR
cabins for passengers. When transformed the
ship was designed for carrying troops. ana was
In no way fitted for hospital ship.
The passengers were already on Dodiu WIZ"
the sick and wounded men were received at
Siboney and the arrival Of the latter caused
CONSERVATION on the vessel. There were no medi-
cines dressings or surgical instruments OH
hoard and nurses and doctors were also lack
ing Drs. Hicks and Bird. assistant surgeons
of the ship and one nurse tried TO do all IN
their power to aay the suffering but they were
handicapped by lack Of the necessary articles
for effective work.
On the first day out from Siboney the pas
sengers assert that the little Ice on BOARD the
Seneca gave out. and many were made i'll by
drinking the bad water IN the tanks Some OF
those already Ill became dellrious. The steam
ship between decks, was filthy and not nj Tor
human habitation. The hunks were built OF
rough boards. The passengers said that noth-
ing could be done to prevent the accommodating
of filth The vessels capacity was taxed to its
utmost.
CABINS GIVEN UP TO THE WOUNDED
The wounded were packed into the steerage
as fast as they came aboard at Siboney. and
those Of the passengers who had cabins gave
them up and slept on deck. II was said yester-
day that the only passengers who refused TO
make way for the wounded were H. Enver
Pacha, military representative OF the Turkish
Army and his suite All through the voyage
these men retained their staterooms. while
many Of the wounded were forced to lie out on
the decks
Fifty Of the sick lay in the hold. with moth
ing but blankets and canvas under them. The
old bandages were not changed from the time
they were applied at Siboney. twelve days be-
fore the Seneca reached this port.
Miss Jeanette Jennings. a member Of the Red
Cross. warmly praised by the passengers
for her good work on the voyage AS soon as
she noted the condition of affairs she sum-
moned dozen or more passengers TO her aid'
and together they set about nursing the SICK
Those with fever were removed to the more COM
Portable positions on the deck. and arrange
ments were made In the engine-room FOR distii-
ling water for the patients 10 drink. The pas
sengers said the food was coarse but plentiful,
and the women on board managed TO prepare
simple dishes for the fever patients.
TESTIMONIAL TO MISS JENNINGS.
The following letter signed by all the pas
sengers on board the Seneca and presented to
Miss jennings
The undersigned United States officers and other
passengers on board Of the steamship seneca, re,
turning from Siboney Cuba full of sick and
wounded men from the Santiago campaign; have
observed with admiration the heroic and sell sac
rlfcng manner IN which you have cared for the
suffering We have seen how unremittng you
have been I'm your attention to the sick and wound
ed which were put board the steamer without
the most ordinary provision for their care and com
fort. We have seen how at the outset you took
Pains to procure from the steamer State or Texas
needed supplies which they otherwise would have
been without and have been witnesses TO your
devotion In preparing food for them. IN watching
for their wants In administering medicine and
making them rs comfortable possible We cam
not this trying Journey come 10 an end with
out giving you some expression OF admiration Tor
your conduct and our hope that your devotion Will
meet with fitting reward
Among the passengers on the Seneca were
Colonel Yermsloff. Russian Army officer: H.
Enver Pacha Turkish Army; Lieutenant Akly-
ANA. japanese Navy; Lieutenant Abilgaard.
Norwegian Navy.
In referring to the danger Of yellow fever be-
ing brought North. DR.. Doty said