Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-08-18
THE RED CROSS AT WORK.
(By Rev. Peter Mcqueen in The Congre
gationalist)

Torrey NJ. ID. The Relief was formerly
the John Englis, plying between New
York and Portland. The War Depart
ment had her fitted up as n floating hos
pital. It was an idea of Assistant Secre-
tary Meklcjohn. and was a success.
At the time of my visit there werc $50
men on the ship, mostly the wounded of
tho regular army. The regulars had made
the most splendid stands and charges,
consequently many of them were wound
ed.
The wounds / saw were mostly leg and
head wounds. One of the doctors told
me this was because the chaparral was so
thick at the hight OF a mans shoulder
us to form a shield. BY a close eXamina.
ton of the chaparral I found this state
mcnt to be imaginary The wounds just
happened so. Brass bullets did not pois-
on, and the Mauser made a clean small
wound.
on board this ship there were elegant
baths, cool and convenient. fitted with
the Gegcnstrom system, the most scien-
titc In the world. Tub and shower baths
were given and the sweet sea air blew in.
There was also an ice manufacturer with
4 capacity of two tons a day. Tho water
used on the ship is made from the sea by
distillation and then aerated to give 1t
vieor Then ice Ia put into II, or II lemon.
and YOU have splendid drink. | tried 1t
and found it delicious This was the water
they gave the patients on the Relief.
There are ten Bellevue men nurses and
six women nurses on the ship. The watt
crs are Japanese. one told me he was a
student at Yale.
a disinfecting machine and a splendid
laundry, with the most scientific append
ages known, n plentiful supply of mcdi-
cines and medical tools and appliances
make this ship the equal OF the best land
hospitals
l talked to these men from the regular
army. They were really very intelligent
fellows As sat on the bedside of an
1rlsEman from Cork, Il German from
Heidelberg and negro from Alabama
joined in the conversation. They are all
proud of their wounds, their regi-
ments, each other and themselves. Thin
Spanards foisht like Apaches." said the
lrishm1n. 81 Kills a sharpshootor." said
the German 'he vas up nit a cocoa-nut
tree. puts two bullets in him. and he
falls shocst like a bear" added my in
formant with a CLEAN Of satisfaction. II
don't want to frow flowers at my rori-
ment,' the colored man began. but If II
hedn't bin fur de Tenth Cavalry de Rough
Riders would "a bin massacred all right
We hain't de Tenth Cavalry no more:
we'sc Jest done gone and become Rough
Riders, all of us"
I stayed on the ship and slept in the
ward. Three operations were performed.
one poor lad moancd all night; another
died. and We carried him ashore and bur
led him beneath the palms
As we were lying around the campfire
one night I asked n trooper of the Tenth
Cavalry who he thought was the most
heroic acter of the wat. He took an Old.
/ black pipe out Of his mouth and remark
cd: THAT there little old woman av the
Rid Cross. Her names Miss Baron or
| l'larton or somcthin l seed her accom-
in through mud two fut deep" I learn
fat
ton had gone from Sboney to Division
Hospital, a distance of six miles. They
walked part of the way and rode on Il hay
wagon the rest.
Dr.. Stcrnberg Of tho regular army had
said when the Rcd Cross first offered its
| aid, I'VE are amply prepared for every
! thing" But on July 3 a note came to
Miss Parton from Skaters headquarters
asking help. Miss Barton stayed ten or
twelve days at the hospital helping the
entire army. There were three wards
the fever the yellow fever and the
wounded wards. There were 1000 sick
Mt this time Mrs. Gardner and Miss Bar
Barton gave to the sick men daily TWEEN
| ~ gallons of Cruel. fifteen gallons of rice
ten gallons of matted milk, five gallons Of
/ cocoa. ten gallons cf apple juice and some
prune juice lines. pine apple and dried ap-
pie souce. They mixed and cooked
night and day, and the army nurses took
the good things to the sick men. These
devoted ladies helped the Spanish wound
cd ut the front and on the Harvard
When 1 called on Miss Barton she was
in her littlc Office on the Quai at Santa
go. The great ship State Of Texas was
unloading nj the dock. Not only were
starving Cuhans there. but | noticed Col.
| Roosevelt, General Ludlow and General
| Wood now military governor Of Sa'Iti-
! aeol all looking for corn mas,, 5icu, milk
| a he ri ba
famous vessel to give to their sick.
thought Miss Barton looked more active
than when | saw her in Constantinop,o
two years ago
Some one told mo tho other day" said
the sweet. little old lady. that the Red
Cross was the only organized body on this
4 Held. General Shlftcr has sent asking me
to give rations for the army. am not
really allowed To do SO: but II the govern
mcnt acknowledges ii ! am only too glad
TO help. Tho commissary seems utterly
inefficient. If it cannot get food in to this
handful of men. what would it do with
an army like that of the civil War;
The next ! saw of this wonderful wo-
man she was among the stevedores on the
pier, talking kindly to wounded officer.
giving directions To the men. or assuring
some general that she would send rice and
| milk to his sick soldiers. Before leaving
she gave me- the following facts: This
| snip mas lt''' IONS ol ITbNlSluts, Wnltn
we have landed in three days. We expect
| 5000 or 1900 tons moro. They are given
/ by individuals, hut President Mckinley
chartered the ship, and when the block
ade hogan he asked me to take it, load it
and get into Cuba when the war should
have opened the place. After two months
floating this Is the first port we have been
ah!e to enter. We came in on Sunds V
night, the day of the surrender. Admiral
Sampson sent W. word that the mines
were all lifted, and he wished us II enter
/ first of all. As we sailed past the Moro
! n little black boat came along near us,
but quickly changed its course. l did not
know what II meant, but later learned
that 1t was II newspaper boat trying to
get in first. and that Sampson had sent
/ "A greyhound after il to check il.
| 80 We sailed into the beautiful harbor:
| he sun was sinking amid those splendid
hills with rich cloud colors. On we came
alone. a black ship bringing comfort. All
was quiet; few lights began to CLINT: no
! other ships in port; some one suggested
to sing; the people on the Texas began,
! Praise God from whom all blessings
flow 1t showed how full their hearts
We're"
| Her closing words were: IT think
| Cuba will govern herself well in time.
like the Cubans better as l know them
| better"