The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-20
HYATT FINDS A WAY.
Red Cross Agent Succors Cubans in
Spite of BIanco.

New York, Sept. 2O.-When Stephen
| Barton, chairman of the central relief
| committee 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
| American National Red Cross, and Red
Cross Agent Hyatt at Key West, had
| solved the knotty problem of supplying
Cubans with provisions problem
which had been too difficult for Miss
Clara Barton and which caused her to
gteV up her work in Cuba and return
to the United States
Miss Barton, it will be remembered,
was told that she could not land
cargo of supplies in Havana without
first paying a duty of 900 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 intimidated by the big de-
mands of the Spaniards, nor held in
check by a mere formal thing like
protocol. He learned that the Cubans
were starving faster and faster and he
informed Mr. Barton's office that he
could get the $50 tons of supplies on the
NOkomis into Cuban ports if he had the
authority to do so. Mr.. Barton being
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. McKinley's
policy of humanity for humans by
sending supplies into small Cuban sea
port towns. Unfortunately his methods
were of a sort not wholly sanctioned by
publicists.
in Ia
vana and the smaller sea coast towns. |
He knew his ground and he went at
this work in a business-Iixe awy- So |
far as is known, he did not consult MISS
Clara Barton or anybody else excepting |
Mr. Schieren.
Mr. Hyatt met with such signal sue
cess in his first attempt at smuggling !
goods into Cuba in divers small VeSS6aS !
that when he got rid of the NOkOmis' |
cargo he was so highly elated that he |
determined to make a, call on Mr.. |
Schieren to suspend the operation OF |
the protocol. So he cabled Mr.. Barton's |
office again, saying that the govern |
ment transport COmal, laden with re- /
lief supplies had returned to Key West, !
and that if the supplies were turned
over to him he could land and distribute
them on the north coast of Cuba with
out the payment of any duty at an
This cablegram unfortunately Tor the
hungry Cubans fell into the hands OF
Mr. Barton. He straightway cabled
to find out how Mr. Hyatt could do all
this by himself, when the president or
the United States and Miss Clara Bar
ton could not manage it together MI
Hvatt's explanation is still awaited.
Mr. Barton also wired Treasurer
Schieren, who is in Washington, tell
ing him what Mr.. Hyatt wanted to DO
and asking him to investigate the mat
ter and make a report. The Comal be
ing a government transport and her
cargo being also the property Of Uncle
Sam. Mr.. Barton did not see how ne
could turn it over to Mr.. Hyatt. Mr..
Barton said that if there was any
prospect of entering goods in Cuba free
in the near future. the San Antonio,
with her 500 tons of supplies, would be
sent at once to Key West and held IN
badness to go to the rescue OF the
starving Cubans.
Treasurer Schieren went to Washing
zon Saturday to see Miss Barton and 1t
IS probable that the two had confer
ance with President Mckinley
Mr.. Schieren will return today ana
report the result of his visit. After this
: preliminary conference will be held J
between Mr.. Stephen Barton, Joseph
Sheldon. George w. BOldt and others
IF the Red Cross executive committee,
with a view to calling a general meet
ne of the Red Cross and Cuban RELIEF
officers to determine what steps shall
be taken in the matter of supplying
God to the Cubans, for it is pretty Wei |
settled in Mr. BartOn's mind that IL IS |
rot good policy to continue in the course
IF the present Red Cross agent at Key
West.