The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-13

Colonel f.. II. Ripple, a member Of
Governor Hastings staff, returned to
the city yesterday from New York,
where, with Governor Hastings he re-
ceived the Pennsylvania soldiers who
returned from Porto Rico on the trans
ports Berlin and OLDHAM. There were
nearly one hundred Pennsylvanans,
most OF them returning home to re-
cuperate from Illness contracted in
Porto Rico.
Colonel Ripple met Governor Hast
ings in Jersey City, Tuesday morning,
by appointment. With the governor
was DR.. M. S. French, of Philadelphia,
general secretary of the Relief Commits
sion, which has done such splendid
work for the soldiers. The trio pro-
Ceeded to the armory building at the
foot of Broadway, New York city, and
there learned that the transport Ber-
lin had just arrived and was at the foot
of Twenty-sixth street. East river
Through the courtesy OF Major APP
pei, who has charge of the soldiers go
ing from and returning to the country.
they were sent around to the slip where
the Berlin lay on the dispatch boat
Fletcher. When they arrived at the
transport they found that the nurses
and agents of the Relief commission had
preceded them and provided the sol
diers with milk and such food as could
with safety be given to invalids and
convalescents.
WE'LL CARED FOR.
1t was seen that the transport was
not overcrowded and the soldiers said
they had received proper medical at
tention and fairly good food on the
trip home. Their statements seemed
to be borne out by the condition of the
men. Although most OF the soldiers
We're more or less sick when they left
Porto Rico, they arrived in New York
I in a better condition than might have
been expected. Only q few We're so i'll
that they could not be moved, and the
number that had to be taken to hos
pitfalls was small.
Governor Hastings. Colonel Ripple
and DIR. French obtained a list of the
Pennsylvanians on board the transport,
about thirty all told. and had them
removed to the dispatch boat. They
were carried around to the army build
ing and the governor then by tele-
| graph informed the relatives of the
| men of their safe arrival, condition and
when they might be expected home.
While he was thus engaged Colonel
Ripple was busy getting the men their
| furloughs, transportation, etc. This
work was rushed through as rapidly as
! possible and the men started for their
| homes.
At s O'Clock in the afternoon word
| reached the army building that the
| Obdam was at quarantine and the gov
/
| dispatch boat. 1t was reported that
smallpox had broken out on the trans
port and it was feared the men might
| be detained at quarantine for some
time. Happily this report proved to
| be- entirely untrue. There was but q
small amount of serious illness among
the soldiers. Nearly all of them were III
such condition that they could be
moved from the transport at once and
only a few of these were in such con-
ditiOn as would make it necessary to
take them to q hospital
REMOVED FROM TRANSPORT.
| After the number Of PennsylvanianS
| on board was ascertained they We're re-
| moved from the transport and taken to
the army building. whore they were
| provided with comfortable quarters
for the night. Yesterday morning the
work Of obtaining furloughs and trans
| pOrtatiOn for them was attended to,
and before the day closed all of the
Pennsylvanians We're en- route for their
homes with the exception Of the few
| who had to be left on the transports
| or removed to their homes. Colonel
! Ripple said yesterday:
Il talked with almost all of the
| Pennsylvanians and did not hear any
complaints from them about their
treatment in Porto Rico. Many of
them spoke IN praise of the way they
were treated on the homeward trip.
presume that when the first movement
Of troops from Cuba and Porto Rico
took place many of the transports
were overcrowded but such conditions
do not exist now and those who have
relatives returning from the southern
islands need have no uneasiness CON
cerniug them. They will be well cared
for"
Besides looking after the pennsyl-
Vanians the Governors party also car
ed for many soldiers from Ohio. Illinois
and Wisconsin who returned on the
two transports.
No governor of the United states
has shown such n great solicitude fOr
the welfare of the soldiers from his
state as Governor Hastings. His
prompt action in every emergency has
made the soldiers. especially the in
Valids, mora comfortable than they
otherwise would be ana many lives
have unloubtedlv hcen saved by rea-
son of his thoughtfulness and prompt
action.