The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-08
THE WOUNDED
Brought to Key West, hut Are All Anx-
ious to Go Back.


Key West July THE 1926 wounded
heroes of Santiago brought here by the
Iroquois are doing well and no one
is in danger. They are distributed be-
tween the Marine and Convent hospi-
tai and an unusued cigar factory which
had been previously fitted for such
purposes. All officers and some of the
men are quartered at the Convent hos
pital, where the nuns are doing fine
service as nurses. At all places the
utmost care and careful medical and
surgical attention are devoted to the
wounded men.
These wounded warriors, returning
to their native soil after the glorious
achievements in the field, were, strange
to say, received in rather peculiar
fashion. Their landing would have
been commonplace had it not been gro
tesque. The Iroquois entered the har-
Dor about 5 o'clock and, through some
bodys negligence, went aground on a
sand bar, where she remained for three
hours, a brace of government tugs
struggling to free her, while from the
rails of the stranded vessel peered faces
of wounded men, anxious once more
to step on American soil. Eventually
the vessel slid off and was docked.
News of her arrival brought to the
dock a motley crowd of curiosity seek
ers, mostly Cubans. There was not a
sign of enthusiasm, even among those
very persons for whom the disabled
soldiers had received their hurts-not
a cheer. not a handicap. 1t was ex-
actly as if one of the regular steamers
had arrived on day trip and was dis
charging her ordinary oranges. There
was no gang plank, and the wounded
were obliged to Chamber down the lad
ders as best they could to get ashore.
All the ambulances in town had been
A,-au oh int htpf in Cnif Of
their frequent and hurried trips, filled
to the last inch, the provision was en-
tirely inadequate. In consequence
many of the men had no other resource
than to walk four blocks to the horse
car, in which they were Jostled to the
hospital at the other end of the town.
The sight of the stalwart fellows.
blackened by the tropical sun, bruised
and scratched by Cuban jungles and
wrapped in bandages which covered
but did not conceal their wounds as
they shambled and staggered along the
rugged roads, had in it much pathos
and perhaps tragedy.
1t was IL o'clock before the last of
them had safely disembarked. Most of
these suffered from rife shot wounds
in the arms or hands. About 80 9TH
| ers, whose injuries are in the lower
| part of their bodies, had to be carried
to the street cars. Fifteen who are suf-
| fering from a mild attack of measles
were left on board the steamer and will
| probably be taken back to Cuba when
the Iroquois returns,
The debarkayon was not completed
until early yesterday morning. Most
| of these men laugh at their wounds.
| They want to go back, for they have
| tasted real fighting and are hungry for
| more.
Damn it," said one, 81 had to stay
| back. They had nothing to fight with
| They talk of the two days bloody Oat-
| tie in the most unconcerned way imag-
| Unable. One man was struck by Maui
| ser bullet while in the act of firing his
revolver. The ball struck his right
| forearm between wrist and elbow. 1t
| went straight through the forearm.
| then penetrated the upper arm, struck
| his right side and went through his
| body, coming out at the left side.
| Strange TO say, but he swears he will
| make his way back TO Cuba and score
at least 10 dead Spaniards for each of
| his gashes.
All are loud in their praises of the
| fighting qualities of the Spanish troops.
| but say their losses must be enormous.
| OF our own dead and wounded extray-
agalt figures are given by many. but
| conservative figures place the wounded
| for the two days at between 1000 and
| 1.20O. perhaps 300 of whom were killed.
At the hospital suits OF pajamas were
served to the soldiers. and they lounge
| about the rooms in the airy garments,
| reading the latest newspaper tales of
| their own fighting and chaff each 9TH
er. The Iroquois Will probably return