The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-07-29
CRANK ON CLEANLINESS.

Major Roth so Called but Commended
Both by Words and the Resulting
Health of His Command-Dr.
Vaughan sick.
The following extracts from letters writ
ten by Dennis 8. DOnahue the Evening
News correspondent at Siboney contain mat
ter of especial interest to Owosso readers.
The letters were written between the 10th
and 18th and appeared In the News Mon
day night. The last extract is added be-
cause 1t shows side of Cuban suffering
which has been little heard from In recent
weeks owing to the disgust excited by the
actions of many of the Cubsns. In view of
the sympathy felt for them before the war
began moments reflection on this phase of
the matter will not be time lost.
I'm no sense was this Sunday day of
rest at this post. Maj. Paul M. Roth, of the
First battalion, Thirty Third, who might be
called crank on cleanliness, started out
like reform mayor to rid the placs of refu-
gees, idle Cubans and filth. The number
of cases of all kinds of fevers had aroused
the major so that when he and Chaplain
Sage and detail of 20 men under Lieut..
w. E. Case, OF Co. G, started In at one end
of the village and through an interpreter
learned who should remain and who should
20. About 800 were driven out four miles,
where there were mahy vacant houses for
them to occupy and the Red Cross and the
relief corps we're there to feed them. There
are 200 more that were given until Monday
morning to get outside the four mile line
where they will be cared for and have shell
ter and food.
A guard line was established and 1t will
be impossible for them to return. Then the
major with large detail of men pOliced the
village and cleaned up and burned all de.
caying matter.
Nearly all the wounded soldiers are now
on the hospital boat, and only the fever
cases in the houses which are used as
hospitals remain. Major Roth, who started
the matter of cleanliness and executed 1t to
the letter, is now called the reform mayor
of Siboney.
There are great many cases Of malarial
fever and few Of typhoid, but none seri-
Gus. Maj. Roth and the First battalion,
which includes Cos. II, G, b, and l, are
located on high hill on the west side Of
the village, and are in better health than
any other battalion of the Thirty. third.
Maj. Victor q. Vaughan, regimental
surgeon of the Thirty-third, came down
with yellow fever last night, and this MORN
ing was removed to the hospital tent. With
Mai. Nancrede and Dr. f. W. Palmer on
board the City of Washington, and DR.
Guy G. Bailey, assistant regimenta surgeon,
on duty at the hospital at the front, 1t
leaves the Thirty-third with but one doctor.
G. B. Marks, and with the rush of men
trying to take any old thing to prevent
yellow jack, DIR. Marks is kept on the jump
all the time. Maj. Vaughan spent much of
his time in his laboratory for the last five
years studying yellow fever and how the
disease was contracted, but neither he nor
DR.. Guiteras, the expert, knows anything
of the manner In which the fever is con-
tracted.
Up in the hills. where many of the refu-
gees are gathered, can be seen some pretty
hard sights. Old men and women, some of
them with goat and couple Of children
and little money which they are willing
m 0ivo for INV kind Of fOOd are canned
there. Many women have children with
them, and the children are the saddest sights
of all, poor and wrinkled black little things
that grab you by the trousers and point to
their mouths. They will eat anything you
give them, cooked or raw. The majority of
the refugees are naturally of the poor class,
but there are some exceptions. Some of
them are dressed in beautiful clothes, silks
and laces, and have their servants with them
They have plenty of money and jewellery to
exchange for food, but their chances for
getting something to eat are no better than
are those of the poor. The relief corps,
the Red Cross and the soldiers, especially
details from the Thirty. third Michigan, are
feeding these people, and tonight there are
none of them hungry that can be found.
The matter is so arranged that they can all
be fed each day until change for the better
Is effected.
Company G Camp Life-Letter from Sergt.
L. G. Brewer.