The National tribune., 1898-08-11

v
intrenchments. Being without cover for
guns, men or horses, the Spanish in
fantry fire soon forced them To leave and
return TO their old position near FL Poso.
Anxious To get a better view of the town,
worked my way through the thick
chaparral 10 the left of the batteries and
on higher ground than that occupied by
them But here j found q picket-iine .of
the fst Inf, who refused to allow me. to
pass through, saying that sharpShooters
were concealed in the chaparrai and had
wounded several men that morning. The
fire OF these sharpshoOters became very
annoying during the day, they having
worked around to the rear of the batteries
IN the afternoon. IL was told me by an
officer connected with one of the batteries
that seven had been killed by men sent
out from the batteries on still-hunt for
them.
OUR MEN STEADILY VICTORIOUS
did succeed in getting a position
whence | could look down into the city of
Santiago. and where battery could be
placed at an elevation of at least $50 feet
highef than the city. Later Capt. BeSt'S
battery was located there
Meanwhile the infantry fighting had
been gong on. The. fedoubt of San Juan
having been carried by our troops and
Lawtons 5 Division having possession OF
the town OF FL Caney, our men were
swinging to the left and closing in towards
Santiago, shortening the line somewhat
as they did SO. The firing ceased before
dark, to be renewed IN the night, when the
Spanish endeavored To drive the Ameri-
cans from their Intrenched position How
many men they lost is not known, but
the slaughter was great and the attack
was given up.
| The morning of July found the ->~-f
| ton unchanged. At noon the
truce was hoiSted and fighting a-ag
The loss IN some OF the America -e-
ments had been extremely heavy What
the Spanish loss was we were u ie e
| ascertain, but 230 Spanish wounded were
found IN III Caney after its evacuation by
| tne enemy, and long trenches containing
| theif dead were discovered near the town.
| Some OF their dead remained unburied
| immediately after the flag of truce was
| hoisted exodus from Santiago of nom
| comCatants began. The French Consul
| DfOuSnt out over 400 French citizens in a
body. All the Consuls-French. English.
herman united IN petition To the COM
hdnOinS Olilcer OF the American forces not
| 10 oomDdTd the place. Some apprehen-
| sion was expressed on the Iart of the
| AmeucanS In regard to the movements Of
Gen Pdndo, who was known To be ad-
vanclng to the relief of the place. with a
iorce estimated at 1000 men. But Gen.
Ndicid, oI the cuban forces, with about
J,oOO men, was watching this advance.
ana tearing up the railroad and otherwi
\
was SAID 10 be due at Santiago on til
| morning OF the 4th
working NY way to the front on the
afternoon OF the 3D. | elm bed on a wagon
| 10 cross the San Juan. BY the careless
ness 0i the driver the wagon was over
turned and, with another man, l found
| myself under the load OF forage, rations.
etc, from which | cIawled with a badly
injured knee and h,nd. The man who
"d' on TIE wagon with me had his back
INJURED so that he could not stand.
walked TO the front line, d distance of
ABOUT Two miles, but had to be carried to
'ne rear on pack mule, and was unable
10 Visit the city OF Santiago afterwards.
AFTER being at d division hospital for three
Gays was given seat with the driver of
d" ambulance and sent back to SIboney.
IN THE YELLow-FEvER HOSPITAL.
Here, two days later, | was attacked
with yellow fever, and with 70 or 80 other
ollcerS sent To the yellow feveg hospital,
which mad been established ~ the mills
about one and halt miles fro. Slboney
anu DeSlde The narrow gauge raj. ,d run
hins from that place To the iron hines IN
the mountains
IL was known To one or two persons that
mere mere were lew cases OF yellow fever as
early as the first day of the month. Little
preparation, however had been made. In
meet thc emergency. Most oi the medical
ouppHeS had been needed for the sick and
wounded who had been brought back M
oahuaeo. AT the camp 10 which we were
sent less than half dozen tents had
been put up, and into these the sick were
crowded, i0 men being placed in one
hospital tent. Medicines and food we're
scarce, although the latter was not much
needed.
The sick were fortunate in falling under
the care OF DR.. Rafael Echeverna, a Cuban
10y birth, who had made a specially of
yeIIOW ieVer ior 20 years. Ills attention
was uhiehlittlng and won the gTateful
appreciation OF everyone vino passed
unuer MS hands. Tne number kept IN
creasIng, the railroad being utilized TO
DHnS them out to. camp some able 10
walk, some 10 sit up others helpless in
the last stages OF the disease Nery few
lmmunes could be found 10 act as attend
ants, either as nurses or cooks but men
totally unacclImated came forward and
offered their SeIUceS although they knew
the risks they tan Their action de-
veioped one Of the nobIest traits OF human
character.
DR.. E. NJ. Lesser. of New York. Surgeon
Of the Red Cross Society with SIX nurses
oi that organization, had given aid in their
line 10 the SICK and wounded at SibOney
uEtil they were themselves stricken down
vita the disease and sent To the hospital.
Fortunately all were spared. The per
cent!ge of dead was comparatively small,
pot b3ceeding II per cent. We were COM
PdeFy iSoIdteU, except WneQ one man
came UP with the train from SibOney
bringing the additional sick and such
necessarIeS Tor the camp as could be
secured.
The number increased rapidly, and in a
few days 26O sick were on the ground.
Other surgeons were sent to aid in the
work. Dr.. McNairy being placed in charge.
Everything was done that could be done
with the appliances at hand for the bene-
fit OF the sick, but much remained un-
done for want of proper facilities.
Cut of from the camp, We knew nothing
of what was going on. Letters were
denied To US, and we could send none out.
Careful as were the medical attendants,
the recollection OF the time spent there
seems hideous nightmare.
RESULTS OF BAD MANAGEMENT
AT length, on the afternoon of July %
about so of us were declared conyal-
eScent, and alter a thorough dISInfection
sent to Siboney to take passage for the
North. We were kept there over night,
and the next day Is officers and 16I men
were put on the steamer Concho for ship
ment. The steamer was even i'll worse
condition To receive sick persons than
was the camp when we were sent there.
The water then liz her tanks had been
carried ever since she left Tampa, early in
May. The only food supplies were the
coarser part of the army rations. Men
who had To be carried on board the steamer
on stretc hers were placed IN hunks on the
lower deck. without mattresses, and many
without blankets or change of clothing
deck On board the ship were six Red
lasf: Ar 81 NS