The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-21
THE RED CROSS AT THE FRONT.
Another Enthusiastic Tribute to Its
Efficiency.

valley back to the rear. At first it was only
here and there a wounded straggIer hobbling
along.
Then, as the sun went higher the painful
pilgrimage grew in numbers. Away off in
the valley and on the further hillside there
was an incessant noise like the popping of
Chinese crackers. When this noise became
heavier the line of wounded stragglers be-
came longer. The first of them came from
FL Caney; it was not long before bloody
San Juan's slope commenced sending It's
delegates.
Over the bushes bordering the mountain
trail, near where the tents of Shafter' 5
headquarters had been pitched, flew Red
Cross flag. Here was the first field hospital
where little squad of surgeons and men
of the hospital corps, the former with
sleeves rolled up and rubber aprons on
waited to receive the men of the painful
pilgrimage. The first arrival received prompt
attention; SO did the second and the third.
Soon congestion began, and it steadily grew
One of the surgeons with roled-up sleeves
end apron srneared with blood came out
into the road and addressed the waiting,
shattered men.
IF you all wait here" said he, sit will
be hours before many of you will get at
tention. The crowd seems likely TO m
do better to keep on to Siboney.
so the painful pilgrimage, or the greater
part OF 1t, took up the unsteady, ever raj
terlng march to the army base 1t was
twelve sun-scorched, rain-drenched miles
from that field hospital to Siboney, over the
ups and downs of the rough mountain trail,
not worthy the name of cow-path.
The United States army is the posSesSor or
hundreds OF the finest ambulanceS That fore
sight and skilled industry can turn out
There We're pitifully few running over the
mountain trails on the LIST or July. Back IN
Tampa were scores of am5ulances that had
been left behind. Some one had blum
CT transportation facilities" was another
excuse. Yet the United States government,
American vessel it needs. Ninety per cent
of the men Of the painful pilgrimage walked
distance that would have been hard
days march for soldiers In the pink OF con-
dition. Down over the last hill the van
guard came towards dark, a weary, bleed
ing, half fainting skirmish line ahead OF
the small army of pain-racked stragglers.
They were leaning on sticks, slaves ana
crutches improvised out of poles cut In the
Jungle
But here was the place they sought-a viii
lage of white canvass tents that was grow
ing fast as soldiers could erect them.
Under one of these rows of tents stood the
operating tables and here the wounded were
treated by wholesale There was the best
surgical skill that Uncle Sam could procure.
lowering over the operating tables, bending
over the wounded lying on blankets were
sweet-faced, noble, seemingly tireless wom-
en-. ESaCn wore the UNIFORM OIL IL tfdlHeO
nurse, and, conspicuously on her left sleeve,
the badge of the Red Cross. Those two
words will ever be spoken lovingly by the
American soldier; those two words should
always be spelled in capital letters.
The Red Cross women had with difficulty
reached Siboney. The surgeon general of
the army had opposed their going-had for
hidden it. They were not needed at the
front, he declared. The hospital corps was
splendidly trained and could do all required
of it. Emotional women would be IN the
way.
Not needed at the front? Emotional? In
the way? No place for them? With the
knowledge of an on-looker and student Of
what those splendid women did. indignant
ly deny every such statement Had | the
power / could muster brigade. of soldiers
who received their tender ministrations,
and who are ready to fire volleys of testi-
mony to the urgent need there was of the
Red Cross nurses in that crowded commun-
ity of our wounded at Siboney.
For the first seventy-tWo hours after the
painful pilgrimage began to arrive at ST.
Cross nurses got could have been counted
by minutes. Their principal post was be-
side the surgeons at the operating tables
How busy those few women were may be
guessed from the fact that the number of
men waiting for surgical treatment some
times reached six hundred. From the oper-
spread upon the ground-a hard bed for
wounded mani There were few cots, no
mosquito bars. no pillows: 1t looked as If
the men who had passed their stage of use
fulness to the country must not ask for
comforts.
1t was the commissary that fed the
wounded men. There was an abundance of
bacon, canned beef, beans, bareback and
coffee-splendid diet for torn, feverish men!
The surgical department had no time 70
prepare delicacies, and no one to do it. Few
of the patients could endure army rations.
On Sunday night, forty-eight hours after
the opening Of the rush at the hospital, two
of the sleepless Red Cross nurses managed
to get away for little while To sleep?
They came back soon after with daintily
cooked food of the kind that sick men could
eat. There was enough to feed only a few.
Then fresh influx of wounded men called
them back to the operating abeS. Civilian
volunteers took up the work there, and ev-
cry wounded man in the hospital who
wanted food that night received it. But ev-
cry ounce of the dainties came from the
place TO get It, Between tasks the Red Cross
nurses told the volunteer cooks anything
they wanted to know about the kitchen
work.
A large volume could be written on the
splendid work of the Red Cross nurses at
Siboney. Gods women" was the name our
wounded soldier boys gave them. Another
volume could be written on the patience,
skill and herosm of our army surgeons in
Cuba. Two volumes could be written on
what someone didn't provide, or land, for
the requirements of the hospital service.
1t was the writer's fate to return to New
York on that ship of horrors, the Seneca.
There were two young surgeons who did
the best they could, and their right bower
was soldierly Red Cross nurse who toiled
all the way up on JndL gloomy voyage DIS
the women had toiled in Siboney hospital.
Miss Janet Jennings has glowing testi-
monial signed by every army officer, for
eign military attache and war correspond
ent on board. Some of the high surgical
officers contend that only the, slightly
wounded were placed aboard the Seneca.
Those who signed the testimonial were
convinced that there would have been sew
eral deaths but for Miss Jennings's inces-
SAINT, self-sacrificing work Once on shore
Miss Jennings had the courage to tell the
truth about the now familiar tale of the
Senecas horrors. Those of her fellow-pas-
sengerS who were not bound by the iron
bands OF official etiquette sustained her
statements. The tale is familiar one The
Indignation of press and country provoked
an investigation, which up to date does not
seem to have discovered much.
"An hysterical woman is the way one of
the surgical officers at Washington is
quoted as characterizing the Seneca's
heroine There is not the least tendency
to hysteria in Miss Jennings.
There has been woeful lack Of prepara-
ton for the care of our wounded in Cuba,
and for their transportation to this coun-
try. There are widows and orphans and
childless parents through that lack, Who