The evening times., 1899-04-29
TO inspect THH WORK
OF RED CROSS AGENTS
Miss Barton Explains Her
Coming Trip to Cuba.
Prominent Natives Urge Her to
Visit the Island.
CampaiKn-Little Fear of a yell
low Fever Epidemic.

Miss Clara Barton, the President of the
American Red Cross Society. accompanied
by Secretary d. L. Cobb. will leave the
city Tuesday morning. on the Pennsyl-
| vania Railroad for Manu. Fla, from which
point she will embark for Havana.
Miss Barton expects to remain in the
island about two weeks. during which time
she will look the ground over and inspect
| the relief work already done and that in
progress at the present time. Miss Bar
ton, when seen by. a Times reporter this
morning relative to the trip to Cuba, stat
ed that she is not visiting the island be-
cause she is dissatisfied with the work now
going on. On the contrary, she expressed
her full approval of the judgment and
skill displayed by Rev. DIR. Alexander
Kent. of this city, who has charge OF all
Red Cross work in Cuba.
THE reports received from DR.. Kent"
said Miss Barton. have been most favor
able. and the work is progressing to our
utmost satisfaction" 1t was Miss Barton S
intention to go to Cuba when the first ex-
pedition left several months ago. but she
found 1t inexpedient to do so at that time.
owing to the immense amount OF work to
be accomplished in raising and sending
supplies for the prosecution OF the work
OF relief on the island.
Miss Barton has endeayored to get away
since that time. but has always been pre-
vented by the necessity Of her staying at
home to manage affairs here. The work OF
raising funds and supplies is in such
state at present that Miss Barton feels
that she can safely leave without retard-
ing home operations. She has been the
repiY,iepf of
nent Cubans ever since the close of the
war. asking that she go to the island and
personally supervise the work.
The relief work OF the Red Cross un
dertaken several months ago. is beginning
to have a marked effect in the island. The
suffering and misery has been to a great
extent relieved in the western part of the
island where the greatest distress had ex-
listed since the close of military operations.
The country is rapidly assuming the ap
pearance OF peace and natives have begun
anew to till the soil and follow their ordi-
nary pursuits. There still remains great
deal to be done by the Red Cross. espe-
cia!ly in the way of relieving orphans and
widows who have no means of caring for
themselves.
Miss Barton stated this morning that
there is still great demand for children's
clothing. This need is not generally un-
derstood and numerous enquiries have been
made at the national headquarters as to
why so much clothing is desired During
the operations Of the Spanish in Cuba and
during the reconcentrado period. many of
the children lost their parents. who either
died Of disease or were killed in battle and
for many months many of them have not
had home care. Consequently. many chill
dren. not knowing how TO care for them
selves, contracted skin diseases which have
spread to an alarming extent. The only
way in which these diseases can be stamp
ed out Is to provide numerous changes of
clothing. garment once worn by child
afflicted with a disease of this character
must be burned. Miss Barton thought that
il some OF the large manufacturers of cot
ton cloth we're acquainted with these condi-
tions. they would gladly furnish material
which in the process Of manufacture has
become damaged so that IL is of no use for
the market.
The prospect OF an epidemic of yellow fe-
YER in Cuba this summer is not alarming
say the Red Cross people. Owing to the
improved sanitary conditions which have
been brought about in nearly all parts OF
the island, the danger of widespread
prevalence Of the disease has been greatly
lessened. and Miss Barton stated that she
did not look for more than an occasional
case. The present Red Cross staff in the
island consists OF about thirty persons, al
OF whom have had previous experience in
the work. The force, although compara-
lively small. is very efficient and is so dis
tributed as to introduce the best possible
results. About half of the nurses on the
force are immunes, so that in case there
should be yellow fever. the staff is well
prepared to combat it.