The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-26
FROM A NURSE IN SANTIAGO.
wRETCHED ACCOMMODATIONS AND
SANITARY ARRANGEMENTS.
How the Stnrvcd-Out, the MANNED
and the Halt Are Treated in
the Hospitals.

The following letter was received by
Mrs. Stuart Lloyd from her daughter. Miss
Gretta Lloyd, who is now nurse at San
tiago de Cuba
IS, Gale de San Tadeo, Plaza del Do
lores, Santiago de Cuba, February 90, 1899
My Darling Bess: This is the first
chance ! have had to sit down aud write
you a letter since | came and I probably
would not have chance to write now had
j not made one as | am very much wor-
ried for fear you are troubled about my
long silence.
We arrived in this city on the 18th, tho
trip having taken us eleven days. Wa
stopped nearly two days at San Juan aud
Ponce, In the island of Porto Rico. The
trip was a long and severe one. We were
very crowded. three to a stateroom. small,
extremely close and poorly ventilated /
think | must have slept in nearly every
part of the ship In turn, as my berth was
impossible and ! used TO wander with my
blanket at night through the saloon, ON
the upper deck and anywhere | could find
cool place. Then We arrived in this
city And such ethyl In the first place,
there are no accommodations for strangers
and our first night was spent In the filth
lest hole imaginable, II was called the
French American hotel" and consisted OF
n lot of cells built around central yard.
We were so worn out that we just ate tho
stun they set before us and crawled into
our respective hunks But in the morning
we were almost paralyzed by the filth we
saw before U.S. Our breakfast was SET out
on an extremely dirty table In the hall
outside our rooms, and close to the central
yord ! spoke of, which we now saw In all
its dirt. II honestly and without the
slightest exaggeration contained the nlth
of ages There We're strings hanging from
the corners as thick as cables and when
we discovered that they were SPIDERS webs
we were afraid to speculate as TO how
large the spiders must be who made them
The individuals who waited ON us were
the sorriest looking crowd | ever behelt
in ali my wanderings. uncombed, un
washed, haggard, fever worn, and with onl,
apologies for clothing. II didn't take Mrs
T. very long to decide that If she wanted
TO keep us alive she would have TO go
us out OF that hole without delay. She ha,
already found an interpreter, Maceo, soi
OF the great Cuban general. who was sho
by the Spaniards and she started out will
him to find a place. Maeeo Is very poo
and has not been cared for by his owl
people He thinks he Is In Paradise nov
because he has home and salary an
kind treatment from the "Americanos.
After an hours march Mrs. t. found tn
house In which we are now located. II /
on the outskirts OF the city and one o
the largest houses in town. II belongs I
q Cuban planter coffee planter, who wa
worth three millions before the war w
rent II for $50 month. There are twent
rooms, built around large central court
yard. with well in the center and q
elevated plot of garden on one side wher
three banana trees are growing. The hous
Is built OF adobe with walls two feet thick
There is not an inch OF glass in tho Who'll
place. Downstairs ten rooms open on tn
courtyard. Each room has a great iro
grated door. with opening for air and ligh
In the upper part. There are no window.
Each room has no Communication wit
any other and SO when you shut yourself
In at night you are yiftually In a prlso
coll. This is the way all Spanish house
are built The only way for light and al
to enter rooms 10 from doors opening o
the central court. The ten rooms on tn
ground we use for store rooms (it too
6 twenty-three army wagons to haul GU
supplies here). large dlspensary wher
our doctor treats 100 patients every day
room where we give clothing and foo
to the reconcentrados and kitchen Tn
Kitchen IL very queer to our unaccus
toned dyes, used to American conyen
3 fencss. Imagine low room. opening on
ttable, With no windows, just door; in tn