The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-03
RED CROSS WORK IN CUBA.
WHAT CLARA BARTON rs DoING TO
RELIEVE DISTRESS

Running About without shelter, Food
rClothes Cooperation of Army ON GERS.
WAsufNGToN. June Miss Clara Barton
President Of the American National Red Cross
under date OF Havana. May -. has written to
Na,or.Cicn J. H., Brooke, thanking him
warmly for his cooperation in tho work OF re-
loving the distress among the reconcentrndos
and giving an account OF the work the Red
Cross was doing IN Cuba. In this letter Miss
Barton saws
II found On MS arrival here. May ,, that our
Geld agent. DR. j. Il Hubhcil. was at work in
,be vicinity of Cuincs. with a small force OF
prac'inal women nurses and Cuban physician,
Ir rarnarcIlru t tbs city. ns assistant, estab-
nshirg az rather. in common parlancc we
would say, making w asylums in the various
towns along that section of the country. taking
AMY the fun orphans of rccuncentrados found
n,.rrG about the town without shelter, food
r.,tiI.- u place To- sleep, or n person to care for
,hcu begging at the station Oftravellcrs as they
,ns-ri until one s'cpped down from car with
im,ul,y; uun' to be seen and unsafe to
touch tn" first move was to cali the atten-
ZION NJ the Mayor and municipal authorities to
the suHort: each saw the fearful condition.
IN, mo- ono could 500 a way out Of It, They
wore too poor. too tired. too long suffering
an! discouraged TO start anything OF them
selves It was one Of those cases where an
impetus must lie given. where n little help
meant much; likn the stone on the brow OF
bu once icoSened and touched. IL would roll
r-e.'.
house Of sufficient size on tho outskirts
o. the town. with land for n garden or greater
cultiva'lon is first sked for. and readily found
and given free. disnfected whitewashed. made
thoroughly c!ean safe and useful. The num-
Der IT children ascertained. a dormitory OF
clean canvas cots. with sheets. pillows and
blankets arranged by the nurses. a kitchen
provided with cooking utensils. a dining room
Cgnuerally with homemade tabesl, cups.
plates. knives. forks and spoons for all.
4 small shipment Of supplies is or rather
hn, beou sent from our warehouse in Havana
or santa clara Of food. unmade clothing in
the material calico. bingham, cotton and
lean The children are gathered up. or. more
properly. gather themselves up. in the strange
hope that something has come for them
Taken into their home. washed. treated
for their sores and 1utancous diseases
their lthv and dangerous rags burned
unit, 10 clothing is left. when. II no other
made garment, are at hand. they are put into
bed TIL the ladies' OF the town. who flock JOY
fully with their needles and sewing machines.
can mako the necessary one garment for each
Wholesome. The second dav always finds them
al UP dressed, fed clean and happy; some:
times lI'Tt dlt not over thirty, III Otner
rlares srNcuty-nvo or eighty.
TIL" p"or" o. the, town are SO delighted
with the rhnngsT that they cannot do enough to
hclp it along. Th" women and especially the
Young ladies' volunteer the making and mend
Ing Of their clothes and 20 conSecutively and
teach and assist them in the work OF rho home.
for they viii largely do their, own work under
Instructions. The farmer: volunteer to plough
the gardens and more land when needed assist
them in planting the Smal seeds, such as chill |
drep can do; we send the seed of the best
quality. spades, shOvels. hoes. &c. and often
good widowed mothers live with and
i"r IT, seRqo AID the ;{ish 4, T., tha%
fortune sitting on their rude benches all ami |
nation. pointing out to each other the big let
them IN nS and ' pSnv Po To e oS
fnrsaken creatures that two days before were
a terror to others. now taken in. cared for, a
whole town their patrons and protectors. to be
are, AMI 70 become part of it, for these towns
people will never desert nor abandon them,
In four months these little children will be
Oldest. b,th bows aud girls. viii be little farmers.
with their hens; chickens: pigs AMI goats.
party. visiting ,Cieniuegos. Santa Clara aud
Sacua.. Meanwhile J. saw hetw"en 400 and
towns by our people put into asyiums made by
them in the time; and left knowing that the
mex ex nv" wSek i've Wonf i9ns the and
Of these heretofore helpless creatures would |
be safe in homes. happy. clean. well fed. in
''N p'9' VI oil' at WIN anu
The only ornamcntation or decoration is
the shoulder They are very proud of this. and
III" punishment FOR isdemeanor; !, any should
and Withheld Until restitution f Is made Eat This his
w"uih constitute degree Of grief and humilia-
zion not long to he endured.
fear that none Of us will be able to fully |
tell how helpful We are, finding the officers Of
4" army WHO ;; sc"m to be stryipg to carry out
and mine, Among them are old friends of the |
civil war, Gen. Wilson. and Col, Moves, whose
1b!inG US to push on the work The great need
is for canvas cots. as we cannot make the first |
m"T" I%ward an MsylG I'm without E beds
.prn. had ono" made Q hospital there before
the war FIVE hundred people met me at the
their asylum. We take forty-threo acres Of |
land aud will take in all the children and Wild |
obstruction. as you remember. and looks like a |
channel house. but it has good. brave and
grateful people.
am under promise to the Mayor OF Car
denaS to send some one there very soon. 1t is
s s.1 possible to answer the REQUESTS for
Nothing is ever refused or withheld by any
man, woman or child. The young ladies' Of the
these children. It is touching to see how these
crushed people needed encouragement. for the
largely iolnG il themselves. with the co opera
tlon 9t the army, with only such as T. has In
Rcp and " believe S Sa %a eight H moths VIII
see these thousands OF orphan children in
hon"ful way to large degree OF self-support
their lot has fallen. / believe they will not
prove a burden, but help to those depleted
communities. and the people themselves feel
tho same.
Assistance in the common rations Of the
army are quite sufficient for these children
ricc, some meat and lard to cook it with.
coffee, bread. beans. fish and n little milk.
along with what we can supply. and these
IN q year or two they should raise all they
need
49,. would most respectfully ask that you per-
60 sometimes with my people to See their
work and report their opinions to you.
With great respect. I am. General. most
truly yours. CLARA BARTON"
NO SOLDIERS TO RE BURIED At SEA.