The times., 1899-03-19
RED CROSS BEAMS
Shining IN CUBA
Philanthropy's Wings Spread
Over the Tortured Isle.
BIockades Against Charity for All
Melting Away.
Soldiers, Sailors, and Civilians to BE
Sheltered Under the Wings of the
Guardian of Humanity.

Havana, March 10.-Everybody inter-
ested in philanthropic work-and that
means a large proportion of the
seventy odd million population of the
United States-will rejoice to learn
that the Red Cross has resumed operations
in Cuba. 1t will be remembered that when
President Mckinley first sent the benefi-
cent society to the island Tin January of
'9S) it was for the sole purpose of distrib-
uting relief to the sick and starving Gu
bans, who had. by General Weyler's or
ders been concentrated in the cities, where
they were dying of starvation, at the rate
of thousands day. Scarcely was the work
of relief fairly organized and good results
beginning to show, when friendly rela-
tions between the United States and Spain
were severed, and the President, through
Consul General Lee, notified all Americans
to return. While every member of the Red
Cross staff earnestly desired to remain,
a consultation held with Captain General
cidedly best to retire-which they did at
the last moment, after doing all that was
possible to ensure the care and distribu-
tion of the supplies then in store.
In those troublous times the fairest
! promises counted for little. The world
! now knows how most of the food and med
icnes were diverted from the use intended
| to sustain the Spanish army, and the re-
concentrate orphanage, which we had been
to SO much pains and expense to estab
lish in the Cerro, subufb OF Havana, and
| left in charge of prominent Cubans, under
Blanco's especial charge, was finally aban-
doned altogether, and what became of the
| 100 temporarily rescued children, the good
Lord only knows.
| Shortly after Clara Barton returned to
| Washington she was again notified by the
| State Department that it was desired to
have the Red Cross proceed to Key West
and take charge Of the steamship. State
| of Texas, loaded with general provisions
| clothing, medicine, and hospital supplies
| the generous gift of American people to
| the sufferers in Cuba. or course that no.
| BILE woman instantly responded; bu; upon
| joining the State of Texas, it was found
/ that blockade OF the coast of Cuba had
been declared and communication prohibit
ed Early in May Miss, Barton wrote to
Admiral Sampson, commanding the North
| Atlantic squadron, informing him that the
Rcd Cross was ready and anxious to at
| tempt an entry at any point on the coast,
under flag of truce, if he would allow
| it. In his reply the Admiral explained
| that this could not be permitted, his in
structions being to keep all supplies out
| of Cuba, lest they should fall into the
hands of the Spanish army. Then for some
| time the State OF Texas, with the baffied
band OF Red Cross workers on board and
| the supplies for which thousands were dy-
| ing, became regular Wandering Jew OF
| a vessel-a portless tramp on the ocean
highway.
! Finally, without invitation, it followed
| the transports conveying the army of in
vasion. and thus was enabled TO reach
| Cuba, where the cargo intended for recon
centrados was given to the sick and wound
| ed of the American Army.
The story of the service rendered by the
Red Cross in the Spanish-American war
| need not be repeated. The world knows
| how somebody blundered, and while so
| few were killed in battle, an appalling
number OF our brave boys died most pitt
fully of needless hunger, hardship. and
exposure. Surgeon General Sternberg was
| opposed to the employment of female
nurses. and his action virtually debarred
| the Red Cross from its legitimate work.
However, June 26 found the State of
Texas anchored in the little indenture of
the south coast called by courtesy the
'harbor'' OF Siboney, its men and women
caring for the fifty wounded men on board
the transport Solace. Meanwhile, few
miles inland, fighting was going on, and
| no adequate means was at hand for reliev-
ing the sufferings of the victims of war.
The Red Cross officers, DR.. Egan. George
Kennan, and Mr.. Elwell, tramped to the
front; and presently word came from them
by messenger that General Shafter desired
Miss Barton to seize any empty army wag-
on and send hospital supplies and medi-
cinal stores, which were badly needed. Miss
n
call, knowing that il must come; and she
set out at once for the front, accompanied
by Dr. and Mrs. Gardiner. DR.. Hubbell, and
Mr.. Mcdowell, with two six-mule wagon
loads of necessities. To read the above SEN
tence one can have no idea OF the her
culean task involved. In the first
place the surf which pounds all
day with irresistible force upon The
rock-bound southern shore, becomes
unsurmountable at Siboney harbor after
10 a. m. Nothing that floats or swims
was obtainable in which to land supplies
from the ship. except two dilapidated fiat.
boat scows, which the Engineer Corps hat
broken and cast away. Some of the Ret
Cross men, assisted by couple of Cubans
worked all night to mend those wreck!
and load upon them four tons of material
and at the first peep of dawn propelled
them to shore, the men jumping wais
deep into the water and dragging bale:
and boxes up on the beach,.
No Dcnr.h of Womnn's Care.
The women came last drenched with sur
from head to feet, wagons were speedily
loaded with the best Red Cross supplies
corn meal condensed milk, matted milk
tea, coffee, sugar, canned meats mot horse
or contract beef this time thank Heav
enD, medicines, bandages. and such othe
things as Miss Barton knew from expert
ence in the Civil War, Turkey, Russia an,
other fields, would be most needed. Tn,
ladies clambered on top OF the loads as
best they could, and words are powerless Il
convey any idea OF that terrible ride owe
a roadless country, up hill and down, the
clayey, wet soil cut into hub-deep furrow!
by the passage of the army trains, undel
alternate scorching sun and heavy rain
You know how our boys who went into tht
| fight hungry lay for two days in tn,
trenches. almost without food; and how tn,
wounded were afterward ordered to make
their way to the rear as best they could
Men with desperate wounds had to walk o.
crawl, perhaps mile, perhaps five or 81,
miles, over the wild, rough country, thosi
who were least injured assisting their com
rades, and hundreds dying by the wayside
Had the Red Cross been allowed its way IL
/. the beginning many of these horrors woult
have been avoided ambulances would hav,
been on hand when so sorely needed. equip
ped with every convenience, and the first
hospital camp would have been close by
the battlefield.
II is no use now to criticise men OF
methods. Suffering, sickness, confusion
and death are the inssparabie companion:
| -s..t.l