The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-24

MISS anna llanberry the first nurse
graduated from the Moses Taylor hos
pttal training school, has returned
to this city after an absence Of many
months as an army nurse.
Miss Hanberry was among the first
TO offer her services after the opening
of the war. Her orders were for duty
at Knoxville. Tenn. where she re-
mained in active service until DeCem-
her last in caring for the many who
were sent thither from Chickamauga
and the South. From hence, she with
four companions went to Savannah,
where one of the number, a nurse from
Boston, died from overwork and the
unfavorable conditions present. This
incident was most saddening to the
party and particularly to Miss Han
berry who dearly loved the brave lit
tie girl who had labored so faithfully
in the hospitals.
Later the remaining nurses were sent
to Cienfuegos accompanying the
Thirty-tirst Michigan, the Fourth
Texas and the Sixth Ohio volunteers.
There we're fifteen nurses and instead
of being scattered among the rcgi-
ments as they had expected they were
all scrt with the Ohio command to the
Hanbcrry was appointed chief nurse.
The other regiments were left entirely
uuprovided for in this RESPECT.
NOT WELL TREATED.
Miss Hanhcrry states that the nurses
were not all well treated in Cuba.
Their work was Systematically him
dcred and their efforts we're unapprc-
ciated in certain quarters although the
sick men hailed them as angels OF
light and blessed them at every step.
It was a noticeable fact that the regi-
ment in which women Nurscs were not
detailed did not preserve as high q
moral tone as those who received their
instructions. but there was nCVorthe-
less Il prejudice existing among the
surgeons of a certain rank against
their presence in the field, the osten-
sible excuse being that the hospital
corps deteriorated when to the men
was left the more mental services
while the women were giving their
tactful, gentle. beautiful ministrations
to the suffering.
In Cienfuegos the nurses were for
months lined up with the corps in the
blazing hot sun to receive their ra-
tions, which consisted of the regular
army fare, hard tack, oatmeal and cot-
fee. With sugar for coffee alone, or
for oatmeal only with not even EN-
balmed beef.
There they stood among the men un-
complainingly despite their continual
discomfort, but one day Colonel Green
leaf appeared and he stormed furiously
over the neglect and inconvenience
which they had endured. Soon after
that change was recorded and the
nurses were allowed their own mess.
PLENTY OF WORK.
They had plenty of work with the
malarial fever and the many disorders
which attacked the unacclimatlzed
men, but never during her stay in
the south of Cuba were they shown
proper consideration or given the IA
cilities which should have been offered.
This systematic ignoring of their
position was due TO the surgeon major,
who was either ignorant orlaCkinS in his
executive ability, although he seemed
to have good intentions. Throughout
all Cuba, says Miss Hanberry, the
same conditions prevailed in the hos
pital department. The sick did not
receive the proper care, there was lit
tie attention given to the prevention
of contagion and the nurses, ready
and willing as they We're to do their
duty-and they were almost invari-
ably trained and most competent
were hampered in their efforts. Miss
Hanberry believes that in no way
was the government to be blamed and
neither could the chief officers in COM
mand be criticized for the conditions
prevailing with regard to the hospi-
tai department. but in very many
cases the surgeon major was incom-
petent to direct affairs and as a con-
sequence the nurses in cuba found it
almost impossible to render their much
needed service.
EXPECTED TO REMAIN.
Miss Hanberry had expected to re-
main in CienfuegOs during the rainy
| season and plans We're made for the
! barracks where it was anticipated the
| conditions would be more favorable,
| but the surgeon major began drilling
| the hospital corps more assiduously
| and although protests We're received
| from the rank and file the general
sentiment existing among the under
| surgeons of the army prevailed in the
| department at washington and the
| women were ordered to leave Cienfu2-
gos and Santiago and be ready for
| duty elsewhere.
A number We're sent to San Fran
! cisco to enter the army and navy
| hospitals and care for the sick return
| ing from Manila, but, greatly to her
| disappointment, Miss Hanberry was
| retained in the east and was detailed
at Fort Hamilton, where she has been
| for several weeks since her return from
| Cuba and has done much service.
At present she is in Scranton, where
she has n desire to establish the Hour
| Nursing" system which has been SO
! successful in New York. 1t is for the
| purpose Of giving people unable "a
| afford the heavy expense OF n trained
| nurse BY the week the privilege of
| having one como into their home
daily, or as often as is necessary at a
| reasonable rate.
For instance, two visits of an hour
each will he made daily for $40 a week
or the price may be regulated by the
| week. \ number of prominent ply,
| sicians and surgeons of the city are
! disposed to lend their recOmmenda-
ton to the project
Summer Boarding,
Queen Bess cottage Lake Winola, 81
| per day; SO per week Kittie Gard