New-York tribune., 1900-05-08
PLEASURES FOR THE SICK MEN.

whether nursing sisters are required en- board or
not.
PLEASURES FOR THE SICK MEN.
To amuse the ships company on the voyage
out concerts were given on the poopdeck, which
all Joined in. Later concerts given for the
patients such of them could not walk being
carried up by their comrades. A service was
held every Sunday morning at II O'Clock, the
commanding officer reading the prayers play
ing the organ. choosing the most popular hymns.
which heartily sung by all the patients.
The Bishop of Pretoria officiated twice while at
Durham. and mass was said once for the Red
Cross patients.
At first visitors were allowed board every
day. but the practice had to be stopped, owing
to the crowds and annoyance to the patients;
also the indiscriminate use of the launches, and
certain days and hours were fixed.
The staff allowed shore by written or
der signed by the commanding officer and only
granted when their work done for the day.
The medical staff were made members Of the
club in Durham. and were very we'll treated, the
authorities granting them in turn permission to
go to the front, much coveted favor, OF which
they availed themselves Miss Hibbard was
given the opportunity Of visiting Mooi RIVER
Field Hospital.
In regard to the much disputed question of
the Names return to England Lady Randolph
says:
1 should like here to give to the committee
my reasons for bringing the ship home. When
the Maine arrived at Cape Town January
%, the post medical officer, Surgeon-General
Wilson, came on board, and after visiting the
ship, informed US that the Maine was at once
TO be sent to Durham to fill up with patients
and return to England. In the course of con-
versation with the post medical officer 1 ex
planned to him the purpose and mission or the
ship the committee understood them, and
pointing out the fact that were 1t to be treated
merely a transport for convalescents the in
ternational value Of the gift would certainly
suffer and that the large expense and efficient
medical staff on board would have nothing to
do, and also that the medical staff were bound
to be disappointed, as of course. interesting
serious cases We're not likely to be sent to the
ship.
ORDERS FROM DURHAM.
/, however, pressed the point so much, bring
Ing to bear the fact that Lord Lansdowne would
back me up, If I cabled him, that at last he
Butler on arrival at Durham. Before leaving
the Cape 1 wrote to the Commander in Chief.
Lord Roberts, asking his support. should I find
any difficulty as to the ship remaining at Dur
ban. On arrival there the post medical Of
ficer, Gallwey: Captain Holland, the transport
officer, and Major Mccormack and Captain
Van Koughnet came board. We were told
to be filed up with drafts from the
other hospital ships IN the harbor and sent
home at once
The permanent and field hospitals in Natal
being fairly full, the orders were to send home
many patients possible in order to meet
the pressure that would be experienced the
moment Ladysmth was relieved With the help
and influence of the Government of Natal and
other influential friends, and indirect appeal
to Sir R. Butler, had the pleasure of success
fully frustrating three times these endeavors to
send us home. and the Maine not only remained
in the harbor of Durham for nearly two months,
but had many interesting cases sent down. This
was very satisfactory.
But the committee will readily understand that
this state Of things could not go indefinitely,
and when after the relief of Ladysmith we were
| once more asked to fill up and go home 1t would
! have been unSracous, not to say more, not to
| acquiesce. There were about six thousand sick
| and wounded to be got home somehow. The
| large hospitals at Intombi Mooi River, Frere
| and Pietermaritzburg were full preparations be-
| ing made to receive one thousand at Durnan.
| The five large hospital ships in the harbor were
/ to be filled up and sent home quickly as
possible. The Maine was the first chosen. Had
tarded matters for fortnight and lost US
the opportunity and eclat of being the first hos
pital ship to return after the relief of Ladysmith
NUMBER OF THE PATIENTS
Twenty eight officers and 326 non-commis-
stoned officers and men were treated on board:
| of this number u officers and 151 commits
stoned officers and men remained on the vessel
| when she started her hOmeward voyage OF
| twenty-eight officers treated board sixteen
! suffered from wounds. three from injuries and
nine from sickness OF the :}26 non-commis-
! stoned officers and men treated board. 16S
| suffered from gunshOt or shell wounds, and the
| remainder chiefly from injuries. fever rheuma-
| tism dysentery. Two deaths occurred on
! beard while the vessel was at Durham and at
| Madeira With the exception Of fifty-three oper-
| antiSeptic dressing electricity, massage and ex-
| ercise. After period varying from two to six
| weeks according to the nature and extent of
| injury, the use of the gymnasium apparatus
| gave excellent results.
| The Maine Committee has been working day
and night this week fitting out the Maine for her
| return voyage to South Africa. The staff has
| been reOrganlZed according to the experience
| gained. and is being considerably diminished
| and the expenses wifi be much reduced. Some
| improvements have been made in the wards and
! the Maine returns to South Africa than
ever credit to Americans.