The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-11-20
WORSE AND MORE OF 1T
State Hospital Nurse at Mariana
Reform School Describes Fearful
Condition of that Institution
Jacksonville Metropolis)

Dr. Klotz of Daytona, joint repre-
sentative of the State Board of Health
and United States Public Health Ser
vice, who visited the Florida Indus
trial School for Boys at Mariana
during the recent influenza epidemic,
failed to begin to describe the hor-
rible conditions which obtained at
that institution, according to Miss
Harris Field, nurse who was employ
ed by the state to treat the unfortu-
nate lads. A letter to ]. C. Lanier,
Duval county probation officer, al
leges that the situation which obtain
ed at the reform school beggars de-
scription.
Her letter reads as follows:
Chattahoochee, Fla, State Hospital,
November, 1918: Mr.. j. C.. Lanier,
Probation Officer. Jacksonville, Fla.
Kind Mr.. Lanier: Having had entire
charge of the recent influenza cpl
demic at the Florida Industrial School
at Mariana in the capacity of head
nurse and superintendent of all medi-
cal aid, / beg to state the following
facts: / arrived at the school Octo-
Der %, between 7 and 8 o'clock p. M,
found sixty-four pinched-faced, I'M
dernourished boys lying in beds or,
what they used for beds, that were
covered in the most loathsome filth
known to civilized world.
Two-thirds of them had on clothes
that were so dirty they positively
stunk, having the appearance of not
being changed in six months. Others
wore shirts like the one / gave to DIR.
Klock for sample to carry into u. S.
P. H. Office at Jacksonville, while the
rest of them were nude, their bodies
were crusty with dirt, showing no
evidence of soap and water being
used for bathing since they entered
the school. | requested towels, soap
and basins to battle all boys, also bed
linen, stating that it was absolutely
essential as I could not aid boys med
ically unless they were on clean beds
and bathed thoroughly. These articles
were not supplied and after three
days trial to get them | was compell-
ed to content myself with putting on
clean shirts over dirty bodies, parched
with fever. Shirts were made by la
dies of the Red Cross. / gave up in
despair of getting articles necessary
for personal comfort and needs and
turned my entire attention and re-
serve knowledge to saving their lives
with medication and nouishment, part
of same being furnished and deliver
ed personally by DIR. BaltzeH and Col
onel Finch, as officials seemed to
think my first days order should last
about one hundred boys for an indefi-
mite time.
Wasn't This Murder?
Order for medicine sent in to Mr..
Helms, who was acting superintend-
ent for Mr.. Boone was sent to him at
8 a. m. with special request to get
same by noon, as boy could not live
without it. Order was filled at $50
p. m. Boy died between $50 and
1880.
DR.. Klock thought conditions ter
rible but if he could have seen the
deplorable sight that l met with a
| week before he reached the institu-
yond words.
| do believe if Governor Cats could
| have seen actual conditions as l
found them, he would have felt like
i ordering the two male officials of the
| white department shot. l venture to
say there are not more than four or
five mattresses in white. boys wards
that a negro of the lowest class would
willingly sleep on; in fact, | do not
| consider that they have any beds at
all, as a common dog would hesitate
| to lie on those used for sick colored
boys TASK DR.. Klock.)
The convicts at Raiford are taught
a broader element of better life in
the future than these boys.
| regret very much that l was un-
| able to talk with members of the
board on this subject, but gave way
the previous day, due to exposure,
long hours, no sleep and strenuous
work.
Mr.. Clay Crawford came in to see
me, but l was not in condition to dis
cuss the matter with him. I would
like to see you, Gov. Cats, members
of the board, and a good newspaper
. reporter personally, as l don't feel
like | can do justice to the place with
a pen.
| have been a nurse for five years.
and have never seen anything to COM
pare with the Florida Industrial
| School, or so impressed with such a
horrible place. The very name is
farce. My opinion is based on actual
experience while there, and my in
tern nurses will verify every state
ment. The Tampa Tribune called it
Hun Hellishness at Home-a very
good name-but / think, if the filth
from the place was dumped in Ger
many, it would kill out the Germans.
Begging you. in the name of God
loving and serving country. to aid in