The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1919-05-01
THE TRAIN OF DEATH.

NAMED for weeks without warm fooc
without boiled water, and many eve
without bread Owing to insufficient
nutrition and to the extreme crowding
. infectious diseases developed. In ad
dition to these there are various ski
diseases. In have not had time to tab
lllate the number of maladies will
which these patients are afflicted TO
|, the entire energy of the hospital is a
present devoted to giving the patients
baths, shaving them and cutting theil
hair, supplying them with clean linen
with tea, with food and to finding
room for them, for they arrive here in
a continuous stream. According to the
testimony of officers in charge of the
train, the commandment of the station
reports that he had orders to send the
train back west, but I am sure that
among the passengers there are still a
number of people so sick and exhaust
cd that further sojourn in these cars
will prove fatal"
We are still holding the train by
means of the cooperation of the Czech
| lieutenant, and in case of need he
agrees he will put the engine out of
order. Last night the station master
| showed us telegraphic instructions to
the effect that the train positively
must pull out at one a. M, but it is still
here. In case they wire the lieuten-
ant to obey his orders, he will wire
back that there are Instructions in the
way but that he is doing his best. In
case all else fails, he will obey instruc-
lions and the train will pull out She
will go say four miles and then she
will stop. We are fighting by every
means for chance to save these pitt
able lives At the hospital to-day con
ditions are as bad as ever-four new
deaths, three now dying, and new ar
rivals pouring in. There are now nearly
seven hundred. They have had to re-
q'lisit ON IN old out -building and on it's
filthy floor, stretched out on straw |
without pillows, in one room forty-one
by twelve feet, forty-two men are ly-
ing. Toilet arrangements are fright
full, and beyond description even for
Russia 1t is all unspeakable. DR..
Manget arrived last night, advising
us that General Graves had had long
conference with the Japanese and Rus
sian commanders both of whom had
assured him they would cooperate, but
this seems to mean very little.
We are still holding the train and
have made arrangements with Rus
sian bath some three-quarters of
nile from here to wash all the prison
FRS tomorrow for four hundred and
fifty roubles. They will start at six
, clock in the morning and walk to
he bath, where sixty at time will
lean themselves. They should be
through in ten hours, but it may take
onger Our car has arrived, and as each
nan goes in to the bath his infested :
will be taken from him
nd burned, and he will be given in ex-
hange a pair of socks, a sweater, and
pair of pajamas. They will then be
nut into new cars. The authorities do
ot wish to furnish buckets; the law
equires this, and the point will have
o be fought out.
At four o'clock in the morning of Z
november 90. Tt is bitterly cold. z
here was heavy snow storm last Y
light. Strong left at five O'Clock for 2
ne bath house so as to be ready, and e
LANCET and Oleson slept in the box Z
n to be on hand when the first pris- Il
ners arrive. am pretty nearly all y
| with bad throat, so will not get II
p until it is time to relieve Strong n
eight clock. u
The start was not made until seven II
irty, as Lieutenant Novack was I'M q
Die to find the Red Cross cars, which u
I'd been shifted during the night ~
Eight fifteen a. m. Here I am at u
e bath house having just relieved u
rong who is going home to break d
st. The baths are all ready and we q
e waiting for the first contingent. q
the distance, against the snow, we q
n see body of men advancing verv. 8
ry slowly and with great difficulty. q
any stumble as they walk and have q
be supported by the other prisoners. =
ere are in this party hundred and q
enty wretched people escorted by q
teen guards with loaded rifles. as q
,ugh these poor devils had strength .
show fight or run, even though so u
nded. 1t is all they can do to walk. u
The first sixty have gone in and now Il
re is fire burning in the ward r.
ere the disgusting clothes are burn Fl
!. Inside, the unfortknates have ~
III been given piece of soap and are r.
ubbing themselves while the guards *
ry out the clothes and put them on }
fire The wagon has arrived. with 81
hty sweaters, four hundred and fit.
pairs of socks, and one hundred and r
'nty pajamas. r
ON orroyy u-bau 4b,, 4x.a... ~