This trip was memorable not only for the enjoyment of a ride over one of the best long roads in the world, amid the displays of all tropical fruits and flora, views of many characteristic people, habitations, customs, and cultivated sections of the island, but for the intelligent and charming exposition of everything, together with discussion of the social, political, military and commercial interests and problems of Porto Rico, at the present stage of affairs, by Herr Rauschenplat, whose English speech scarcely betrays his German vernacular or his customary Spanish.
Arriving at Ponce on the evening of September 2, on the following day storage for Red Cross goods was secured in the Custom House at the Playa, or Port of Ponce, which continued our only headquarters during work in Porto Rico. The distribution of goods commenced on Sunday, September 4. The goods at first distributed in Ponce were the remainder of the cargo brought on the “Concho,” but left in charge of and lightered off of the “Concho,” and carefully stored by kind agreement in the Custom House, when I was obliged to depart on the “Alamo” for Mayaguez and Arecibo or lose a most valuable opportunity for distributing stores where urgently needed.
Every applicant not seeking for himself alone was interrogated as to the number of sick or convalescents for whom the goods were desired, and informed that our provisions were specifically for these classes. The amount bestowed was in view of the number of sick thus reported. Then on a sheet of paper headed by the date of application all articles were recorded, checked off when taken, and the signature of the officer applying was affixed. Then my official stamp as field agent was affixed, and the paper put on file as a voucher. All goods received by steamer came into the office under my personal supervision, and with very few necessary exceptions none went out without it.
On September 4 the office work of the Red Cross in Porto Rico was inaugurated with five representative issues of stores, which became matter of record. As the later files show, the number rapidly multiplied and the office work was increased by a constant procession of single applicants for small things. A dose of medicine, a pencil, an abdominal band, a comfort bag, something to read, a pair of stockings, a handkerchief, a towel—a little stationery—such applications alone made work enough for one man, and one had to be secured, Corporal Patrick Syron, who was detailed from the First Engineers, and whose help was invaluable.
As the work was increasing very rapidly, and appeals pouring in from all the camps and hospitals, the executive committee sent as my assistant General W.T. Bennett, who arrived September 7 on the “Seneca,” which also brought a fresh and valuable cargo of stores. Having like myself had army experience in the Civil War, General Bennett easily grasped the situation, and while I attended specially to the distribution of goods at the office, he gave efficient help in managing the outside relations of the work, made doubly exacting by the necessity of lightering off all goods from ships, and transferring them by native porters to the headquarters, amidst piles of army stores, and a horde of omnipresent and vigilant thieves. Any lull in the office work was improved in visiting hospitals and camps, and noting how goods were received and distributed. By frequent consultation of the official figures, at the chief surgeon’s office, of the sick rate at all military stations on the island, it was possible to judge correctly concerning the neediest places for sending relief, and also to judge the merits of applications.
The extraordinary amount of typhoid fever and intestinal diseases among the troops was the object of thoughtful attention. Several native physicians and army surgeons were solicited to write their diagnosis and treatment of these diseases, in the hope that their combined testimony may furnish valuable data for guidance of physicians and surgeons who may have charge of our troops here in the future.
On October 6, Mr. Monroe Scott, arrived from New York on the steamship “Chester,” to be second assistant in our work. He was desirous of giving personal service to the sick, as he had just came from such work in the Northern army hospitals. But the needs at the various hospitals in Porto Rico were being so fully met that he gave his attention to the varied demands at the office, where his courteous manner and efficiency in detail were highly appreciated. Two ambulances were sent to Ponce in September. They proved of great value in emergency cases requiring quick transportation to and from the hospitals, and in conveying our goods for short distances. It must be admitted, however, that they proved also a delicate responsibility, as everybody seemed to regard them as free pleasure coaches in which the Red Cross was eager to take the town to ride.
A daily care was to note all incoming steamers, to board them to inquire for Red Cross supplies, also to note all departing steamers and provide that all sick and convalescents had Red Cross goods enough to insure their comfort for the homeward voyage. The chief surgeons were appealed to and asked not to allow any detachment of sick men to go home without previously notifying us, so that we might provide for their nutriment in supplement to that provided by the Government. It is proper to add that the surgeons going home in charge of the sick on ships were all attentive to their duty in securing Red Cross supplies for their patients. Twelve shipments were made for transports carrying home the sick.
One of the duties of the office was to give first aid to the sick and injured. Hardly a day passed without our giving many prescriptions of medicine to soldiers for intestinal troubles, or first dressing to men injured on the pier or on shipboard. We carefully gave antiseptic dressing and bound up gashed heads and limbs, and tenderly conveyed the unfortunates to the proper hospitals or to their homes or ships.
In September on order from New York, we began to furnish ice to hospitals not already supplied. We purchased machine-made ice at the heavy cost of forty pesos a ton, and had arranged with the hospitals of Coamo and Guayama, the only ones not supplied, to send wagons weekly for a load. For this work we were about to establish an ice-storage plant, when a large cargo furnished by the Government arrived, and although about one hundred tons soon after came from New York, consigned to the Red Cross, it was not needed, nor an ice-house for storage, as the government supply was freely furnished to all in need, and was so large as to last till the Red Cross ice, though carefully stored in a covered lighter, had entirely melted. Had the Government not made this provision, a free grant of site, lumber and labor for an ice plant already secured, would have been utilized. The same cablegram authorizing an ice supply also authorized the supply of milk as needed. On inquiry it was found that all of the hospitals were already well provided with this article. In case of the hospital for the First Engineers, however, the ingenious surgeon, Dr. Proben, had opened negotiations for a cow, and we promptly insisted on paying for it, but were allowed to pledge only one-half its cost, which we most cheerfully did.
Twelve hospital tents, 14x14 feet each, were furnished by the Red Cross, of which one was loaned to the Engineers’ hospital, one to the Sixth Massachusetts hospital, and ten were located, under medical supervision, beneath a row of cocoanut trees, for the accommodation of convalescents awaiting transportation. A suitable trench was dug, flooring put in all the tents by the engineers, and straw was furnished for bedding by the quartermaster. This camp was named “Camp Barton.”
Some of the incidental work of the Red Cross was to answer letters of inquiry concerning missing soldiers; to guide numerous strangers arriving at the port; to get stragglers of the army into their proper quarters; to help soldiers in various conditions of distress; always to be ready with a kind look and friendly hand, as proper representatives of a generous public, desiring to show full appreciation of these who upheld the nation’s honor with the offering of their lives. Every man on the staff of the Red Cross in Porto Rico, could he have embodied his real preferences, would have spent his whole time personally with the boys in their tents or hospitals. It was a real regret to us all that from early morning until dark we had to be hard at work, with few exceptions, in dealing out stores and attending to duties at headquarters.
But as we were serving, not a campaigning army, but garrisons after hostilities had ceased, and the supply of surgeons and nurses was ample, there was no need of personal field service on our part. A tribute of respect and praise is demanded in honor of the army officials of Porto Rico, especially those of the southern district, so wisely administered by General Guy V. Henry, now Governor of Porto Rico. The different departments were ably conducted. Their relations were entirely cordial. The difficult problems presenting themselves were handled in a manful way.
The Red Cross carefully avoided the role of critic or censor, and sought to conform to the wishes of commanders and surgeons, while watchfully providing for the needs of the sick, as ascertained by independent investigation. It never had occasion to make a protest, nor acted as a meddler, but attended strictly to its own business, and kept in its own place as an army auxiliary, and servant of the sick. Hence from the first of its work the military, naval, surgical, medical, commissary and quartermaster’s departments treated it as a part of their own common fraternity, freely granting all its requests, subjecting it to no restrictions, and cordially accepting and forwarding its beneficent operations. We received every advantage gratuitously. Not in a single instance were our requests denied. By this cordial understanding many hundreds of dollars of expense were saved to the Red Cross.
Indications of the heavy sick rate in the army of Porto Rico may be found in the following data, gathered at the time from official sources: In August the surgeon in charge at Mayaguez reported that fully 7.5 per cent of the troops stationed there were sick in hospitals, or in quarters, or unfit for duty. September 10 there were in the district of Ponce over 1400 sick, including 350 typhoid cases, 600 malarial, 350 intestinal diseases. September 20 the official report shows 750 sick in Ponce, 799 in Coamo, 336 in Mayaguez, 264 in Utuado, 22 in Guanica, and 328 in Guayama. September 28th the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Infantry, at Coamo, reported 625 sick. One company had no officers on duty, all being sick. October 3 there were 125 sick in Ponce, 60 in Guayama, 65 in Utuado, 40 in Mayaguez, and 491 at Coamo. Total in these places, 781. This great reduction in the number of reported sick was due to large shipments of patients to the States. October 20 there were 747 sick in the general hospital in Ponce, 120 in that at Mayaguez, and 125 in that at Guayama.
On November 10, 603 men were reported sick in the district of Ponce. The data above given will best be understood if it is remembered that they comprise for the most part only hospital inmates. The sick in quarters were not generally reported, though they fully equaled in number those in hospitals. Again it should be remembered that those unfit for duty equaled in number both of the other two classes. In brief, during September, October and November, not more than one-half of the army was available for duty. In September a captain of engineers informed me that in the morning he had only four men report for duty.
Several obvious causes operated to produce the great sick rate. The effects of exposures and hardships before reaching Porto Rico, the nature of the food, malarious influences, native fruits, the heavy rains, and the excessive heat, were potent factors in producing the general illness. There was no invigoration in the atmosphere, its heat and humidity being very depressing, and not allowing rapid recovery after prostration. Almost every man lost heavily in weight, the amounts varying from twenty-five to one hundred pounds. This was true even of those who were extremely careful of their diet and habits. During September and October a register of temperatures, kept by Dr. Charles I. Proben, surgeon of the First Engineers, showed an average daily temperature of 82.52° Fahrenheit, and in October 80.136° Fahrenheit. These figures give little suggestion of what the soldiers had to endure, as for instance, September 20 the mercury stood 96° in the shade at midday, and 113° in the sun. October 3 the mercury stood at 92° at midday. These health conditions made every American in Porto Rico a fitting subject for relief, but Red Cross supplies were limited as far as practicable to the sick and convalescent.
The extent and direction of our Red Cross work are indicated below:
These issues were all recorded, and vouchers filed. The number of issues to single applicants for their own immediate use, mostly private soldiers, were over 1200. Prescriptions of medicine to sick soldiers, applying at the office, about 300. Wounds dressed at office, in first aid to wounded men, about 30. Sick carried in ambulances of Red Cross, 50.
The camps and hospitals served by the Red Cross were scattered all over the island, some accessible only through difficult mountain passes, bad roads, or by long sea voyages, necessitating weekly consultation of the chief surgeons, sick reports from all military stations, and careful study of the best routes and means of transportation.
Three months’ experience lead one to say that if a man knows how to keep a hotel, run a restaurant, and a refreshment stand; if he be a good grocer, dry goodsman, apothecary, financier, accountant, doctor, and linguist; if he have the strength of a Samson, the patience of a Job, and the cheerfulness of the morning lark; if he have the power to see much and say little, to sweat and not swear, to behold limitless suffering and be fair to all; if he is pachydermous to the shafts of criticism, diplomat enough to secure universal favor, and worthy to hold it by solid merit, let him try a Field Agency of the Red Cross with confidence, for in such service he will need all of these qualities in abundance. And yet, in the midst of it all, he will daily hear the sweetest words of gratitude, and feel that he is doing the most self-rewarding work of his whole life.
By the courtesy of the War Department, the Executive Committee were enabled to make several shipments, both to Cuba and to Porto Rico, on the United States transports. With the exception of the first cargo by the “Port Victor,” the larger part of these supplies which should properly have been consigned to the Red Cross at the front, were sent direct to the commanding officers, or to the officers of the medical department of the army, upon request. The consignment of the “Port Victor,” although received by the Red Cross and forwarded to Gibra for distribution, was afterward taken by an officer of the U.S. army without permission. Among the shipments were:
“Port Victor,” July 10, to Santiago, 800 tons general provisions and medical supplies.
“New Hampshire,” July 15, to Santiago, 25 tons groceries and hospital supplies.
“Olivette,” July 18, to Santiago, clothing and delicacies.
“Resolute,” July 19, to Santiago, general supplies and clothing. Value, $2000.
“Missouri,” July 19, to Santiago, clothing, laundry plant, ice plant, cots and delicacies.
“Seneca,” July 21, to Santiago, clothing for 50 men.
“Kanawa,” July 22, to Santiago, 10 cases of supplies.
“Concho,” August 1, to Santiago, supplies for 200 men.
“Breakwater,” August 6, to Santiago, 10 cases general supplies.
“Harvard,” August 5, to Santiago, 16 cases groceries and clothes.
“Altai,” August 5, to Santiago, 96 cases delicacies and clothing.
“Seguranca,” August 20, to Santiago, 113 cases provisions and soups.
“Port Victor,” October 7, to Santiago, 115 tons of ice, 50 equipped cots.
“Concho,” August 13, to Porto Rico, 900 cases general provisions and 50 equipped cots.
“Yucatan,” September 7, to Porto Rico, 545 cases general provisions and medical supplies.
“Obdam,” September 14, to Porto Rico, 387 cases assorted provisions and 2 ambulances.
“Chester,” September 27, to Porto Rico, 406 cases assorted supplies.
“Missouri,” September 19, to Porto Rico, 60 cases general supplies.
“Berlin,” September 20, to Porto Rico, 20 barrels ginger ale.
“Port Victor,” October 7, to Porto Rico, 115 tons of ice and 50 equipped cots, duplicate of shipment to Santiago.
“Panama,” October 12, to Porto Rico, 300 cases of groceries and clothing, 50 equipped cots and 101 cases medicine for General Wood at Santiago.
Since their appointment by the President of the United States, the Central Cuban Relief Committee have been busily engaged in carrying on the great work entrusted to them by the government. In addition to the smaller consignments of materials sent for distribution to the relief stations in Cuba and on the Florida coast, they have expended in the purchase and forwarding of larger shipments of relief, over two hundred thousand dollars, and have collected in money and supplies nearly half a million. The latest important shipment was sent by the steamer “City of San Antonio,” consisting of an assorted cargo of about 700 tons, which was landed at the port of Matanzas, and distributed by the representatives of the Red Cross in charge of the vessel.
The origin of this great volunteer emergency committee has already been explained in these pages. But the story of their wonderful work can never be fully told. With their co-operation much suffering has been prevented or relieved, and many lives have been saved; through the ministrations made possible by their efforts, the humblest private in the ranks now realizes that “the great heart of the nation will not let the soldier die.” No words can express the gratitude of the Red Cross for their powerful assistance. Faithful, earnest and efficient, they have labored incessantly through the campaign, and now at the close they make the following short but eloquent report:
Report of the Relief Committee.
Organized May 3, 1898.
Officers.—Rt. Rev. Henry C. Potter, D.D., chairman; Alexander E. Orr, vice-chairman; William T. Wardwell, vice-chairman; John P. Faure, Secretary; Frederick D. Tappen, treasurer; Samuel Woolverton, assistant treasurer.
Members.—Dr. Felix Adler, Bishop Edward G. Andrews, August Belmont, Joseph H. Choate, William P. Clyde, John D. Crimmins, Chauncey M. Depew, Cleveland H. Dodge, John P. Faure, Edwin Gould, Clement A. Griscom, Jr., John S. Huyler, Morris K. Jesup, Edwin Langdon, Dr. A.M. Lesser, William G. Low, Rev. Sylvester Malone, J. Pierpont Morgan, Levi P. Morton, Alexander E. Orr, Rt. Rev. Henry C. Potter, D.D., LL.D., Percy R. Pyne, Douglas Robinson, John D. Rockefeller, Jacob H. Schiff, Gustav H. Schwab, Charles Stewart Smith, Dr. George F. Shrady, James Speyer, William R. Stewart, A.S. Solomons, Frederick D. Tappen, Howard Townsend, Dr. T. Gaillard Thomas, William T. Wardwell.
Executive Committee.—William T. Wardwell, chairman; John P. Faure, secretary; Levi P. Morton, Frederick D. Tappen, George F. Shrady, M.D., William G. Low, Gustav H. Schwab, Cleveland H. Dodge, A.S. Solomons, Douglas Robinson, Howard Townsend, A. Monae Lesser, M.D.; Rt. Rev. Henry C. Potter, D.D., LL.D., ex-officio; Alexander E. Orr, ex-officio.
Finance Committee.—J. Pierpont Morgan, chairman; Frederick D. Tappen, vice-chairman; August Belmont, James Speyer, Gustav H. Schwab, Edwin Langdon, Levi P. Morton.
Committee on Yacht “Red Cross.”—William T. Wardwell, Gustav H. Schwab, Alexander E. Orr.
Supply Committee.—Cleveland H. Dodge, chairman; Mrs. W.S. Cowles, Mrs. John Lyon Gardiner, John S. Huyler, Percy R. Pyne, George F. Shrady, M.D., A.S. Solomons, Howard Townsend; Miss Helen Fidelia Hoffman, secretary; F.C. Garmany, purchasing agent.
Medical Advisory Board.—Wm. H. Draper, M.D., chairman; Andrew J. McCosh, M.D., secretary; Francis P. Kinnicutt, M.D., Francis Delafield, M.D., John S. Billings, M.D., Edward G. Janeway, M.D., Charles McBurney, M.D., Richard H. Derby, M.D.
| Total receipts | $305,229 66 | |
| Office supplies | $5,117 89 | |
| Food supplies, groceries, milk, fruit, etc. | 46,067 95 | |
| Cots and equipments | 24,946 09 | |
| Medical supplies, wines, liquors, etc. | 11,357 33 | |
| Clothing and dry goods | 1,413 61 | |
| Miscellaneous supplies | 16,051 14 | |
| Account nurses | 17,718 24 | |
| Ambulances and mules | 7,782 56 | |
| Ice | 27,666 14 | |
| Yacht “Red Cross” and maintenance | 54,057 16 | |
| Cash to General Committee, account of camps | 59,913 02 | |
| Laundry plant | 1,230 10 | |
| Freight, express charges, towing, transportation, etc. | 4,283 05 | 277,604 28 |
| Balance on hand | $27,625 38 |
Woman’s Committee on Auxiliaries.—Mrs. John Lyon Gardiner, chairman; Mrs. Paul Dana, secretary; Miss Martha L. Draper, treasurer; Mrs. Butler Duncan, Mrs. James W. Gerard, Mrs. Bettina Hofker Lesser, Mrs. J. Pierpont Morgan, Dr. Lucy Hall Brown, Mrs. W.S. Cowles, Mrs. Winthrop Cowdin, Mrs. Levi P. Morton, Mrs. Henry C. Potter, Mrs. G.F. Shrady.
By a resolution of the Executive Committee the above ladies were appointed a Woman’s Committee on Auxiliaries, charged with the duty of organizing auxiliary committees throughout the United States, to assist in Red Cross work. This committee met for the first time on May 12, and it was decided to interest, by personal effort and correspondence, the people of the country in serving the sick and wounded soldiers and sailors during the war without regard to nationality, in accordance with the rules of the Conference of Geneva.
From its inaugural meeting on May 12 until the present date the Woman’s Committee has authorized the organization of ninety-two auxiliaries, many of these with numerous sub-auxiliaries, thus spreading the work throughout the country from Maine to the Rocky Mountains, the western limit of the work of the Relief Committee.
| Cots | 3,601 | Under drawers | 6,937 | |
| Sheets | 13,623 | Comfort bags | 1,188 | |
| Draw sheets | 994 | Palm-leaf fans | 6 | cs. |
| Rubber sheets | 226 | Cot pads | 1,006 | cs. |
| Pillowcases | 13,858 | Mosquito netting | 32 | pcs. |
| Blankets | 586 | Nurses’ caps | 271 | |
| Towels | 36,821 | Nurses’ aprons | 100 | |
| Wash cloths | 10,473 | Brassards | 90 | |
| Nightshirts | 12,388 | Old linen | 10 cs. | |
| Pajamas | 14,264 | Napkins | 466 | |
| Wrappers | 53 | Stationery | 2 cs. | |
| Handkerchiefs | 40,268 | Delicacies | 900 cs. | |
| Socks | 8,484 | Tobacco | 20 cs. | |
| Slippers | 2,342 | Pipes | 5,000 | |
| Abdominal bands | 18,557 | Literature | 120 cs. | |
| Negligee shirts | 5,097 | Miscellaneous articles | 3,394 | |
| Undershirts | 6,937 | Red Cross flags | 70 | |
| Estimated value, $80,000. | ||||
Auxiliary No. 1 provided eleven equipped ambulances with forty mules. For Hospital Ship “Missouri”: two hundred electric fans, telephones, six rubber beds, disinfecting plant, carbonating plant, twenty-eight foot steam launch, thirty-seven foot steam launch, sent to Chief Surgeon Havard at Santiago. Supplies of clothing and delicacies sent to Colonel Wood at Santiago.
Auxiliary No. 2 opened a work shop on Madison Avenue and Fifty-ninth Street. There women, members of the families of enlisted men, were employed to make the garments supplied by this auxiliary. Employment was given to these women both at their homes and at the shop. Those who took work home were paid by the piece. In all, 142 women were employed, many having steady work for over five months. Up to December 1, 20,842 articles were made by this Auxiliary.
Auxiliary No. 3 has perhaps brought more comfort to the sick and wounded soldiers than any of the others. It was organized for the special work of providing funds for the maintenance of trained nurses, and as will be seen by the following list of nurses sent out by this auxiliary, no opportunity to relieve the suffering of the sick was ever passed by.
Railway transportation was furnished for nearly four hundred nurses sent out from the New York office.
The number of nurses employed may be divided approximately into four classes: (1) Those employed, maintained and paid by the auxiliary. (2) Those whose salaries and maintenance were borne partly by the government, and partly by the auxiliary. (3) Those who signed the government contract and were paid and supplied with army rations by the government, but received additional supplies from the auxiliary. (4) Those who were paid by the auxiliary and maintained by local aid.
The salaries of some and maintenance of all were borne by the auxiliary. Nurses were also supplied on emergency calls to the Eighth and Ninth Regiment Armories.
Auxiliary No. 5 sent equipped cots to the different camps in the United States, Cuba and Porto Rico, supplying in all 3766.
Auxiliary No. 10 undertook to send ice to Cuba and Porto Rico, the blockading fleet, and the different camps. This auxiliary also furnished the ice plant on the Hospital Ship “Missouri,” and expended in all for ice $27,802.20.
The work of this auxiliary appealed especially to every one during the hot weather, and donations poured in upon it, not the least of which was a steady income from the “Nathalie Schenck Ice Chain,” which produced a revenue of $24,000 in three months.
Auxiliary No. 17, enrolled seventy-four sub-auxiliaries, with a total membership of 6173.
To the Supply Committee this auxiliary sent in the largest quantity of supplies.
Auxiliary No. 19 raised funds for a laundry plant, and put same on Hospital Ship “Missouri.”
Auxiliary No. 22 had five sub-auxiliaries, with a total membership of 1018. 14,144 garments, 850 cases and packages of food, and 12,583 books and magazines were sent to the Supply Depot. In September the auxiliary took as its particular work the supplying of clothing to destitute soldiers applying for same, with properly signed orders, at 554 Broadway. Nearly 800 men were given underwear, blue flannel shirts, socks, handkerchiefs, night shirts, etc., etc.
Auxiliary No. 40.—The War Emergency Relief Board of Cleveland became an auxiliary to the Red Cross in June, with 163 sub-auxiliaries. Ten thousand dollars in money, and between thirty and forty thousand dollars worth of supplies, were sent to the front. Two thousand dollars were spent in fitting up unfurnished wards in Cleveland hospitals, where 533 soldiers were cared for. The wives and families of soldiers and sailors were also cared for. Five thousand four hundred and fifty hot breakfasts and dinners were served at the Union Depot to soldiers passing through Cleveland. Four hundred cases of clothing and delicacies were shipped by this auxiliary.
June 22 to December 1.
Total Number, 427.