Fighting the Cholera at San Stefano
By G. Bie Ravndal,
American Consul General, Secretary Red Cross Chapter.
Our Chapter was just withdrawing from the earthquake stricken coast of the sea of Marmora, where, owing to the generosity of charitable Americans, acting through the American National Red Cross, it had been enabled to furnish medical and other timely aid, as described in my report of October, 1912, when the wardogs were let loose in the Balkans, and then began the initial scenes of that terrible drama which, during the winter, has monopolized the attention of the world.
Hardly had the curtain fallen after the first battles, which followed each other in swift, unrelenting succession, before the cholera began its fearful ravages, competing with the shrapnel in deadly work.
Thousands of families, mostly women, children and old men, fled before the onrush of soldiers from the north. Their suffering on the trail baffles all description.
No feature of the catastrophe proved more heartrending than the condition of affairs in the San-Stefano cholera camp, in which masses of sick and wounded soldiers were thrown together after the battles of Louleh Bourgas and Wisa. It is gratifying to be able to report the fact that it was Hoffman Philip, secretary of the American Embassy in Constantinople; Major Clyde Sinclair Ford, of the Medical Corps of the United States Army, and Frederick Moore, of the Associated Press, who taking their lives in their hands, first undertook the heroic work of organizing relief in this place of horror. They were nobly assisted by Reverend Dr. Frew, of the Scotch Mission in Constantinople, by two Swiss ladies, residents of San-Stefano, Miss Alt and Mrs. Schneider, and also by Hon. Maurice Baring, of London. The details of the relief furnished by our Chapter in the San-Stefano cholera camp have been described in letters by Mrs. W. W. Rockhill, wife of the American Ambassador at Constantinople, and I shall not attempt to add to the information submitted by her, as at the time under report I was in the United States. Mrs. Rockhill has taken a leading part in the relief work instituted by the Constantinople Chapter in the present emergencies, and the Chapter is deeply grateful to her. Ultimately the San-Stefano situation was taken in hand by the Red Crescent.
COMMITTEE OF NICHAUTACHE (SULTAN’S) HOSPITAL.
EGYPTIAN RED CRESCENT MISSION UNDER DR. MAX REICH.
Even before the San-Stefano need had been discovered by Mr. Hoffman Philip, whose action in this relation cannot be too highly praised, the Constantinople Chapter had established two Red Cross wards for wounded soldiers in the barracks at Tash-Kesla in Constantinople, and a fully equipped operating room. This hospital work has been, and is still being, conducted by Major Ford. Major Ford came here while on leave and generously offered his services to the Constantinople Chapter. His professional skill and administrative experience have enabled the Chapter to render invaluable help, which otherwise could not have been furnished by us, in saving lives and alleviating suffering. Major Ford has been ably assisted by D. Alton Davis, secretary of the International Y. M. C. A. in Constantinople; Dr. Walton, surgeon of U. S. S. Scorpion, and Dr. Kazakos, a graduate of Robert College.
Since Christmas the Chapter has been giving special attention to the “refugees.”
Dr. Wilfred Mellvaine Post, of the American Medical Mission in Konia, magnanimously volunteered to superintend the Chapter’s efforts in the field for the relief of refugees. Associated with him is Miss Jeannie Jillson, of the American School for Girls in Broussa.
Next to Broussa, as far as the Chapter’s present activities in behalf of the refugees are concerned, comes Salonica. Our relief work is also being extended into Monastir and Koricha in Albania.