Report by Horace F. Barnes.
Red Cross relief work for Porto Rico began with the arrival of a detachment of female nurses before the American and Spanish armies had ceased hostilities. These nurses, however, were ordered back to the States at once as attendants for returning sick and wounded soldiers. On the tenth of August the Executive Committee commissioned me as the Red Cross field agent for Porto Rico, and put me in charge of a cargo of relief supplies then on the steamship “Concho,” which sailed from New York on August 13.
With the aid of a good military map of the island, and of information obtained before sailing as to the location of the different divisions of the army, during the voyage the line of Red Cross work was determined. The army was in three divisions. The eastern, under General Brooke, was above Guayama; the central, under General Wilson, was at Ponce and vicinity; the western, under General Schwan, was in Mayaguez and the neighboring region.
It seemed to be the natural course to visit these divisions as soon as possible, ascertain their sanitary condition, give supplies as needed for the sick, wounded and convalescent, and then, after supplying the American forces, to visit the Spanish camps and hospitals and provide for them. Afterwards headquarters for stores and operations should be fixed at the most central convenient port for receiving goods from New York and distributing them with least cost and difficulty to all army stations. The plan outlined was closely followed, circumstances making it easily possible to do so. The “Concho” arrived at Ponce on August 20.
Two days afterward the ship with the cargo of Red Cross stores still unbroken on board, started for Arroyo, the port of Guayama, about thirty miles east of Ponce, where General Brooke’s command had its base of operations. There a large selection of relief supplies was left in charge of Chief Surgeon Huidekoper, of the division hospital at Guayama. Nothing could have been more auspicious as the beginning of Red Cross work in Porto Rico than this quick and free transportation of supplies to a distant command, with the minimum of labor and delay, at a period of most urgent need.
Returning, the “Concho” reached Ponce again on the twenty-fifth. The same night, on ascertaining that the steamship “Alamo” was to proceed the next day to Mayaguez and Arecibo, I arranged for lighters to put a cargo on board, to be divided between these two ports, intending the first for General Schwan’s command, and the second for the Sixth Massachusetts, at Utuado, the latter to be landed at Arecibo. The Surgeon of the Sixth Massachusetts was accordingly notified by wire to have wagons sent up to Arecibo to meet the “Alamo” on her arrival. Every thing worked admirably. The “Alamo” reached Mayaguez August 27, and ample supplies for the hospital of General Schwan’s command were landed at Mayaguez, and delivered to Dr. Bailey K. Ashford, surgeon in charge, who expressed most cordial and grateful appreciation.
Thence the “Alamo” proceeded, August 29, to Arecibo, which port was reached on the same day. There the wagons of the Sixth Massachusetts from Utuado were found in readiness to receive the consignment of goods brought for them, which were put in charge of Assistant Surgeon of the Sixth Massachusetts, Dr. F.A. Washburn. At Arecibo was a strong force of Spanish troops, having a military and a Red Cross hospital. The Spanish military commander, the captain of the port, and the chief surgeon of the Red Cross hospital, personally gave the kindest attentions, conducting me to all the military quarters and hospitals, yet while expressing thanks for the offer of goods from the American Red Cross, they declared they were not in need, as was evidently the case.
On the same day, August 29, my visit and departure having been wired to the Spanish Governor General Macias at San Juan, I took train thither, reaching the capital in the evening. The next day with an interpreter I visited General Macias at his headquarters, and was most cordially received, given the freedom of the city, especially including all the forts, barracks and hospitals, and on inquiry allowed if I chose to make any photographs of the military works, concerning which he said it did not matter as they would be so soon in the hands of the Americans. Five days were spent in San Juan. The forts, barracks and hospitals of the Spaniards were visited, but all need of American Red Cross supplies was courteously disavowed, evidently with truthfulness, for signs of want were nowhere apparent. General Macias kindly gave me a pass through all the Spanish military guards and civil jurisdictions under his command throughout the island of Porto Rico.
With this pass I started from San Juan September 2 by coach for Ponce. At Caguas I was politely invited by the German Consul General of Porto Rico, Herr Adolph Rauschenplat, who had been traveling alone in his coach behind me from San Juan, to join him in his carriage, and send mine back to San Juan. The invitation was heartily accepted. We dined together at Cayey. On reaching Aibonito while our relay of horses was being harnessed, and we had been surrounded by the Spanish soldiers and townspeople, engaging in pleasant chat with them, suddenly the captain of the Spanish troops with a guard appeared and marched us unceremoniously to the guardhouse. There we were challenged, and a parley ensued, until I showed my pass from General Macias. The change of front was spectacular, apologies were profuse, but I ended the affair by insisting successfully that the officer sign his name to my pass which was already rather heavily overloaded with the names of military and civil magnates, both Spanish and American.
A SOLDIER FUNERAL.
This team shows the manner of yoking the cattle by the head and horns.
A TYPICAL CUBAN CAMP.
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.