Dear Miss Barton: On board the captured vessels we find quite a number of aliens among the crews, mostly Cubans, and some American citizens, and their detention here and inability to get away for want of funds has exhausted their supply of food, and some of them will soon be entirely out. As there is no appropriation available from which food could be purchased, would you kindly provide for them until I can get definite instructions from the Department at Washington?

Very respectfully,
John F. Horr,
U.S. Marshal.

Attached to this letter was an official list of the Spanish prizes whose crews were in need of food. The boats of the “State of Texas” were quickly loaded with a supply of assorted provisions and, being taken in tow by the steam-launch of the transport “Panther,” the work of distribution began. All the ships in need were supplied with food and medicines for ten days, and their supply renewed every ten days for some weeks until government rations were regularly issued and auxiliary assistance was no longer necessary. The supplies on the “State of Texas” being intended for the reconcentrados in Cuba, her cargo was drawn upon to the smallest possible extent. Many of the prizes had on board cargoes of bananas and plantains, and the wells of the “Viveros” were filled with live fish. After some negotiating, arrangements were made to secure these cargoes at a trifling cost, and they were distributed among the crews of the vessels that carried nothing eatable. Tasajo, or jerked meat, was also bought and given out in the same way, and from one of the prizes loaded with dried meat from the Argentine, which was afterward sold at auction in Key West, forty tons were purchased and stored in the warehouse to supply the refugees, and to replace that portion of the cargo of the “State of Texas” which had been distributed to the prisoners of war.

A PART OF THE AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS FLEET IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR OF 1898.

Yacht “Red Cross.”—Failed to reach Cuba in time for service, and was used for transporting sick between military camps and New York. S.S. “San Antonio.”—Carried assorted cargo and hospital supplies to Matanzas and Cardenas for distribution to the interior towns. S.S. “State of Texas.”—Loaded before the declaration of war, with 1400 tons of food and hospital supplies and clothing for Cuban hungry. Carried Red Cross president and working staff and nurses. Used cargo for both U.S. Army and Cubans at Guantanamo, Siboney, the front and Santiago. Schooner “Mary E Morse.”—Carried 800 tons of ice to Santiago, used on transports carrying returned soldiers and sick men. Afterward carried transferred cargo of “Port Victor” to Baracoa and Jibarra for distribution among Cuban hungry. Schooner “Nocomis.”— Carried 700 tons of ice to Porto Rico.