It is not to be wondered at that in such conditions our soldiers began to fall victims to calentura, a prevalent fever from which very few people there escape, even though surrounded by the best sanitary conditions. The yellow fever scare had taken hold of a part of our soldiers before they left the states; and as there were a great many contract surgeons in the army, who were inexperienced in diagnosing tropical fevers, it was not long before it was reported that the yellow fever had broken out, and considerable demoralization ensued. The Red Cross party which was at the front was requested to return to the steamer; and all the buildings at Siboney, including the hospital, were ordered to be burned “to stop the spread of the fever.” Dr. and Mrs. Lesser and Sister Minnie Rogal had already fallen victims to the fever, and were at that time lying in the Red Cross Hospital at Siboney. A temporary fever camp had been started in the hills at the back of Siboney, and they were taken there, accompanied by Sisters Isabelle and Annie both of whom afterward had the fever.
Right here let me say that a Dr. Gray connected with the Medical Department of the Army has been quoted in the papers as saying that the Red Cross was to blame for the outbreak of the yellow fever in Siboney, inasmuch as that organization had opened a hospital in a building that had been condemned, before any army hospital had been opened. It is only necessary to say that the Red Cross Hospital was not opened until over a week after the American and Cuban Army Hospitals had been opened in buildings that had been previously condemned by army officers.
Referring to this subject, Major Louis A. La Garde, Surgeon U.S.A., has given this testimony:
The Cubans deceived Dr. Pope, as they had deceived Dr. Guiteras, by telling him that there had been no yellow fever in Siboney. Dr. Guiteras believed this. On one occasion he told me that Siboney didn’t look like a yellow fever locality, as the place was hilly and well drained, except in a small section to the northeast of the town, where there was a stream. Dr. Guiteras advised that hospitals be established in houses in Siboney, and he thought there was no danger of infection because of such action.
As I write this report the War Investigating Commission is holding its sessions, and the country is impatiently awaiting its decision as to where the blame rests for the many shortcomings that were developed during the Santiago campaign, I have just been reading the testimony of Dr. Frank Donaldson, Assistant Surgeon of Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, in which he remarks:
“My experience is that the reason the Rough Riders fared so well was because we hustled for ourselves.”
When Dr. Donaldson arrived in Siboney he immediately came aboard the Red Cross steamer and announced that he was about to join the Rough Riders, and would like some supplies to take out with him. He was given everything that he wanted that we had in our stores; and the next day he came with two more members of his regiment, and after having breakfast with us, made another requisition for an increased amount of good things. These were cheerfully given and, in addition, shoes and underclothing from the private wardrobes of the members of the Red Cross were added, to meet the required needs that could not be filled otherwise, owing to the fact that these things were not in the steamer’s cargo.
I esteem it a privilege to be able to testify to the exactness of the doctor’s testimony as to his ability and success as a “hustler,” and still more to be able to show where he “hustled,” which appears to have escaped his memory.
A few days previous to the fever scare our supply of ice, coffee, fruit and other needful articles running short, the steamer “State of Texas” was ordered to go to Jamaica to replenish her stores. While in Kingston we met many refugees from Santiago, among them Mr. Louis Brooks and Mr. Robt. Douglas, Sr. Both these gentlemen placed their residences in Santiago at the disposal of Miss Barton; she accepted that of Mr. Douglas, and we afterwards spent several very happy and comfortable weeks within its hospitable walls. Mr. Douglas also offered the Red Cross the use of his warehouses in Santiago which was accepted, and we are indebted to these gentlemen for many other favors and their kindness is remembered with gratitude and pleasure.