These clinics continued at the asylum until the United States Government, through the Consul-General, advised all American citizens to leave the island.
On March 2, the leading physicians of Havana were called in council, and methods of caring for the sick of the city were discussed, especially with reference to the best plan for avoiding the creation of a pauper element, through the abuse of the out-patient clinics. The plans formulated at the council were adopted and adhered to in the prosecution of the hospital work.
With the work in Havana still in progress, it was decided to make a trip to the interior. A special train was placed at the disposal of the Red Cross staff, and a visit was made to the principal towns in the provinces of Havana, Matanzas and Santa Clara. It was from the information gained by personal observation upon this trip, that Senator Proctor compiled his famous speech, delivered in the United States Senate, upon the starvation and distress among the reconcentrados in the Western Provinces of Cuba.
At Matanzas, Sagua la Grande and Cienfuegos, well-conducted dispensaries were already in existence, but were almost destitute of means. Supplies sufficient for two months were immediately ordered forward from the storehouse in Havana, and these institutions were left in good condition. After doing what relief work was possible at the time, the party returned to Havana.
On arrival at the headquarters, Miss Barton called the staff together to consider what action should be taken upon the Consul-General’s recommendation that all Americans should return home. The entire staff expressed their willingness to remain, but it was decided to confer with Captain-General Blanco. The Captain-General stated that he would be glad to have the Red Cross remain, and that so far as concerned the regulars of the Spanish army, the staff and equipment would be entirely safe, but that, owing to the irregular and unruly element in the army, the volunteers, whose actions could not be controlled, he considered it best that the Red Cross should retire before hostilities began. General Blanco, however, offered to be personally responsible for the safety of Miss Barton so long as she remained.
On the ninth of April the Red Cross retired, arriving at Port Tampa on the “Olivette” three days later, and Miss Barton and staff took up temporary quarters at Tampa, awaiting the time when the work in Cuba might be again taken up.
During the stay in Tampa the nurses were daily instructed in emergency field work. All the appliances usually considered indispensable were left at the headquarters, and they were compelled to depend upon such conveniences as might be improvised on the spot. Stretchers and splints were made from the limbs of trees; bindings and bandages were made from the long grass, which was pliable and easily woven. These exercises were accompanied by lectures on discipline in the field.
On May 1, the entire party again arrived at Key West and joined the steamship “State of Texas,” where the active work of relief began, our attention being first directed to the refugees in Key West, and afterward to the Spanish prisoners of war on the vessels captured by the blockading squadron. The crews of these vessels were, in many instances, short of provisions, and in some cases had had nothing whatever to eat, except fish, for fifteen days or more. The government appropriation was not yet available, and several weeks must elapse before government rations could be obtained for them. At the request of the United States Marshal, the prisoners were supplied by the “State of Texas,” and were cared for medically by the surgeons of the Red Cross staff. A number of surgical operations were performed.
Not only were the prisoners fed, clothed and cared for, but by an arrangement made with the United States court and the naval authorities the men were permitted to write to their homes and friends, the letters being left open and certified by the Red Cross, and afterward forwarded to their destinations, those for Spain being transmitted through the Red Cross of Portugal, which had kindly offered to act as intermediary for the transmission of such communications. Thus the prisoners were not only enabled to write to their parents and friends, but the Red Cross was able, by this means, to show to the Spanish people in Spain and Cuba, through the letters from the captives themselves, what manner of treatment they were receiving as prisoners of war. This, it was hoped, would not fail to have its effect if in the course of the hostilities men of our own army or navy should be captured.
In the latter part of May, Miss Barton having occasion to return to Washington, the “State of Texas” left Key West and proceeded to Port Tampa. There we lived among the transports until the fleet sailed for Cuba. There is hardly space to tell in detail all the work done on shore and in the harbor. The impression that the “State of Texas,” with the insignia of the Red Cross on either bow and on the smokestacks, was a hospital ship had become general among the troops, though she was really loaded with medicines, clothing and general supplies for the reconcentrados of Cuba. As this impression prevailed, and the Red Cross was desirous of assisting our own men whenever necessary and adding in every possible way to their comfort, the spacious smoking room on board the ship was fitted up as an operating room, and the purser’s room converted into a dispensary. No hospital staff in any of our great institutions could have been more proud than this little band of workers with their emergency hospital equipment, and its outfit of instruments and appliances—unsurpassed by the equipment of many a first-class hospital.