Red Cross Department [pp. 178-191]

RED CROSS DEPARTMENT
Captain Owen, Mrs. McLenegan has made daily visits
for the last two weeks. Since the hospital was established we have furnished a daily supply of milk, which
has been increased from time to time, until now we
are sending fourteen gallons of milk every day as well
as fifteen dozen eggs, the number of men ill in this
hospital making such large requisitions of milk and
eggs a necessity.
The Hospital Committee gratefully acknowledges
the receipt of twelve large chickens for hospital use
from the Red Cross Society of San Rafael, which donation is promised for each week while the necessity
exists.
Several of the regiments having gone away on their
long journey to Manila, I will not tell the story of
what was done for them, but will mention in passing,
that from Minnesota, Colorado, Idaho, and Wyoming,
come farewell letters telling of their gratitude for
the care given, and happy acknowledgment and
praise of the kindness of San Francisco people to
their fellow-countrymen.
Of the earliest comers we still have with us the
Twentieth Kansas, which has suffered more severely
in loss of men than any other regiment, I believe.
Surgeon Major Rafter has recently had his hospital
tent enlarged and its appearance much improved by a
flooring. Our Society has filled several requisitions
for drugs and tent furniture, also milk, eggs, and food.
To the Eighteenth and Twenty-third Regular Infantry, Mrs. A. W. Scott has been a faithful visitor and
has taken a deep interest in their welfare, as she has
also in that of the recently arrived recruits from Colorado, who had the misfortune to arrive here before
they were expected, as that seems to be the only way
to account for the fact that they were left to the tender mercies of the wind and the fog without blankets
for thirty-six hours. Our Society could not furnish
blankets, but Mrs. Scott did what we could for them
and carried to them woolen sleeping caps and neck
handkerchiefs, which they received with delight.
The recruits for the Oregon regiment, which sailed
in the first expedition, have been here a few days, and
each day sees the arrival of straggling squads of recruits for all regiments. To these unseasoned strangers our good visitor, Mrs Arthur Cornwall, pays
early visits, and with advice and care strives to prevent their need of medical aid Mrs. Cornwall has
also the privilege of assisting the other visitors and
ably supplements their work. Where so much is to be
done, any kindly aid is welcome, and the ladies of
Oakland, Alameda, San Rafael, Ross, or other auxiliary
Societies, need not fear that San Francisco will not
welcome their co-operation. There is more than
enough for all organized work and even for the spontaneous work of the kindly disposed, devoted men and
women of San Francisco,- only, for the protection of
the men themselves we would respectfully urge those
who wish to help, to do so through those in authority,
and if they desire to reach the sick, that they consult the surgeon's wishes while ministering to the
soldier.
Perhaps the amount expended in our work may be
of interest to those who have frequently asked what
we were doing with the money donated. The hospital
purchases are only a small portion of the money expended, but they in themselves are rather considerable. The medicines and supplies sent to hospitals
upon requisitions signed by surgeons in charge, have
amounted in the month past, from May 24th to June
28th, to $1,020.06; this is rather a considerable sum
and does not include the medicines sent with each ship
to Manila. For cots and hospital furniture the bills
amounted to $247.59 for the same period. We are
also spending about $20 a day for milk and eggs,
which will amount to a round sum if continued for
long. These figures may serve to answer in part the
question mentioned before.
In presenting this report I feel that it is quite inadequate. to so large a subject and to the interest which
the work inspires. In no other committee does the
worker in the Red Cross Society come more close to
the results of her labor or derive more satisfaction
from her efforts. At the same time sadness will come
and our hearts will ache at the sight of these brave
boys of ours suffering the hardships 6f war, even here
in the midst of friends and surrounded by loving and
willing hearts.
The picture will arise of posibilities to come, and
one and all work ceaselessly to give a little comfort
now to those for whom the future may have even
worse in store.
So let the work of the Red Cross go bravely on, and
may the blessings already showered upon it by grate ful hearts give added strength to those so earnestly
striving in the cause. May its flag be to the soldier
an emblem of comfort here, of succor in a foreign
land, and an added inspiration to duty.
Respectfully submitted,
MARIE R. GIBBONS,
Chairman Hospital Committee.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF NURSES OF THE RED
('CROSS SOCIETY
THE practical work of the Committee of Nurses has
been in the field, and from the day when the tent was
first pitched in the Presidio grounds to the present
time it has been constantly filled, and great pains have
been taken to have all the appointments of the tents
as comfortable as possible under the circumstances,
and I think we have succeeded, for one day when one
of the Generals happened to be passing our supply
tent he exclaimed: "Why, what is this? Why this is
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