Red Cross Department [pp. 178-191]

OVERLAND MONTHLY
adjuncts, so ably managed by Mrs. Requa and her
competent corps of assistants. The ladies have been
untiring in their efforts to aid the good work.
The Hospitality Committee has entertained, since
May twenty-eighth, about seventeen thousand, five
hundred troops, besides serving coffee and lunches for
the Manila expeditions, numbering some thirteen
thousand men.
The ladies of this Committee wish to thank Messrs.
Colnon, Harney, and Herrold, Harbor Commissioners,
and Mr. H. C. Holmes, Chief Engineer, for endeavoring
to make the Hospitality quarters comfortable; the
Press, whose columns have always. been open to their
appeals; and the public which has aided them so liberally and encouraged them in their work.
Respectfully submitted,
MRS. I LOWENBERG, Chairman.
REPORT OF MANAGERS OF SUPPLY DEPARTMENT AT
SIXTEEN POST STREET
THE details I would set before you have been worked
out, not by one person alone, but by persistent and
united effort, to do all in the power of the men and
women of San Francisco to relieve and assist the
needs of our soldier friends, who come to us, as if by
magic,- as we recall the steady march up Market
street, and the clustering together of this white
mirage, on our Western city borders.
The first need was concentration of effort. The
rooms at Headquarters grew too small and a hasty appeal from the management suggested a "donations
and supply depot," which was soon secured through
courtesy of the manager of the Fair estate, at 16
Post street, and on the 13th of May the depot was
opened to the public.
For three days all that arrived was books and
papers, and earnest inquiries came as to whether we
cow/(/ send reading to Manila. We lia,e sent 80,450
papers and magazines. And thus the good work began which now assumes a settled business tone, so
complete is its routine of daily mechanism. The children gave us the first start, and are still our stanch
helpers. Interesting and pathetic were the bundles,
packages, and wagon-loads, that came from the various schools. busy though they were with the closing
examinations. Money rolled in little parcels and
marked: "For the soldiers. Be sure and find the
Spaniards!" were scattered in folds of books, and
dropped from leaves of funny papers, selected and
marked with a view of keeping the soldier spirit well
aroused. For three days we had only reading, then
the generous donations came flowing in, and still come
with each day and expedition. From eight A. i. until
six P. M. the door is open to b/i, and each is welcomed
that brings his offering, be it money or only a package
of old linen or a bundle of matches.
Every part of the store has been utilized, a section screened off being reserved for State supplies
from which we draw at need. The glass-closed office
rooms are reserved for linen and bandage rooms.
One large window and roomy platform is used for
typewriter and other clerical work; and the other, for
the bright and faithful young people who) have assorted and filled comfort bags in which the needles
have to be wrapped in oil paper as a precaution
against Manila climate. Various secretaries sit around
one large table in an information bureau, where all
unoccupied moments are passed in folding and putting
into envelopes our leaflets for the training of our Volunteers in simple rules for health and life preservation.
The need for active use of the kindly impulses of
our San Francisco women, made it seem wise to give
a vent in a practical way, and we urged modestly to
be allowed one sewing machine, thinking that would
be the nucleus of a small circle of those who could,
give a few hours time in sewing if nothing more.
Each day the demand grew, until now we have eleven
machines. Garments are made and passed over to
the linen room committee, who stamp and number
them, placing them in readiness for daily distribution,
as required by the requisition papers brought in from
the camps each day to be filled before night.
Articles which have been completed are: Bandages, emergency pillows, bags, towels, mosquito netting, night shirts, mattress ticks, shirts,
caps, arm slings, and pajamas, making in all 12,617
garments,!),84)9 of which are bandages.
Each day a printed list is made of the complete
contents of the linen room, to be referred to at once
when demands are made upon its treasures, which
seem to be the envy of the Regulars as well as of the
Volunteers who are waiting the completion of the garment supplies.
Two wagons are constantly employed, making two
trips daily, and a third is often used. in distributing
these articles, selected and packed in huge bags, for
Camp Merritt, the Presidio, and the various forts.
The ladies in charge of the sewing department
should have the appreciation of the entire community;
for through that band of workers, the real practical
efforts of our Red Cross Society have reached all
ranks of life. Rich and poor, school girls and summer girls, college girls and teachers, all working for
the one ideal, "our American soldiers," thus cementing the bond of mutual interest. The pattern department has been valuable as a factor in spreading intelligent help to out-of-town friends, and suggesting
ideas to many who could not drop in for' daily hints.
A trained nurse stopped one day and taught a lesson
in folding a handkerchief into a cap for Manila use,
thus benefiting many.
Noe street sent an active delegate to learn the
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