Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 August 1898 — A Letter From Dr. Ira in Cuba. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Letter From Dr. Ira in Cuba.

Santiago, Cuba, July 18, ’9B. Dear Father:— The other day I sent a small communication to you on a couple of pieces of bark. I had nothing at all to write on and I was afraid you would be worried so I took that stuff to write on, and ran all over the regiment looking for an envelope. It is all over here now and we are at peace with everybody. I hope we will not have to fight any more Spanish of the variety there is around here. Our hospital quarters are located just across the valley from the Spanish camp and several of the Spaniards have been over to see us. One young fellow came over this afternoon. He was not over 16 years old and he was as nice a young man as I ever saw. The way he took off his hat and bowed showed how he had been trained. He asked for something to eat and our MajorSurgeon refused him food and told him to go back. He bowed again, and said good bye, or “adios,” and walked straight back home. I did

not hesitate to tell the major what I thought about treating the fellow so and when I had finished my talk the major said he guessed I was right. I filled a haver-sack with tacks and salt pork and went over to the Spanish camp and found the boy. When I gave him the food the poor fellow went down on his knees to thank me. All their soldiers I have met are much whiter than they are painted and even though they are cruel fighters it is because they are forced by their officers to fight that way. While we were fighting we could see their officers ordering them back to their trenches at their revolvers’ points, when the men tried to escape. Owing to the very inferior work of our Surgeons the Chief Surgeon “roasted” them and ordered them to take up their quarters with us at the hospital instead of at the Colonels headquarters. There are nine of us doing the medical work now and wc are all busy all the time. Our chief trouble is malaria and some typhoid fever. lam kept busy all the time talcing the, temperature of the men. I received a “medical brief” you sent me. In it are two important subjects treated, viz, typhoid fever and malaria. Our surgeons give quinine for both and that alone. It is very disgusting. I was not in a Division Hospital at all during the fighting. When Col. Senn at Sibony gave me a chance to work with him, Major Williard, our Chief Surgeon said “No, I want Washburn with me on the firing line to assist with the wounded.” He wanted it easy, I v am getting all the experience there is to be had here and my health is fine. The ceremonies when the city was formally surrendered were fine. 1 will never forget them. I cam hear a band playidg the “Star Spangled

Banner” over on the mountain side a mile away another is starting to play now. It is now .6 o’clock p. m. and retreat is being sounded. The return of the Santiago people to the city after the surrender was a great sight. Your Son, » Ira.

UNCLE SAM, CHIEF MUSICIAN TRAINING THE NEW MEMBERS OF HIS BAND.