he only means of conveyance from
Constantinople to Alexandretta were coasting boats, belonging to
different nationalities, which left only once in two weeks, and
irregularly at that. Transport for our goods was secured on the first
boat to leave, the goods taken to the wharf at Galata, and at the latest
moment, in order to give time, a request was made to the government for
_teskeres_, or traveling permits, for Dr. J. B. Hubbell and assistants.
To our surprise they were granted instantly, but by some delay on the
part of the messenger sent for them they reached a moment too late. The
boat left a little more promptly, taking with it our relief goods, and
leaving the men on the dock to receive their permits only when the boat
was beyond recall. It was really the fault of no one.

With the least possible delay Dr. Hubbell secured passage by the first
boat at Smyrna, and a fortunate chance boat from there took him to
Alexandretta, via Beyrout and Tripoli, Syria. The goods arrived in
safety, and two other of our assistants, whom we had called by cable
from America--Edward M. Wistar and Charles King Wood--were also passed
over to the same point with more goods. There, caravans were fitted out
to leave over the--to them--unknown track to Aintab, as a first base.
From this point the reports of these three gentlemen made to me will be
living witnesses. They tell their own modest tales of exposure, severe
travel, hard work, and hardship, of which no word of complaint has ever
passed their lips. There have been only gratitude and joy, that they
could do something in a cause at once so great and so terrible.

While this was in progress, a dispatch came to me at Constantinople from
Dr. Shepard of Aintab, whose tireless hands had done the work of a score
of men, saying that fevers, both typhoid and typhus, of the most
virulent nature, had broken out in Arabkir, two or three days north of
Harpoot; could I send doctors and help? Passing the word on to Dr.
Hubbell at Harpoot, prompt and courageous action was taken by him. It is
something to say that from a rising pestilence with a score of deaths
daily, in five weeks, himself and his assistants left the city in a
normally healthful condition, the mortality ceasing at once under their
care and treatment.

During this time the medical relief for the cities of Zeitoun and Marash
was in charge of Dr. Ira Harris, of Tripoli, who reached there March
18th. The report of the consuls had place