nd the thirty thousand refugees of El Caney
at once back to Santiago; we were there and could feed them; that the
State of Texas had still twelve hundred tons of supplies.

The thirty thousand inhabitants of Santiago had been driven to El Caney,
a village designed for five hundred. In two days all were called back
and fed, ten thousand the first day, twenty thousand the second. Then
came our troops, and Santiago was lived and is remembered. Its
hospitals, the ante-chamber to Montauk, are never to be forgotten.

A general committee was formed, the city districted into sections, with
a commissioner for each district, selected by the people themselves
living there. Every family or person residing within the city was
supplied by the commissioner of that district, and all transient
persons were fed at the kitchens, the food being provided by the Red
Cross.

The discharge of the cargo of the State of Texas commenced at six
o'clock Monday morning, July 18th. One hundred and twenty-five
stevedores were employed and paid in food issued as rations. Four days
later the discharge was completed.

Although the army had entered the city during the latter part of that
time, there had been no confusion, no groups of disorderly persons seen,
no hunger in the city more than in ordinary times. We had done all that
could be done to advantage at that time in Santiago. The United States
troops had mainly left. The Spanish soldiers were coming in to their
waiting ships, bringing with them all the diseases that unprovided and
uncleanly camps would be expected to hold in store. Five weeks before we
had brought into Santiago all the cargo of the State of Texas excepting
the hospital supplies, which had been used the month previous among our
own troops at Siboney, General Shafter's front, and El Caney during the
days of fighting.

These were the last days of General Shafter in Santiago, who was, as he
had at all times been, the kind and courteous officer and gentleman.
General Wood, who was made Governor of the Province of Santiago upon the
day of surrender--alert, wise, and untiring, with an eye single to the
good of all--toiled day and night.

The State of Texas steamed away to its northern home. Peace and plenty
came. The reconcentrados we went in search of were never reached. To
those who could not withstand, Heaven came. To those who could, _Cuba
Libre_.

Later on, general efforts were made for the protection of the thousands
of orph