Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 30, 1899)
OMAHA ILLUSTRATED BEE. July no , 1SW. General Wood's New I Kind of Warfare ( Copyrighted , IfcDD , by thofi. H. IMeC'lure Co. ) When yellow fever IH wiped out of Culm , especially out of Havana and Santiago , It will bo wiped out ot the United States. Yellow fever < loc not originate In thin conn- try ? Kvory oplileinlc which the southern states huvu Known IKIH been started by tin ; Importation of cases from Cuba. Theho epidemics liavo cost more than a thoutmnd llvr a year for many yearn and often ten times that number during one single vIslUi- tlon. The money expenditure whluh line been neciHsnry to keep up national quaran tined anil the commercial Iocs which lias re united from state quarantines liavo amounted up In the scores of millions. ThlH ImllcuteH the Immense Importance of the work which IH now being done by our American military officers In Cuba toward the wiping out of tin ) dltiease. Brigadier General ( Juy V. Henry , formerly governor of I'orto Illco , and who IB now In the United Stated on waiting orders , gave IIH his opinion , based on his exiicrlcncu In I'orto Uleo , that It was absolutely ImpoHsI- blo to keep yellow fever out of Santiago this Hiimmor. "General Wood has certainly worked won ders In cleaning and administering San tiago , " ho Bald In the course of a couvcrsa- tlon , "but ho mimt have riM.ll/.ed that It was a. hopeless task UH far as keeping the elty free from fever Is concerned. Yellow Jack has had an abiding place thcro for 200 yoniti , and It Is not possible that a few inonUiH of sanitary precautions could counteract the effect of all that porlod. "Yellow fever Is something that mo man can guard' ' against with any certainly. It Is the accepted theory that the disease Is con tracted through the Inhalation of germs which are propagated In a thousand wayrf. Everything depends on the condition of the system. If a man IB run down or enervated by excesses or through climatic causes ho Is ho added , "but , plenwj God , we will ilo every thing In the power of man to reduce the casualties * ns much as possible. If wo suc ceed In cutting the regular annual record of deaths one-half , or oven one-fourth , I shall1 bo satisfied. " That everything "In the power of man" has been done to keep the ncotirgc from San tiago since General Wood assumed charge Is a matter of common fame. There are some men who might have felt discouraged when cuifronted with the task that faed ( Jeneral Wood last July. It only spurred him on. With the Indomitable force nt will and energy characteristic of the man ho threw himself Into the work of cleansing and puri fying the city. The situation appealed to him from two points of view from the mlll.nry botanse he Is In his heart and soul a military olllcor , and from the sanitary because his chosen profcsslcn Is that of medicine. General Wo- l recognized that the sanitary question was by far the most Important. Ho realized that an enemy more potent , more Insidious and more deadly than Spaniard or natlvo lurked In the Illth-bcgrimed and mi- Hpeakably foul thoroughfares and byways of Santiago. "It Is yellow fever \\o must fight , Ilnnna , " ho said to his aide as the two took their llrst rldo through the city. "We have , a foe hero which Is going to give us a life and death struggle. Ho Is there In that heap of refuse , ami in that adobe shanty over there , and hero beneath our feet. We > must light him with brooms and shovels , with soap nnd water , and with new rules that will turn this town upside down. " J'rcvi-iilcd n I'linlc. One of the first precautions taken by the nervy , cool-headed American was to decry the fact that yellow fever existed In San tiago. Experience with human nature told SI'HING AfT BUM WOOD I'AUK. very apt to contract rover. Still there nro cases known where men In vigorous health and entirely abstemious In habits have been carried off nil with u lightning's stroke. The disease attacks men , women and children Impartially , but It must bo confessed that victory generally rests with those who ara careful and temperate. "Tho precautions now being taken by C2onor.il Wood nnd the plan ho la following seem entirely correct. Pro in all appear ances , however , the task ho has before him Is by no meant ) easy. " Yellow fever has ex luted In Santiago do Cuba under the misnomer of "pernicious malaria" since the surrender of the city last July. Americans tioldlortt and civilians have died of It , cases have Illlod the fever hospital across the bay from .Santiago , nnd other cases n-plonty have been Bent homo convalescent to recuperate In the inoro healthful climate of the United States. In Santiago nowadays the term "pernicious malaria" la u byword. It Is now known down there that fully GO per cent of those who suffered from It during the latter months of 1898 were really victims of the dread yellow fever scourge In a moro or less mild form. The fact that their hospital pnpem bore the words "pornlclanti malaria" did not servo to lesson the peril of the pa tients , but It prevented tllo danger of a panic anil helped materially In the reconstruction and purification of the elty. And that was why General Leonard Wood , military and civil governor of Santiago do Cuba , knowingly and with premeditation , Huocussfully concealed the fact that yellow fever existed within < ho confines of the province. That General Wood fully anticipated the present outbreak Is beyond question. Ho know that fever would return In forvo this summer desplto all that medical skill nnd military precautions could do to prevent It , An lii TVlf\v tilth ( itMtrriil Wiioil , "It Is ns impossible to carry American troops nnd civilians through the hot tropical months of Juno ; July and August without a number of fatalities from yellow fever us It would l.e . to stop a Mauser bullet without bolns hurt , " ho said to the writer last Octo ber , "I Bay It ts Impossible to entirely escape , " him that the widespread publication of the fact would serve no good cause , but that it would possibly create a panic , cause de moralization and practically put a check upon his plans for redeeming the city from Its centuries of filth. Good work cannot bit expected from men who feel that they nro walking cheek by Jowl with Yellow Juck. And there are authentic CUSCH of men who have been frightened into a disease throngn fear of It. General Wood's concealment of the facts In question was approved by the authorities In Washington. 'His ' second precaution seemingly a para dox was the conversion of a small Island In Santiago bay Into a hospital for the treat ment of contagious fevers. Itulldlngs com pletely equipped with medical facilities were erected and everything provided for the very visitation now occurring In the city. Shortly after the hospital was In readi ness so many cases wore sent there that at tention was attracted to It. Ono 'American ' connected with the jx > Btolllco went to the palace In alarm one day. General Wood smiled grimly when the man stated his errand , "Yellow fever ? " ho exclaimed , "Nonsense ! The reports sny pernicious malaria , and I guess the doctor knowN what he IB talking nbaut. " "lint , " ho added gravely , "you must remember - member that pernicious malaria Is not to befooled fooled with. It has been known to result fatally , lletter keep yourself In good condi tion , leave rum alone and stay indoors at night. " Mi-iitliN from < lVniU l iiM Mnliirlii. " Bach day the one paper then being pub llshed In Santiago recorded the death of from two to ten citizens or soldiers from per nicious malaria. These reports excited llttlo or no comment. There was a familiar ring to the ' \\ord "malaria , " at least to the Americans , and If they wondered at all It was that "chills and fever" could carry off so many , Ono day the man In charge of the Merrill nnd Chapman wrecking operations on the Spanish wur ships strolled Into the olllco of the company's agent , Julian Cendoyn. "I am not feeling very well. " he said dully. "I guess U must bo the heat. " Unforo Condoya could , reply his visitor lurched heavily against a desk. The next moment ho was prone on the floor. The agent knew from certain symptoms Just what was the matter and ho hastily Biimmonod n natlvo doctor living In the neighborhood. An hour later the stricken man was resting In u hoarding hcutc back of the cathedral. Then the doctor , according to the riii'es , made his report at the palace. "It IH pernicious malaria , senor , " he said to General Wcod. "The patient has all the early symptoms of a severe case. Tliero Is intense pain in the back and shoulders , n temperature of 10. > , stricture In the throat nnd black vomit " "Havo that man removed to the Island within nn hour or I will put you In the Cablldo , " Interrupted General Wood sternly. "And remember It Is malaria , do you un derstand ? " When the man left the hospital convales cent several weeks later he carried a certifi cate wrung from the wtrgeon bearing the significant words : "Discharged cured of ye/low fever. " Anticipated Ilic In October General Wood drew up an elaborate plan to be followed when the an ticipated return of the fever In epidemic form occurred. It was now that his training ns a physician proved Invaluable. He understood the disease In all Its phases , and ho know Just what precautions were rational and efficient. There were three principal points ns outlined. These were , drat , the Immediate breaking up of the vari ous regiments Into small squads and their being kept constantly on the move from camp to camp outside of the elty ; second , the absolute maintenance of sobriety among all Americans ; third , the establishment of a rigid quarantine. "I look upon rum or any alcoholic beverage as the greatest factor In the contraction of yellow fever , " he said In explaining his plan. "Heating the blood with bad whisky is simply creating n hotbed for the propoga- tion of the germs. A man cannot drink and face the fever unscathed. " It is the rule that General Wood Is now enforcing so strictly In Santiago. Ills action In closing the saloons and summarily arrest ing any American found under the Influence of liquor Is simply a part of his carefully arranged plan of campaign against Yellow Jack. The Idea of dividing the various regiments rn duty In and about the city Into small bodies of from one to three companies each nnd keeping them moving from camp to camp Is considered absolutely necessary from a sanitary point of view. It also affords occupation and diversion to the men , which Is extremely essential to their well being under such circumstances. The maintenance of n rigid quarantine In the city , the third Item In General Wood's plan , Is , of course , followed wherever con tagious diseases are to bo combatted. In Santiago the task Is comparatively simple. Tliero nro only two railways , that running to San Luis , twenty miles Inland , and the ore railway owned by an American mining company. Doth are easily controlled nnd U Is within General Wood's power to seize them If necessary. The arrival and departure of vessels from the port of course rests entirely with Morr.i castle at the entrance. If our hcstile fleet could not enter without permission , cer tainly no fever ship could. Of wagon roads and paths there are irt : a baker's dozen , and those approaches conH easily bo guarded by one company of soldiers. It will bo seen from the fore going that General Wood found no trouble In completely stoppling all travel within a few hours after his recent return to San tiago from the United Stairs. The peculiar condition of affairs. In fact , In Santiago , would make It possible to c n- trol oven Intcrmlnal travel. There are no street railways , only n score or : > of pub lic carriages , and the construction of the city is such that a few well-placed troops could ecu line the inhabitants to their houses. .Mrtlioil of TrciiliiU'lil. It has been remarked that the percentage of casualties In the medical department In Santiago ban so far been excessive. This can bo only explained by the fact that all the victims had been exposed for some time to the enervating tropical climate , thus rendering thorn more susceptible to the disease. The question cf adequate medical attend ance in case of an epidemic visiting Santi ago was earfy considered by General Wood. It IH his Intention , If necessary , to call upon the native doctors. There nro a number In the province who have had practical and ex tended experience In the treatment of yellow fever nnd their services can bo seamed with out trouble. The course of treatment followed by them Is on the general lines adopted in all tropical countries. The patient Is Immediately given a sallno purge , then , after being placed In bed , Is dosed liberally with quantities of an Infusion made from orange leaves. This generally produces profuslve pers piration , which Is the result deslrod. After the third day , If the subject survives that critical period , a tonic having special bearIng - Ing on the stomach Is administered. Food , except a small quantity of weak beef tea , Is tabooed. It 'was the custom several yearn ago to use quinine In excessive quantities , but that method cf treatment has been abandoned. In preparing for a summer season of yel low fever In Santiago the possible value of using immune troops was taken Into careful consideration. A decision In the negative tell the anther of. Killed with pleasari memories nnd cool spring water , It Is a pleas ant place to pass a few hours where present day troubles can bo burled by happier thotighlH. The beautiful spring nnd Its delightful surrounding shade nro not the only attrac tive spots within the park by any means. Along the little spring-fed stream are many delightful nooks where art has made no at tempt to paint the Illy of nature and left n blotch upon Its fair face. The beauty of the place largely consists In the fact that no effort has been made to improve upon the handiwork of the Creator , but It has simply been made accessible through the In strumentality of good roads. Those of Omaha's people who have never visited Elmwcod have no idea of its beauty , and those who have simply followed the driveways through It know but little more. It will bear Inspection nnd the THE BRIDGE AT ELMWOOD PAUK. was reached , the Immunity of s Idlers pre viously exposed to contagious fevers being very much open to doubt. The government's experience with immune regimen's during the Spanish-American war was such that it is safe to say they will never again form a part of the defensive forces of the United States , at least from the "immune" stand point. II. H. LEWIS. Rare Beauties of Elm wood Park El'imvood Is one of the newer and perhaps least known of all the parks owned by the city. It was purchased In the first place more in anticipation of future needs us the city should grow than with the Idea of present use. Its location , just beyond the western borders of the city , with the prth- ent transportation facilities , renders Elmwood - wood Inaccessible to all except those who possess private means of conveyance , but this very fact has made Its cool shade nnd delightful springs a prime inducement to picnic parties and its beautiful drives n pleasure to bicyclists and owners of car riages. The driven , with the substantial cteol bridges over the creek which meanders through the park , the cleaning out of under brush , sowing of graw and planting of trees on the sloping hillsides of n portion of the park not covered by a natural growth of timber , nro about all that has been done In the way of Improvement , but there nro many places whtro the beauties of nature are an Inspiration to the tired workers of the city. Ono of its greatest charms is the beauti ful spring from which gushes up a bounti ful supply of the purest , coolest of water. A giant cottonwood stands guard over it , while spreading elms give It tholr protect ing shade. As the tired bicyclist or the seeker after rest nnd quiet slakes his thirst with this purest and most satisfying of drinks It can but bring back to many the memory of other days , days when ho know not a earo , when ho pcssessed only one bus- pender and a. stonebrnlsed heel. He knew the woods and the fields In those days a.i ho knows the streets of the city now ; the birdu , the squirrels and the numberless In habitants of the woodlands weio his friends nnd familiars. Not a chirp or a cry came up fiom the ground or echoed from the tree- lop which ho did not know or could not THE HONK 1'ILB AT HAVANA , more you prowl around through it the more you will be charmed. Famous Bone Pile at Havana " Among the odious Spanish customs with which the American governor general of Cuba has had to deal none has Impressed Itself upon the people of the United States as being more barbarous than that of the so-called cemetery tax. Under the provi sions of the Spanish law a tax was levied on . / ' the relatives of all bulled In the cemeteries of Havana , and < whcn the tax was not paid promptly the bodies were exhumed and the bones thrown into the enclosure known as the "bone yard. " Through 'the years the number of human bones accumulated rapidly and especially after the outbreak of the . , Cuban revolution did the yard become noted. After the barbarous reconcentrado order of General Weylor had been in effect a few months the dead Cubans were either thrown unceremoniously Into the bay or deposited in the "bone yard. " The spot Is a favorite one for visitors in Havana to have themselves photographed , t and while In that city last fall Mr. Hugo Hrnndels could not resist the temptation to secure a photograph of the gruesome spot. Tliero were several American soldiers in the party , and the result was entirely satlsfac- . * tory , though to some the experience would 1 not 'be ' altogether pleasant. \ I An Early Summer Idyl The lambent moon lay idly In the serene and sapphire sky and the chirp of an in visible cricket In the clustering vines In tensified the stillness of the hotel piazza. t < Within the shadow of a cozy corner sat a youth and a maiden , reloles the Washing ton Star. They had been at the hotel only a week , yet his tender heart had been filled with the wonderful rapture and from the fullness thereof his mouth spoke. "Only a week tonight , " he said to her softly , "and yet It seems as If I had known ' * ! you always , " "Yes ? " she whispered with that inviting rising inflection Implying the delightful doubt which pleads for more proof. ' 'Don't you think , Miss Kate , some people are intended for each other from the beginning - ' ginning ? " ho went on , "Oh. I don't really know. Mr. Smith. " she responded Just aggressively enough for the sake of argument , "Well , I do , " ho asserted , con'idently , "anl the first time I saw you I 'was drawn to you In spite of myself. " "Didn't you want to be ? " she cooed , with the Irresistible coo of conquest. It was altogether too much for him. "I prayed to have it go on forever , " he exclaimed with Impulsive , fervor. "And , oh , Kato , Katie darling , I want to tell you that I loved you then and love you now moro than anything else In the whole world and I want you to marry mo. Say you will dear est , say you will , " and ho grasped her hand convulsively. She had scarcely expected such a demon t stration. "Oh , Harry , " she cried , "this I too sud den Walt until after frost. You'll spoil all my summer fun. " Then It was that the young man recalled mer girl and the season was Just at its to his wandering wits that this was a sum- opening ,