American National Red Cross; Red Cross and Red Crescent
But their fame had gone before them, and "Enterprise," a hundred
miles below, just stricken down among its flowers and fruits,
reached out its hand for aid, and with one accord after two days in
camp, all turned back from the coveted home and needed rest and
added another month of toil to their already weary record. At length
this was ended, and word came again to us that they would go into
quarantine. Their unselfish, faithful, and successful record
demanded something more than the mere sending of money. It deserved
the thanks of the Red Cross organization in the best and highest
manner in which they could be bestowed; it was decided that its
president, in person, should most fittingly do this, and accordingly
left Washington on the morning of November twenty-second in company
with Dr. Hubbell, Field Agent, for Camp Perry, the quarantine
station of Florida. Two days and one night by rail, a few miles
across country by wagon, where trains were forbidden to stop, and
another mile or so over the trestles of St. Mary's on a dirt car
with the workmen, brought us into camp as the evening fires were
lighted and the bugle sounded supper. The genial surgeon in charge,
Dr. Hutton, who carried a knapsack and musket in an Illinois
regiment in '62, met us cordially and extended every possible
hospitality. Soon there filed past us to supper the tall doctor and
his little flock; some light and fair-skinned, with the easy step of
a well-bred lady, others dark and bony-handed, but the strong kind
faces below the turbans told at a glance that you could trust your
life there and find it again. They were not disturbed that night,
and no certain information of our arrival got among them. It was
cold and windy, and the evening short, as nine o'clock brought taps
and lights out. In spite of all caution the news of our coming had
spread over the surrounding country, and telegrams bringing both
thanks for what had been received and the needs for more, came from
all sides, and the good mayor of MacClenny made his troubled way to
reach and greet us in person, and take again the faithful hands that
had served and saved his people. Surgeon Hutton's headquarter tent
was politely tendered for the first meeting, and as one could never,
while memory lasts, forget this scene, so no words can ever
adequately describe it. The ample tent was filled. Here on the right
the mayor, broad shouldered, kind faced and efficient, officers of
camp, and many visitors, wondering what it all meant; in the centre
the tall doctor and his faithful band. Eliza Lanier, Lena Seymour
(mother and daughter), Elizabeth Eastman, Harriet Schmidt, Lizzie
Louis, Rebecca Vidal, Annie Evans, Arthur Duteil, Frederick Wilson
and Edward Holyland.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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