Committees and agents of the Red Cross were established in both Tampa and Key West, and acting as the distributing agencies for the supplies forwarded by the Central Cuban Relief Committee, the refugees were cared for. In Key West the number supplied with food from the warehouse and kitchen of the Red Cross were over seventeen hundred people, and the distribution still continues. Key West has been one of the most important distributing stations, and from the beginning has been under the efficient direction of Mr. George W. Hyatt, for whose continuous and faithful service the Red Cross is much indebted. The distributing station was kept constantly supplied by the Central Cuban Relief Committee, and when the stock began to run low in the latter part of July, the committee dispatched the schooner "Nokomis" from New York with 125 tons of assorted provisions to replenish the storehouse. Before the "State of Texas" arrived at Key West, war had been declared between the United States and Spain, and soon after the prize ships, schooners, steamers and fishing smacks, captured off the Cuban coast began to come in, in tow, or in charge of prize crews. The navy worked rapidly and brought in their prizes so quickly that the government officials were not prepared to feed the prisoners of war. On the ninth of May the United States Marshal for the southern district of Florida made the following appeal: MISS CLARA BARTON, _President, American National Red Cross_: DEAR MISS BARTON: On board the captured vessels we find quite a number of aliens among the crews, mostly Cubans, and some American citizens, and their detention here and inability to get away for want of funds has exhausted their supply of food, and some of them will soon be entirely out. As there is no appropriation available from which food could be purchased, would you kindly provide for them until I can get definite instructions from the Department at Washington? Very respectfully, JOHN F. HORR, _U.S. Marshal_.