An adventure story
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| Upon arrival at Roman I found a tremendous building, with two wings, with a very impressive entrance to the yard -- the entrance being about fifty yards from the building, which is of brick and stucco. Old Glory, the Roumanian and the Red Cross flags were flying on a specially constructed flag staff in front of the hospital.
I slept in one of the wards, a room about twenty-five feet by fifty feet, in which there are many cots. This ward is set aside temporarily for the American doctors. There were about six of us there. Major Kirkpatrick, Major Smith, Captain McCarthy, Lieutenant Hird, Laptew, and me. The others have rooms in the town. The cots are simply planks with straw mattresses, no springs, two sheets and two blankets. The first night, Monday, I can’t say I slept very well, but last night I slept like a top. For breakfast Tuesday morning we had bread, butter, honey and coffee (and not war bread either) -- a very fine breakfast. A hospital is not such a bad place after all! Later, I went the rounds to see the soldiers. I believe they have here only three civilian cases, one a baby about two years old and two sisters in their teens. The latter have Typhoid Fever. There are now about two hundred and seventy patients, the capacity being seven hundred to eight hundred. After visiting all of the wards, including the infectious diseases, of which there are a few, I went into the Dressing Room. There I saw our American doctors and nurses at real work. I saw the poor soldiers laid out on stretchers and yelling pretty loud every time the doctors or nurses would touch a very sore spot. All of the cases show infection. At the present it is a question of dressing only: draining the pus from the wounds, keeping them clean and healthy, if possible. I saw many very horrible wounds, supposedly in the process of healing. Also arms cut off, legs off, and terrible wounds in every conceivable location. One case in particular was horrible. The nurse was dressing the man’s leg and he looked like a corpse. She was gently pouring through a small rubber tube, some kind of fluid, over his lacerated limb. The skin and flesh were so rotten and full of pus that it would make a hole wherever the stream went, and later the fluid oozed out at the lower portion of what was supposed to be his leg. The nurse worked over this very smelly case some time and bathed the poor fellow’s back, which was literally covered with bed sores, to ease him -- in fact she did everything she could to ease the poor fellow through his last moments of life. They could not amputate the leg, because the man would die under the anesthesia. She told me that they had been expecting this man to die ever since they took over the hospital, and this morning (Wednesday) I found that this patient had died during the night. While talking to one of the orderlies, or sanitas as they call them here, he simply stopped talking and without a movement he was gone. I also saw cases of simple fracture of the leg and one in particular where the American Doctors had saved the leg for the patient, making a good leg for the future use out of one which seemed ready for amputation a few weeks ago. There were many other cases, of course, but I will not burden the diary with them. Six fresh cases came in Tuesday. When a fresh case comes in, he is bathed and shaved all over and some kind of solution put upon him to kill lice. After the bath a temporary dressing is made for the wound and then he goes to the regular dressing room for examination and final dressing by the American doctors. Record is taken of he character of the case and the patient is then assigned to a cot in some specific ward, dependent upon the nature and seriousness of his wound or wounds. At present we are getting no surgical cases because there is practically no fighting going on. If an offensive is started by either side, we will be overcrowded with cases and may possibly have to evacuate the hospital at Roman, which is not so distant from the front. An enemy aeroplane has been over the hospital since we took it over and was fired upon by anti-aircraft guns. Some of our doctors plainly saw the machines, as well as the bursting shell of the anti-aircraft gun. Tuesday afternoon we called on the Archbishop of Roman, who is a man with many whiskers and possibly about sixty-five years of age. In the party were Major Kirkpatrick, Captain McCarthy, Lieutenant Hird, the Roumanian officer at the hospital, and me. The Archbishop spoke only French, German and Roumanian, and his talk to Major Kirkpatrick had to be interpreted. The most interesting thing he said was that before the war the population of Roumania was about eight million, and that, in his opinion, the ravages of war and disease, would reduce this number to four million. He is one of the most brilliant men in Roumania, and this expression from him is, of course, very startling. The Archbishop has a very handsome home and grounds, comprising about eight acres. The church is also in the grounds. These grounds are enclosed by a fence upon which there is a shingled roof. We went into the church, which was built prior to the discovery of America. The Altar was of silver and there were many old paintings. It had that peculiar ancient odor. We also went up into the tower, within the same grounds, from the top of which we had a splendid panoramic view of Roman and surrounding country. In this old tower there were several very large bells. The timbers were all very heavy -- about fourteen inches by sixteen inches or possibly a little larger. We returned to the hospital for supper and went to the theatre in the evening at nine o’clock. Everything was in Russian, singing and monologues. The audience was mot enthusiastic, in fact, rather vociferous in its applause. There were two parties of American officers, each party having a box, and after the singing was over (and the singing was splendid), we had hard work keeping awake. I have found that over here theatrical performances are more thoroughly appreciated than at home. It may be that they are more easily pleased or amused, for the people here ae, of course, much simpler in every respect than at home. Today (Wednesday) up for breakfast about seven o’clock -- good bread, butter, honey and coffee. Major Kirkpatrick wishes me to inaugurate an accounting system for the hospital, moneys, supplies, etc. It is some job, on account of complications with the Government, but I think I can install a system which will adequately take care of it. It will necessarily be simple as I am not an Accountant. For lunch today at the hospital we had cabbage, soup, bread and rice pudding. This does not mean that the patients had this. We furnish our own food, but the Roumanian Government furnishes food for the patients and it is of such a caliber that it is practically impossible to build up a patient and get him out in good condition. The regular routine of our American doctors and nurses at the hospital at Roman is about as follows -- One American nurse is on night duty, assisted by Russian nurses (sisters as they are called here). There is always a dismal looking Roumanian priest prowling around the hospital at night. All hands are up and at breakfast by seven thirty. The dining room is about fifty feet by fifteen feet with one very long table seating approximately fifty people -- American doctors and nurses, usually one or two French doctors and several Russian nurses. After breakfast doctors and nurses go to the Dressing Rooms and patients are brought in by the Serbian and Roumanian sanitas. Dressings are taken off, wounds examined and whatever that may be necessary is done and fresh dressings put on. After the dressings are over the operating starts, if there is any to be done. By this time it is about noon and the doctors’ work for the day is about complete, with the exception of course of such cases of fever, etc., which have to be given attention from time to time. The only thing left for them to do the balance of the day is to take care of such fresh cases as may come in. The nurses are naturally on the job all day looking after things. Should an offensive start, however, everybody would be pushed day and night taking care of the fresh cases and invaliding the improved cases farther to the rear. Sufficient wood has to be accumulated to run the furnaces for the winter -- food to be purchased for the staff’s table as well as to augment the meager supply furnished for the patients. Trips are made into the surrounding country for miles, and pigs, calves, etc., are purchased and brought in and taken care of in the hospital grounds. The distribution of medicines, bandages, gauze, bed clothing, pajamas, slippers, bath robes, etc., etc., has to be taken care of also. We have among our American doctors an eye specialist, who is doing splendid work in his particular department. I would like to tell about some of the operations in detail but am afraid they will not prove interesting. A patient is never operated upon at Roman by our doctors until his permission is obtained for the operation. If the doctor wants to operate and the patient is obdurate, the entire case is carefully explained to him and so far no refusals have stood this test. Our doctors are, however, extremely careful and no operation is performed until it is taken up with our medical Director, Major Kirkpatrick, and thoroughly discussed -- this policy may fall down in the event of an offensive, but now it is very easy to work it, without causing any delays. Saturday, October 27th -- I stayed in Roman until Friday, when Laptew, Major Yates and I came in by auto to Jassy, where I am now. Major Yates is the American Military Attache in Roumania. Nothing exciting happened on the way to Jassy except that we ran over a pig. It should really be a crime to kill a pig in this country except for the purpose of eating him, but someone will pick it up and it will serve the purpose for which it was fattened. Before leaving Roman I went thoroughly over the entire system of work and am now preparing a report for Major Kirkpatrick containing recommendations. Before leaving I saw three operations and two x-rays taken. While out with Hird I bought some locks for the hospital and later ten pieces of chocolate at ten lei each, or eighty cents each -- and the chocolate was no good. We arrived at Jassy about 4:30 P.M. yesterday, and I found the boys had put up an American and Red Cross flag in our new office, which is in the Bank of Jassy building, next door to a very large building which we are thinking of opening up as a hospital. The Colonel was not at the office, but at his rooms with LaGrippe [now called the flu]. We had sent Miss Torrance from Roman a few days before to take care of him. Today (Saturday) he is improved but far from well. Tomorrow (Sunday) Major Perkins, Mills, Topping, Laptew and I expect to auto about eight miles to a small town and then walk about five miles through the forests, build a fire and walk back to the town, then return to the automobile and make for Jassy. Cablegrams have been received that the Archangel shipment has actually arrived there and Captain Williams left yesterday with the shipment en route to Jassy. It may take only ten days but may take several weeks. Tonight for dinner we again realized that rations were very evidently low. We had a little soup with spaghetti -- very little spaghetti -- and a dish I will have to describe, as I do not know what it is called -- it contained potatoes, tomatoes, and onions, and was not particularly good. Also a pastry, coffee and a little very poor wine. They very frequently serve us peppers, but even they are missing. We could change to another place, but if we do, [we] leave Jack Day (our Sergeant) by himself, as the other place is private and there are two officers there, and Day is a non-commissioned officer. I am trying to get our fellows to stick so Day will not die of the blues. It is lonesome enough in this apparently God forsaken country without making any of us worse off than may be necessary. Day is now grieving his eyeballs out about the Colonel being sick. He will probably be in bed for four or five days longer. It is rather cold now and there is no heat in my room. At night I have to augment my bed covering with my overcoat and rain coat. I have two blankets in the magazine in my trunk and Sunday night I will have them on my bed. Here I am, many miles from home, with serious doubt as to whether we can get back, even through Russia, and if we can it will be with great difficulty and hardship, as we will not go back in a private train with heated cars and it is some long trip across Russia. There is absolutely nothing to do here at night in the way of amusement. If I was at home tonight I could think of many things I might do. One thing I have learned and learned well, is that we have a truly wonderful country. Really just as wonderful as you tell people it is, and then later think to yourself that you have exaggerated its advantages and richness. It is the one great, rich, free country on the globe; and one can not be too proud in saying that he is an American. This little country has practically no manufacturers. They are all farmers and storekeepers and naturally they are up against it now. If the same thing should happen to the United States as has happened to poor Roumania, we would be in an eminently better position to take care of ourselves because we grow sufficient food in any and every section (with the possible exception of the far South)ii to take care of the population in that particular territory, and then again our manufacturers are scattered throughout the States. Thursday, November 1st -- Meat is being given out once a week - one pound. Bread (so-called) daily. It is black, hard and frequently moldy. I went over to one of the poorer quarters of the town a few days ago to a pattern maker’s shop, or carpenter’s shop, to see a desk. The whole section was simply one hovel after another. I saw several bread lines waiting patiently. I was told on Tuesday that I was to go to Kiev, Russia, accompanied by a Russian officer, with a view to buying for the Commission, several automobiles, which are badly needed. I know very little about the mechanism of an automobile, but at that know more than any of our party probably, and was selected for that reason. The plan, however, was abandoned because we discovered they were asking fabulous sums for second hand cars. Nothing can be secured under five thousand rubles ($1,000) and a really passable machine costs from twenty to forty thousand rubles ($4,000 to $8,000). A second hand Ford is about $1,000. We are now negotiating with two Russian Colonels, who have just arrived from Petrograd. We may be able to get twenty-five to forty automobiles from them. These are badly needed for relief work this winter, as we can not depend upon railroads to reach many places. Major Perkins came to my room this evening to find out where we could sleep the two Russian Colonels. I suggested Day’s room, without linen, as Day is without this scarce article, so we installed them there and Day is sleeping in my room on Mills’ bed. Mills has gone to the front for news to send to America. We have received advices from Washington that they will ship us practically everything we have cabled them to ship, and that means clothing, food, medicines, etc. There is no telling when we will get it, however. We have purchased large quantities of clothing at Odessa, and also a large portion of the cargo of a Norwegian ship at Archangel. In addition to this, our Archangel shipment has arrived and Captain Williams is on his way here with it. This last named contains largely medical and surgical supplies and equipment -- also various hospital equipment. Among the Norwegian cargo above referred to, we purchased over five thousand barrels of salt herrings of which the Roumanians are very fond. I have seen the Roumanian soldiers eat this raw fish with the greatest relish. I sent one in particular out for lunch (he had been acting as guard at the depot) and when he came back he had a fish in one hand (raw) and a hunk of war bread in the other. I don’t know where he secured the bread -- but this was considered by him a perfectly good meal. If we can get all of the supplies above referred to before winter sets in, we will be able to help the Roumanians to some extent, but I am afraid we are not going to be able to do the job systematically, or, in fact, satisfactorily, unless we leave the entire distribution to the Government authorities, or possibly a Committee, appointed by the Government, and including all classes. The Jewish question here is an acute one, and unless the Jews are represented in some way, they will receive very little help. Colonel Anderson was at the office for a few minutes but is still very weak. I have been very busy on accounts and will make up all statements tomorrow and hope to be able to go to Roman Saturday or Sunday. To show how impossible it is to get the simplest articles here -- we were sending some cement to Roman and in moving the barrels at the station our Roumanian help broke several of them. We had Mr. Laptew try to get us barrels or cement bags, or anything to hold the cement. After a search he finally secured one small barrel, which we couldn’t use. We then went by our magazine and emptied two American Biscuit Company’s large boxes. These are of wood on the outside and there is a tin receptacle on the inside. With two of these and the use of a carpenter for about fifteen minutes to mend one of the barrels, we had things fixed up in some shape. But nothing could be found except in our own store more suitable for the purpose. I have borrowed a small alcohol jet and now fix my own coffee in the mornings. We have the George Washington Brand Instantaneous Coffee and it makes a good cup of coffee and very quickly. This, with condensed milk, a few crackers, and some canned meat -- I am now living like a Prince for breakfast and know I will be able to accomplish more during the day. For several days our food has been almost inedible, but today it was pretty good. We had meat for lunch as well as dinner, but it must be remembered that I am eating at Staff Headquarters. If it is in Roumania, these people have the handling of it, and as long as there is anything at all to eat I guess we will have it at this Popote. Sunday, November 18th -- Since November 1st, things have been moving along rather roughly, food getting worse and worse. I made another trip to Roman about a week ago and installed an accounting system and other details, as recommended by me in a report made to Colonel Anderson and Major Kirkpatrick. The Colonel has entered into an agreement with the two Russian Colonels, previously mentioned, on the automobile question. Under this agreement Colonel Kolpashnikoff is attached to the American Red Cross Mission to Roumania, with his entire staff and about forty automobiles, in charge of transportation. These automobiles, which, up to this time, have been in charge of Colonel K. (of the Russian Red Cross), were donated by Americans to the Siberian Regiment, but have not been used for some time. The plan now is for Colonel Kolpashnikoff to go to Petrograd, assemble the automobiles, necessary repair parts and replacements (which can not be obtained in Roumania) and chauffeurs, and bring them to Jassy as soon as possible, for the work of distributing food and clothing in our Relief Campaign. The American Red Cross is put to no expense in connection with the matter except the pay of the Chauffeurs, and can retain the automobiles as long as we are doing work in this section, after which they are to be returned to the Russian Red Cross. A rather nifty arrangement and one which completely solves the transportation matter. A typical home in the poorer section of Jassy, visited by some of us, should be of interest. You enter a dilapidated looking hut -- one story, thatched roof. The floor is mother earth and frequently there are pools of water, or else it is very muddy. In some you find cots, but in many straw or rags serve as beds. It is not uncommon to find from four to seven people, most of whom are ill, some from starvation and others Typhus, and eventually all with Typhus. In some cases the care of an entire family rests upon a child, who is not stricken. These sights are simply appalling and make one’s heart bleed. Captain Williams actually arrived this morning with the Archangel shipment, only one car short -- a wonderful record. I have had only a very short talk with him, from which I gathered that he had many exciting experiences bringing this train to Jassy. Many times Russian soldiers pounded upon the doors trying to get in, and many times he was delayed at various stations because engines could not be obtained or because the trainmen didn’t care to work. At one point there was a strike of enginemen, but through his Russian interpreter he was finally able to secure a crew to go on with the train. In many places in Russia rioting is going on. At Moscow, there was quite a good deal of fighting in the Kremlin, also at Kiev and other places. At 5:00 P.M. this afternoon I left Jassy for Odessa, accompanied by a Russian no-commissioned officer, to arrange business matters at Odessa with Jacobs, Owen & Co. and others, in connection with purchases for relief work. I am equipped with the proper authority from Colonel Anderson to Jacobs Owen & Co. and hope to be able to put over a good business deal for the Red Cross. I also have copy of a telegram being sent about me by the Russian Military Headquarters here to the authorities at Odessa. We are traveling in reasonable comfort, have a drawing room or compartment. No diner attached. It takes thirty-six hours to make the trip -- in America it would take about eight hours. At Ungheni, the border, we were able to get soup, meat and potatoes. I brought along several boxes of American biscuits, jam, coffee, milk, salmon and a coffee pot. My Russian has tea and knows how to prepare it to perfection. We are now at Ungheni, where we have been for an hour. We have no lights, but I brought along my candle lamp and two candles. There are no sheets, but I have a blanket. I have Mary’s revolver with extra cartridges with me. I always carry it on my trips, but have used it only once so far, then only for target practice, while the chauffeur was mending the puncture on a trip from Piatra to Roman. I find I failed to mention this trip in the diary. After having worked pretty hard at the hospital at Roman for several days, Major Kirkpatrick ordered me to take an automobile ride, to get some fresh air -- we went as far as Piatra, towards the front (about fifty miles). This little town is about three or four miles from the front. Monday, November 19th -- At 1:30 we stop at Bendery for an hour or so for lunch. There is an abundance of eggs, milk, meat, potatoes, coffee and tea. A Russian station restaurant is quite different from an American one. No one thinks of removing his hat. You sit at a very long table seating about twenty-five to thirty people. There are also smaller tables. Waiters are all Russian men in very much soiled attire. Soup is invariably served first. If the Russians have a national dish it certainly must be soup with cabbage in it. Then we had meat and potatoes, Citro (lemonade) and Near Beer. (We were afraid to drink the water.) The bread is all black, but plenty of it. No butter yet. I met at the table an Engineer with the rank of Colonel and a Russian Colonel, who are traveling on the same train with us in a private car. When my Russian asked how soon we would get to Odessa and was answered “Midnight”, they immediately insisted that I should call upon them for any assistance needed, and if I desired it would be their pleasure to take care of me in their car. Very nice and neighborly. Everybody wants to help an American in uniform, and I am treated with the greatest courtesy by all, regardless of their rank. I gave a beggar five rubles at the station. The interpreter wanted to take it away from him, but I would not let him. The poor fellow had never received so much at one time in his life, so I made one miserable man happy today. Download 399.67 Kb. Share with your friends:
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