Jewels from Jane - February 25
FEBRUARY 25
This picture shows the sisters on the balcony of the Hospital in Matanzas, Cuba.
Matanzas, Cuba
Feb. 25, 1899
Dear Rev. Mother [Agatha Guthrie],
Your dear letter received yesterday, also papers, Ave Maria. Annals of Saint Joseph and leaflets which give great pleasure to missionaries in foreign countries to read home news and keep us posted in War News. We will be so military in our customs that it will take time to train us after we return to our dear convent home again. Yesterday we had all the head generals in Washington to see us and their staff. And of course we had to put on our very nicest looks to meet them. They all seemed very much pleased with our neat little hospital and finally concluded they would raise our wages to fifty dollars per month for each nurse. We will be rich if we remain in the Army very much longer. Our sick are doing nicely, thank God, increasing every day. We have eighty-one on the sick list besides the 20 that are on the hospital ship. This morning the Major Winn came rushing in to where I was and said, "You are just the one I want to see. Is there anything I can do for you?" "No, Sir, what we have is very nice. Do not wish anything better." "Well, I wish I could do something for you!" I said, "If you allow me to make a request, pardon the soldier who was arrested this morning." He hesitated for a moment and said, "I have just signed the paper for his confinement in the Fort and if it is not gone, I will. I will send the Guard to bring the prisoner in to me." I thought I would die. Everyone was waiting to see what the prisoner should do. The poor man with tears in his eyes said he would do anything for the Sisters. In a few words I said, "Obey while you are in the Army and apologize to the steward and Major Winn." The poor boy did do it--was sent back to his work as happy a man on the field. The Fort prison is a hard place to be. They are put on bread and water, have all the hard work to do in the camp, have guards over them day and night. So many get sick there. The Fort is so damp. You know, Mother, this is only one of our little items of our daily routine. Nothing definite about the time we will be mustered out. The heat is intense in the sun--98-100. Still the Sisters have not felt it very much except one or two nights. Our rainy season will set in in April. The nights are cool but the fleas have us about devoured. Our boxes we have not received. I wrote to the Express Office in Kansas City to look it up. We get along nicely with our laundry in Cuba. I will bring home a piece of the Cuban washboard when we return. Sr. Delphine [Dillon] had rheumatism this week. She is much better today. All the other Sisters are well and seem to be happy. I hope Mother Gonzaga is getting strong, and poor Mother Julia, I hope she received my letter. Poor old Sister Clare wrote me a long letter this week. They are all pleased with this new Mother. Are crowded as usual! The poor Sister must be very tired. Now, dear Rev. Mother, I hope you keep well. May we expect that visit from you soon. I am sure you would be pleased with Matanzas if you saw it. It would remind you of Bethlehem. Last Sunday four of the Sisters and two soldiers went over to the other side of the Bay to see Coral Bellmare. It is grand. In this cave many a poor soul was thrown down the precipice to die during this war struggle. I will send you a picture of the graveyard in Havana. It is 80 feet deep and full to the top with bones of the dead. If I can, I would like to go to Havana before we leave. Rumor has it in Camp the New York Regiment are going home the 5th of March. Now, dear Rev. Mother, I will be more prompt in writing you. I only thought you were all tired of War News. Many is the prayer and God bless the Community for all the prayers and good you have done for us. We hope all of us will be ever grateful and thankful. Love from all the Sisters.
Your affectionately devoted child,
Sr. Liguori [McNamara]
Would Sister Winifred like some specimens from the cave. I have very pretty ones, I think. We can get any amount of coral (white) if she wants it and anything else she would like to have. I will enclose a letter I received.
I would like a few prayerbooks and crucifixes for the soldiers and I will pay all my debts when I will get home. Sr. Raymond [Ward] would like a habit. If the trunk doesn't come this week it must be looked after in Carondelet.
Spanish-American War correspondence
