Jewels from Jane - April 13
Matanzas, Cuba
April 13, 1899
Dearest Mother [Agatha Guthrie],
I have been waiting for two or three days to see if I could hear anything definite about our returning home, but nothing satisfactory has been heard yet. I asked General Sanger and Major Ives when we were to go home and they said, "Oh, you do not want to go home do you?" I said, "Yes, I thought our work was almost completed, as all the volunteers had left the Island," then General Sanger said he thought General Wilson would try and keep us for the Hospital. We have only a few sick, all the patients are able to be around. When the Hospital ship comes in it will take the majority back to the States. There are fifteen hundred regular Army men in Matanzas. They are afraid when the wet season sets in that many of them will be sick and want to retain the American Nurses on that account. They anticipated the same cause when leaving the States and thank God they were disappointed. Had a very small percentage. Nothing serious among the Soldiers, thank God. Mrs. Sanger and daughter left yesterday for home. All that possibly can are leaving before quarantine sets in. Father McCoy and Father James are to remain in Matanzas. Father James has been with the Army. Was mustered out but is working his way back again if he can. The order he belongs to are [sic] speaking of opening a College for boys. Father McCoy thinks it is a foolish thing to do as the people are too poor to support a College. The country is in a very unsettled state. The Railroad men were on a strike this week, had to send the Soldiers out to run the trains. The Sisters all keep well, are all anxious to go home, if they can. I know, dear Mother, you will tell us what is best to be done. Hope you are well and we may hear or see you soon. With love,
Yours devotedly in the Sacred Heart,
Sr. Liguori [McNamara]
Spanish-American War correspondence
