Nicaraguan Famine Relief
A general failure of crops, followed by the revolutionary outbreak of last summer in Nicaragua caused great distress among the poorer classes in that country. Conditions were sufficiently bad before the military operations took place, but during July, owing to the revolution, they became critical, and many Nicaraguans faced starvation. Early in August, having been apprised of the situation as it then existed, Secretary of State Knox addressed a communication to the American Red Cross, requesting to be informed whether the Red Cross was in a position to furnish food supplies to relieve the needs of the non-combatants. The American Red Cross promptly forwarded $1,000 to the American minister at Panama, with instructions to expend that amount in the purchase of flour, beans, corn, rice and potatoes. Through the courtesy and co-operation of Colonel George W. Goethals, U. S. A., Governor of the Canal Zone, the commissary of the Isthmian Canal Commission furnished these supplies at wholesale rates, and the same were shipped via the United States transportJustin, which was carrying a battalion of United States Marines to Nicaragua.
On August 28th, at the request of Hon. George T. Weitzel, American minister to Nicaragua, at Managua, the State Department suggested a further appropriation by the American Red Cross to continue the alleviation of the suffering which would probably continue some time after the revolutionary disturbances. Pursuant to this suggestion, a further appropriation of $1,000 was made by the Central Committee, and the supply of corn and beans purchased therewith was shipped to Managua from Panama on the steamerSan Juan, on September 7th.
Under date of January 21, 1913, the Secretary of State transmitted to the American Red Cross a report from Mr. Weitzel as to the manner in which the supplies were distributed and the effectiveness of the relief rendered. Following is an extract from that report:
“The first car, consisting of flour, corn, beans, rice and potatoes to the value of one thousand dollars, left the Panama Canal Zone on August 9, 1912, in charge of Major Smedley D. Butler, U. S. M. C., and was received in Managua on the 15th of that month.
“The legation requested a committee of Americans, including Messrs. Otto Schoenrich, A. R. Thompson, C. D. Ham, A. J. Lindberg and J. A. Whitaker, to take charge of the provisions under instructions to relieve all cases of distress, irrespective of affiliation of the applicants; but as they were unable to attend to the matter on account of departure from the city, or other reason, the legation decided to do the work itself. Mr. Walter H. Hooper, an American missionary, and Padre J. A. Lezcano, a well known Nicaraguan priest, kindly offered to assist in investigating needy cases. Signed tickets, good for five rations, were then issued to the applicants who presented them to Mr. William Gower, assistant paymaster of the United States Navy, at the railroad station, where two-fifths of the car load was distributed, beginning with the flour and potatoes, which deteriorate very rapidly in this climate.
“The remaining three-fifths were taken to Leon, where Lieutenant Colonel Charles G. Long, U. S. M. C., distributed them through the Hospital San Vincente and the Sisters of Charity, reserving a portion, however, to feed one hundred and twenty-five prisoners, who had been sadlyneglected during the hostilities in that town.
“The second carload donated by the Red Cross consisted of 10,000 pounds of beans and 7,140 pounds of cornmeal, these two staples being the principal articles of food for the poorer classes in Nicaragua. Having been despatched from the Canal Zone on September 7th the consignment reached Managua on the 14th of that month and was started the next morning to Granada under the personal charge of the clerk of the legation, arriving there after being fired on at the Barranca on Sunday, September 22d. The distribution was promptly begun from a central station even before the disarmament had taken place. Great assistance was rendered by Dr. Juan I. Urtecho, an elderly gentleman of wide reputation for impartial charity, who has devoted many years of his professional life as a physician to gratuitous practice among the poor, and who before the arrival of the Americans had fed at his own expense hundreds of famished people. Several of the Granada ladies kindly volunteered their services in placing the tickets with deserving families, and Private Baldwin, U. S. M. C., supplied the holders of the tickets with the number of rations thereon designated, nearly 8,000 in all being thus disposed of. A gratifying feature of the distribution of supplies was the small number of men who appeared in line, and even those few were maimed, sick or blind. The Red Cross and San Juan Hospitals, the French College for Girls and the schools were given the first attention.
“There was urgent need of help, as many poor families had been forced for a long time to subsist on green mangoes, and some deaths had already resulted from starvation, but the timely arrival of supplies quickly relieved the situation. Children who crowded around the camp were fed by the enlisted men out of their own rations, and a carload of corn and flour donated by the American colony in Managua was distributed among the sufferers.
“As soon as order was restored the farmers from the surrounding territory brought their produce to market, and the railroad resumed transportation of supplies which had been accumulating in Corinto, so that conditions at Granada and elsewhere should begin gradually to improve, although it will be some time before the people will cease to feel the depression caused by the failure of crops for two successive years, and by the hardships suffered during the present disturbances.
“The prompt and generous action of the American Red Cross has won expressions of deep appreciation from those who have been helped, and has created the kindliest feeling among all classes of people in Nicaragua.”