I

ous cases were not likely to be sent us. pressed the point so strongly that at last he said the ship had better get orders from General Buller on arrival at Durban. On our arrival there the authorities came on board and told us we were to be filled up with drafts from the other hospital-ships and sent home at once. But with the help and influence of the Government of Natal, Sir Redvers Buller, and other influential friends, I am happy to say I was able successfully to frustrate three times these endeavors to send us back. The Maine not only remained in the harbor of Durban, but had many interesting cot cases sent down.

We had been asked by the authorities if we could leave on the 25th for Durban. Although the notice was short, giving us only a couple of days after the long sea voyage of nearly a month, we were rather pleased to be able to say "Yes," and prove our readiness. A few hours after receiving our orders, however, Lord Roberts sent word that he wished to visit the ship on the following day. Accordingly he came, and gave us a thorough inspection: wards, mess-rooms, dispensary, operatingroom-everything was visited and much approved of. The only thing wanting to prove our efficiency was beds filled with the wounded. Before starting, five civil surgeons and eight army reserve sisters were added to our number, the medical authorities having asked us to take them to Durban, their ultimate destination being Mooi River. They proved very troublesome on the journey, being, indeed, as exigeant as they appeared ignorant. One or two of the nurses actually brought maids to look after them! I did not envy the hospitals which were to benefit by their services. :

It was no surprise to us to repeat some of our Bay of Biscay experiences, as we knew there would be a heavy ground-swell all the way. Later, however, the sea became comparatively calm, and we emerged, to bask in the sun like lizards. I gazed for hours through my glasses at the shore, which was only three or four miles distant. The soft green hills and bright sandy beaches, with kraals dotted here and there, gave it such a cultivated appearance that one could hardly realize that this was savage South Africa." proached Durban, the wind

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blow, and an ominous bank of gray cloud came up, with lightning flashing on the horizon. I shall never forget the astonishing storm which suddenly burst upon us. The electric barometer in my cabin dropped perpendicularly. Torrents of hailstones the size of small plums beat down on us, the wind increased to a hurricane, and was so violent that the ship stood still, although we had been going at ten knots. The awning aft was violently blown into the sea, carrying with it all its rafters and stanchions, smashing one of the big ventilators, and only just missing some of the sisters who were crouching on the deck. The sea meanwhile presented a most curious appearance, being covered with millions of little jets about a foot high, due to the force with which the hailstones fell, and as they floated for a while, in a few minutes it was quite white. Inside my deck cabin the din was terrific, the noise of the hailstones striking the skylight and windows with a sound like bullets. It was impossible to converse. One

As we began to

HIS EXCELLENCY, SIR WALTER HELY-HUTCHINSON, GOVERNOR OF NATAL IN 1900

window was smashed, and the water and ice poured in everywhere. The hailstones had a pattern like agate. With the decks covered with ice, the thermometer at 82 degrees seemed an anomaly, and reminded one of the Scotchman who during a rainstorm threw out his rising barometer, shouting after it, "Go and see for yourself." Luckily the storm did not last long, and we were soon able to emerge and look at the damage.

On the afternoon of the 29th we came in sight of Durban, the pride and glory of the Garden Colony.

By this time the inhabitants of the Maine could boast sea-legs and notwithstanding the heavy swell, we did not mind being told that we should have to remain outside the harbor all night. Thirsting for news, however, my younger son, who had come with us from Cape Town to join the South African Light Horse in Natal, started off with one of the ship's officers in a steam-launch for the harbor and shore, little knowing that the penalty for crossing the bar was £100, and still less that, owing to the heavy sea, a small boat had no chance of getting safely over. Luckily they were hailed by a tug, with a midshipman on board from H. M. S.

Terrible, who was the bearer of a message to me from the commandant, Captain (now Admiral Sir) Percy Scott, to the effect that my son Winston was in Durban, having come on a two-days' leave to meet me, and that there was no fresh news or change in the military situation. This seemed inexplicable, as when we left Cape Town the air was full of the wildest rumors, crucial developments being expected hourly. Ladysmith, however, had neither fallen nor been relieved. The enemy's big guns were firing away with the same monotonous regularity, and the list of reverses was being steadily increased.

Pending the arrival of patients and longing for a few days' rest, I availed myself of a kind invitation from the Governor of Natal, Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson, to go to Pietermaritzburg. Miss Warrender and my two boys went with me, all being duly armed with passes and permissions sent us by the commandant. This made me realize that we were under martial law, and that no one could travel or be abroad after eleven o'clock at night without official permission.

Two very pleasant and reposeful days were spent at Pietermaritzburg, but it was

hard to say good-by to my sons, who left the next evening to join the South African Light Horse. I enjoyed talking to my host at Government House, since his long sojourn in Natal and his intimate knowledge of the people and the military situation gave particular interest to his conversation. I visited the hospitals and thought them admirably arranged. The town hall, a fine building, full of light and air, with bright flowers decorating the tables, and soft-voiced sisters moving about, seemed an ideal ward. The four long rows of cots were full, and the men liked talking about their wounds and adventures. The Fort Hospital, with its small detached cottages, was more suited to isolated cases, the officers' quarters looking particularly comfortable, with rooms opening on the veranda, where thick creepers hanging

scathing report on Long's precipitancy, and naturally the hospital authorities tried to keep the knowledge from the unfortunate officer. A well-meaning though foolish visitor, however, condoled with him, and he never rested until he had read the cruel message. Colonel Long spoke of it to me quite freely, saying that in the bitterness of the moment Buller never would have dared to censure him in such terms had he not thought that he was a dead man. A telegram from the Maine, saying some sick and wounded were arriving on the following day, hastened my departure. I traveled back by day and enjoyed the lovely scenery between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The astonishing little railway twists in and out, round and about the ever-changing, colored hills, making as many detours as the pretentious avenue of

from the roof shaded them from the sun. Here I visited Colonel Long, who had been desperately wounded at Colenso. Notwithstanding the terrible nature of his wounds, he received me with a pleasant smile. The press was full of Buller's

the millionaire whose palace you are allowed to see for miles before you arrive at its door.

I found the ship's staff in a pleasurable state of excitement at the prospect of the work before them. In the afternoon an

the field and in action testify. Out of his uniform he is a big child, and wants to be kept in order and not too much spoiled. I am afraid we were inclined to do this. On the whole, I think it can only do good to give a man a higher ideal of cleanliness and comfort than he has ever had before. I had long and frequent talks with many of them. They delighted in giving their histories and experiences, and particularly the crowning one of how they received their wounds, which, with the slightest encouragement they would show with great pride, as well as the extracted bullet, if they had one.

leaves me." Then came a great scratching of heads and biting of fingers until I would suggest, to start them off again, a description of how they were wounded. "Won't you send your love to any one?" I asked. "Not out of the family," was the answer, with a reproving look. One very gallant Tommy, who lay with a patch over his eye, an inflamed cheek, and a broken arm, asked me to add to his letter, "The sister which is a-writing of this is very nice." The compliment was fully appreciated. A few days later we received ten officers and ninety men, making us fairly full. We were busy from morning

to night. Indeed, one never seemed to have a moment to write or read; the one difficulty on board ship at any time, and more particularly on a hospital-ship, is to be alone, and, when alone, to be able to concentrate. The parties of sick and wounded men who came to us were drafted from the different hospitals of Frere, Estcourt, Mooi River, and Pietermaritzburg. Apart from the surgical and operating cases, the treatment consisted principally of antiseptic dressing, electricity, and massage, the use of the gymnasium apparatus giving excellent results.

It may be interesting to describe how we worked our wards. To begin with (apart from the captain and ship's company), our medical staff was comprised of the commanding officer, five surgeons, one superintending sister, four sisters, eleven male nurses, ten orderlies, and five non-commissioned officers. The personnel of each ward was composed of a head nurse, nurses, orderlies, stewards, and night nurses, according to the size of the ward and the number of beds in it. The surgeons did their dressings and duties in the morning, one of them being told off daily as orderly medical officer, whose duty was to make a thorough inspection of everything, report anything not correct, and to hear complaints. The superintending sister had charge of the head nurses, and was responsible for all patients, according to the

agement of the superintending sister, and were respectively in the charge of a noncommissioned officer. These non-commissioned officers proved most excellent men. The staff-surgeon was employed as record clerk and acting sergeant-major. He had to keep the admission- and discharge-book, which showed the regiment or corps, regimental number, remarks, name of all patients, disease or disability, date of admission or discharge, number of days under treatment, ward in which treated, religion, and final destination. The medical care and

medical officers' instructions. The three stores linen, personal equipment, and medical comforts auxiliary to the nursing department-were placed under the man

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nursing and innumerable comforts we had to give the patients, combined with the cool, fresh air on the ship, brought so many of them round that we were able to dis