Figure 3. — Restoring body of red cross ambulance during final restoration. (Smithsonian 



photo 50890 B.) 



their function : white oak for the sills, crossbars, 

 studs, rails and floorboards; ash for the back, curtain 

 rails, bows, and cleats; yellow poplar for the side 

 panels; and hickory for the woodwork of the running 

 gear. 



This type of ambulance was equipped with four 

 stretchers, two at the top and two at the bottom. 

 The bottom two were hinged so that they could be 

 made into seats for carrying personnel. The upper 

 two were not hinged, but were suspended from the 

 top and were attached to the side when not in use. 

 By the time the U.S. National Museum acquired the 

 ambulance, only one of the original stretchers had 

 survived, and the other three had to be copied for 

 replacement. 



In appearance, this type of ambulance differs only 

 slightly from the regular Army Red Cross ambulance 

 furnished by the Quartermaster Corps, a principal 

 difference being that of color. Analysis of the origi- 

 nal paint reveals it to have been Prussian blue and 

 chrome yellow, rather than the olive drab used on 

 the Army Red Cross ambulances. Specification for 

 the Army ambulances may be found in great detail 

 in the National Archives, but because this type was 

 purchased by a civilian organization, the exact 

 specifications have not been preserved. Eleven 

 ambulances, completely equipped, were purchased in 

 1898 by the American Red Cross and, of these, six 

 were shipped to Cuba, two to Puerto Rico, one to 

 Camp Thomas, Georgia, and two to the Long Island 



PAPER 50: RED CROSS AMBULANCE OF 189 8 



169 



