The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-03-18
THE WHITE REFUGEES AT
CAIRO.
Their Condition, Numbers, and
CAIRO RELIEF ASSOCIATION
Fehruarv % 1894


To answer many inquiries concerning the
condition of the White Refugees arriving here
from the South, as well as to inform all of the
true situation of this hapless class of our fell
low citizens, who feel an interest in their well
fare, the Executive Board of the Cairo Relief
Association would respectfully represent:
A SKETCH OF THEIR CONDITION IN THE SOUTH
The reign of terror that exists throughout
all the rebel States lying in and adjacent to the
Mississippi valley, has no parallel in the most
barbarOus annals of our country.
Their able bodied men have been conscript-
ed, or fleeing to the woods and swamps, have
been hunted with blood hounds and shot like
beasts.
Their crops have been destroyed.
Their lands laid waste.
Their cattle and teams driven Oft.
Their granaries robbed.
Their cotton burned.
Their houses sacked and RACED.
Women have been stripped of their clothing
and turned naked upon the world.
Men deserving from service they hated,
have been caught and made to dance wild on
the wind from the branches of trees which
Overhuug their own dwellings.
Children, interceding, have been shot.
Mothers, imploring mercy, have had their
infants stabbed on their breasts.
Sympathy with the Union cause has been
LlatUc kuc SOlc Vi
in intestine war.
The rich and poor alike are PROSTATE, smit-
ten and suppliant from their very destitutiOn.
What should christian people do for exiles
in such a case?
THEIR SITUATION IN CAIRO.
They are sent here by the military authori-
ties, on government transports and steamers,
and landed On our levee at all hours of the day
and night There they are left, shelterless and
penniless, their future an aimless blank. More
than two hundred have recently been set on
shore at a late hour eff night, and compelled to
remain exposed to the inclemencies of the
per month now exceeds two thousand, with a
prospect of an increase rather than diminutiOn
of arrivals
A few have teams or money enough to take
them a hundred miles into the country by rail-
road. Some have friends in the North who
would assist them on their reaching them.
Nearly all are anxious to get into the rural dis
tricts, where they can find homes and make an
honorable livelihood by their labor. Some,
indeed, who have been taught and accustomed
to look upon labor rs mental, may have to
learn by sad experience the blessing and dig
nifty of manly toll.
Nine-tenths of all are women and children,
four-fifths of whom are children quite tender
of years. But very few are intim from age.
owing to assertions and the rigor with which
the Consumption is enforced. Every religious
denomination and fraternal brotherhood have
their representatives among them.
They bring with them some articles of their
household plumber" and the tattered REM
nants OF wardrObes that have not been replen-
ished during the three years of suffering since
first their troubles came" Children come
without hats. shoes or stockings, and hundreds
without change of clothing. These who
have lived in atfluence are reduced to equal
extremities of want with the poor. Of course,
cleanliness is impossible in their condition.
The health of the most is reduced By cX-
pOsure and by bad and scanty food. Many are
sick requiring immediate attendance and ten
derest nursing care.
\ mother and her four daughters have died
of exposure within the space of one week
The widowed mother of several children, is
now sick with but little prospect of recovery
WHAT THEY NEED.
First: Homes, and some help to start in
life again.
Second: Employment at such work as thew
may be capable of doing.
Third: Clothing of plain, substantial
character. shoes, hats dresses, &C.
Fourth: Seed for planting gardens in the
spring.
Fifth: Money to pay their passage to homes
IN the country, for the purchase of necessaries
and for detraying current expenses Of the
Rest" @
Sixth: The children need, not less than food
and clothing, school learning, and instruction
in some useful.calling to fit them for business.
Money may be RENTED in drafts to our treas
nrer; clothing or other goods through any
Sanitary Commission, marked. "W White Refi;.
gees, Cairo, ILL.," Full and frequent reports
will be sent to all who may contribute.
GEO ID WTTTJAMa0N pro.,a.
JOHN @. WHITE, al rs
JOS. MCKENZIE.
DANIEL HURD, vice PRESIDENTS.
G. .GALIGHER,
VIM. J. YOST, Recording Secretary.
CT. CHASE, Cor. Secretary.
A. B. Stafford, Treasurer.
N. B.-Persons receiving this circular are
requested to procure for IL . reading in all the
churches, and publication in the local pepers.