The national Republican., 1866-08-04

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81 Appeal from Portiand.-Ths iah.bit-
ants Of Portland, smitsn by more terrible disaster
thAn has ever fallen upon any American town Of like
population, are constrained to appeal to their country
men whom God hath prospsrsd to help them In this
great calamity.
The undersigned are a sub .eommittse appointed by
representative committee from all the religious soeis.
ties In the place. to solicit and receive contributions for
the relief Of our sufferers.
We would fan have waited day or two. tai could
present formal and definite statements Of our
generous gifts from abroad anticipating appeal and
earnest hquirss come to " from sister cities and
towns, In this State and beyond, 10 know whatwe want
and what they can do to help us.
We hasten to answsr, respectfully but imporingly,
that We need contributions Of money, In large amount,
and ~ soon as may be- ...'
Many thousands Of our people are homsess The arst
necessities Of food and temporary shelter supplied
By the activity Of citizens and the prompt kind
ness Of the nsshborng towns greatly aided by the
Of quarermastsr stores under the immediate and gem
sanction Of the Secretary Of War But every hour
Is revealing thousand distressing wants, which can
only be supplied by the judeious application Of cash
resources In large aggregate amouut.
Thousands Of the sufferers have not change Of cloth
Ing nor bed, nor blanket Never was conn,srat
90 eomplstely destructive. Great numbers OF families
have nothing In. Large quantities Of household goods
and other property were removed again and again
places Of supposed safety but dsvousd BY the flames
last. ....
Our hearts bleed for the aged men and women for The
many hundreds Of little children, and for the helpless
Sick who had to pass through the Of that dread
ful night, and now have no homes. .r
We cannot exaggerate this calamity. sympathiring
friends, who have come In from other places declare
that all rumors Of the dAtsr were far short Of the
fnghtfui reality. 20.
space OF moro than one hundred and nfy acres, In
the very heart Of city, bot yesterday covered with
beautiful dwellings, with warshouses stores, msunfse.
tories, and large number Of public ediness s nova
dssolats and appalling waste This eonaasraion ragged
more than twelve hours without any check and stopped
only when reaehsd the vacant lands outside Of the
city. More than six miles Of Streets but yesterday
closely lined both sides with buildnss and thronged
BY busy and happy people, scarcely afford foot
paths through the universal ruin. We attempt 10 hud
where the homes Of friends were standing three
days ago, and We lose ourselves In wilderness with
out one familiar object for guide.
To relieve the innumerabs distress Of our homeless
townsmsn, to sustain our lsboring men and women
while they are waiting employ ment to prevent as far
as possible the separation Of f4mss to cheer the hearts
Of hundreds Of mothers Who at this moment, can do
nothing but hover their groups Of little children
to assist those who will erect humble dwellings on
the sites Of their lost homes and to give courage and
hope TO all Of u.s. who bear the burden OF rstor
Ing these wastes need all such pseuniay eonribu
tons the charity and good judgment Of those who see
this appeal may prompt them to give.
Such Is the activity Of our people, and their dspos
tion TO take Of themselves that with friendly help
for time they will rise above this calamity; but
the great number Of to bs relieved demands large
contributions.
Countrymeni Friendsi Christiapsi We know that
you will help We rely the impulses Of your pa
triotie brotherhood-on the msress Of your Christian
sympathy. Humbiy and thankfully We acknowledge
that we al under the favor Of Almighty God, and
we are sure that He will dispose your hearts to wsrk
with Him for our relief.
Contributors are earnestly assured that all possible
will be taken in the distribution Of the bounty we
may reesys. All Disbursements will be under the sd
vice Of responsible general committee representing
all classes and watching all suffering interests.
Every effort will be used to administer the supplies sim
ply 10 proportion to the necessities
Mr.. Spring, one Of the members Of the sub commit
tee, will act IS treasurer Of money donations.
any persons communities are disposed, in addi-
ton to peeuniAry gifs to contribute also brsadsuGs
cured meats Shoes CLOTH building Materials they
requested to give notice Of the same to Mr.. HENRY
FOX, chairman Of the Executive Committee Of Relief
who will advise as to forwarding. % f. aN
Editors Of newspapers respectfully requested to
publish this appeal, .utf BARNks;
sAMUEL 4. SPRING.
PoNrtASp, July :, 1866, 2 II r''I
.. u.,o,,. o,,,sn CIR yo,v 2, poH,sa.ssp, ,ass,I |
Iearnestly eommend the object Of the foregoing ap.
peal TO the friendly consideration Of all beheyoent