Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1871-10-04

The Great Fire In Mimln-The $50, 900
Appropriation Nr. Elder, the Nominee
Of the Dcnscntic Party Tor Treasurer,
Gets share Of It
The effect that the burning Of one
third ef town has upon its inhabitant.
cannot be understood by thoss who have
not passed through such an ordeal. The
sadness of the hearts of the citizens of
Mifflin at dawn on the first morning Of
the year 1871. when one third of the
town lay in fiery embers. cannot be told.
Hundreds of people came to town on
that beautiful quiet wintery Sabbath
day to zee the ruins. On the Monday
following the town was crowded. many
of the people having come fiom neigh
boring counties and how the town suf-
fered, was apparent to them all.
Great distress of whatever kind, be-
gets sympathy. Sympathy fully aroused,
persuades people to work for the relief Of
those believed to be in need of relief
The p. ople who visited Miflin saw our
distress. Their sympathies were aroused.
They felt like extending aid to the suf-
ferers. in money. provisions. and cloth
ing; but no one had been authorized to
receive and disburse contributions In.
deed. at that early stage of our distress
such blessings as contributions had not
yet been thought of. and. if thought of
by The sufferers, they were too delicate
to put themselves Immediately upon the
charity Of the community.
On Monday some persons-strangers
to the town, we believe-suggested the
propriety of calling meeting of citizens
of the place for the purpose of appoint.
ing a committee to receive and disburse
whatever might be voluntarily sent 10
the sufferers A number of our citizeus
acted Immediately on these suggestions.
A meeting was called to meet at the
Court House on Monday evening; but, on
learning the fact that that building was
filled with the goods of the unfortunate
ones, the meeting place was changed to
the lecture room of the Presbyterian
church All who were there doubtless
recollect the subdued and humble tone of
that meeting. How thankful we felt to-
ward every person who had aided us in
anyway whatever. How resolutions of
thanks to the Railroad Company and to
the fire departments of Lewis,own and
Harrisburg were passed The meeting,
too. in accordance with the object of the
call. appointed committee of six, in
cluding a treasurer, to receive and dis
burse whatever might be contributed for
the sufferers. For days money, by vol
untary contributions, came in, and at
stated times it was distributed or disburs-
ed as were also provisions. clothing, and
other articles that were sent to the commit
tee and to persons not on the committee.
In the meantime an account of our
sutferings was carried to Harrisburg to the
Legislature, and that body deemed our
distress to be of so serious a nature as
to warrant it to appropriate $4,000 for
our sufferers and destitute and needy,
The bill retained the committee appoint
ed by the meeting of citizens, excepting
Ibe treasurer. for the disbursement of the |
10000. The money was drawn and dis
and of it Mr. Noah Elder, one
,f the committee men, received one hun.
lred dollars His plea for taking that
amount we have not learned. How he
came to make this mistake we do not |
If the question had been raised at
he meeting held in the Presbyterian
,hurch whether any one intrus.ed with
he receipt or disbursement of money
given for the sufferers, should receive
such persons would have
been justly. bitterly denounced.
1t seems like a close shave to take
me hundred dollars of Stale appro-
oriation for the relief of sufferers, desti-
ute and needy-ma1e go by a great
ire-and yet the truth is that Mr.. Elder.
Who is the nominee of the Democracic
,arty for Treasurer. did take that amount
rom that appropriation fund. If Mr.
elder reaches his goal, the treasuryship,
nd shaves the county in proportion as
le shaved the fire relief fund. the peo.
lie themselves will be 20 blame, for they
lone can put him into office.
A KukluX Dress.
A despatch to Forney's Press. from
\ Washington, says: