The Portland daily press., 1876-09-25
AID FOR SAVANNAH
citizens Meeting Saturday-CO ons
from the Churches Yesterday.

from the ChurcueS HesteF0ays
A few days since Col. w. F. Holland OF Sa-
| vannab, Ca, came to this city to interest our
citizens in regard to the suffering in Savannah
on account of the yellow fever, and to ask aid
for the hundreds in distress He was kindly
received and the daily papers announced the
mission he was on Hon. A. X. Shurtlef in
the absence Of the President of the Board Of
Trade, took the matter in hand and published a
cali for meeting of the citizens at Merchants
Exchange, Saturday. Those who were present
were wide awake to the need of the sufferers.
The meeting was called to order by T. G.
Hersey, Esq, ex-President of the Board of
Trade, who proposed Hon. W. w. Thomas as
chairman and L. c. Wade as secretary of the
meeting.
Mr. Thomas spoke briefly of the suffering in
Savannah and spoke of the timely aid the citi
zens of that city sent to the sufferers in this
after the fire of 1866 had devastated our city.
He was in hopes our citizens would respond
with the same promtness and liberality.
Hon. A. X. Shurtleff stated that Col. Hol-
land was present and he could best describe the
condition in Savannah.
Col. Holland said he appeared before the
meeting with melancholy pleasure-melan-
choly, when he considered the occasion, and
with pleasure when he remembered the we'll
known generosity of the Forest City. The yell
low fever first appeared in Savannah on Aug
ust 18th. ard the medical faculty hoped it was
but sporadic case; but in few days. it crop
ped out in other wards and it was found that
the pestilence was fastened upon the city. The
authorities employed all possible means to
check its progress, assisted in their efforts by
the various benevolent societies, and 80 far, it
appears to be chiefly confined to the eastern
and western quarters, inhabited by the poorer
white citizens and negroes. The benevolent
societies are composed of gentlemen who are
not philanthropists on paper, but real workers,
each of whom has district assigned to him.
They visit and aid all without distinction, both
rich and poor. During the past twenty-five
years the city has been exempt from this
scourge, and large sum had accumulated in
the hands of the Savannah Benevolent Society
an institution modelled on the principle of the
Howard Association of New Orleans; but this
sum had been expended. The city, also since
the prevalence of the epidemic, has dwindled
in population from &c, 900 to 1900. In one day
5000 citizens fled, and in the next 5000, while
many who were passing their summer away
Trombone, have been afraid to return. All the
funds that the city council appropriated or pri-
vate purses afford, has been used, and what
further aid is obtained must come from abroad.
The appeal from Savannah has been met with
a hearty response The disease is an expensive
one. 1t eliminates in 36 hours, and then comes
the long couvalesence, when constant nursing,
good nourishing food, and wine are needed,
The expenses of the Benevolent Asso citation
are over $1,000 per day. 81 WISH" said the
speaker, 81 could picture toyou the fearful
scenes of suffering that have fallen under my
own eyes. The death rate Friday was So, of
which number 4S were victims of yellow fever
You pass along the streets in the morning and
meet a business friend rejoicing in the full
flush of health. The next night he in his coffin,
or undergoing the long tedious convalescence.
What therefore is done, needs be done quickly.
If the scenes of 1854 were described to the pub
lie, they would canse shudder. feel conf
dent" concluded Col. Holland, "that the
Portland public will make a generous response
to my appeal, as has already been the case in
New York, Boston, Philadelphia Newport and
other cities.'
Mr.. Thomas then read letter from Bruins
wick, Ga, from Mr. j. N. Dexter to Col. Dex-
ter. ofthe firm of King & Dexter of this city,
dated Sept stating that four died of yellow
fever the previous night, and general stam-
pede was in progress. Money, he wrote, is
greatly needed.
On motion of Mr.. Shurtlef committee con-
sisting of one from each parish was appointed
to see that contribution was taken up in the
churches yesterday. The committee was raised
and the result Of their labors will be seen be-
low.
Another committee was appointed to prepare
subscription papers and canvass the business
portion of the city. The committee consists of
Hon. W. W. Thomas, Charles Mclaughlin,
Gen. G. P. Mattocks Frank Barrett, and w.
s. Dana.
The meeting then adjourned
A subscription was Immediately started and
the following amounts subscribed: w. W.
Thomas, $50; A. K Shurtleff, $25; j. B. Coyle,
S.; H. j. Libby, $40; W. F. Milliken, So; John
D. Lord, So; VIM. G. Davis, $25; A. L. Gilkey,
$40; Deering, Milliken & Co., 500; Chadbourne
& Kendall, $40; Rollins, Loring & Adams, S.;
Albion Little, $40; R. M. Richardson, $40.
Subscriptions will be received at the Mer-
chants Exchange for few days. The COM
mttee hope to announce sum equal to that
contributed by Savannah to Portland In 1866.
The notice to the churches was SO brief that
many who will give at another time were not
prepared. On this account many of the con-
tributions will appear small. There was no COL
lection taken at the Cathedral of Immaculate
Conception owing to the absence of the Bishop,
but one will probably be taken next Sabbath.
At ST. Paul's church none was taken as a speciai
contribution had been arranged for that day
but those who wish to contribute through this
parish can hand their co ntributions to Mr.. J.
W. York. Those who wish to swell the
amount given by the First Baptist can send
their contributions to Brunels book store, on
Exchange street.
The following are the several sums contribut-
Cd hxyt \, OH acta