The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-09-13
A CRY FOR HELP.
An Appeal In Behalf of the Yellow Fever
Sufferers OF the south.

An Appeal In BE half OF the Yellow Fever
Sufferers Of the south.
To the Chambers of Commerce and the Charitable
OF the Chief Citi,s Of the Union:
The cry Of anguish from the stricken cities
and people Of the South has been answered by
a noble burst OF charity from the people and
cities OF the country. Contributions, great
and small, have been extended to the suffer-
ers. The Secretary Of War has generously
extended the aid of the Government to the
poor and needy of the pest-ridden cities, but
great as has been the charity, the necessity is
yet greater, and the sums subscribed are yet
inadequate to the wants of the suffering. In
New Orleans, Vicksburg and Memphis AZ well
as in the smaller towns of Holly Springs,
Grenada, Port Gibson, Canton, Greenville,
Brownville, Baton Rouge and Delhi all business
is suspended.
business on the Mississippi river south of Mem
pills. over fifty steamboats, are tied up, and
their crews discharged. Longshoremen, and
gangs Of stevedores, and other laborers who
were engaged in the receiving and discharging
OF freight, are without employment. Four
great lines Of railroad are paralyzed, and their
employees are idle. Nearly every place of bust
ness in the cities and towns where fever prevails
is closed, and the employees discharged. These
employees are poor, and depend on their labor
for support. 1t is estimated that Of these I'M
employed men there are in New Orleans $4,000,
Memphis, 5000; Vicksburg, 1000, and in
smaller towns, 1000, making total Of
$1,000 discharged workingmen, most Of
whom are heads of families, and represent a
total population Of not less than 100000 in
actual and desclate want. These people have
no means to get away from the pest-ridden
cities. For them there is no labor, no wages,
no bread, nothing but death or starvation,
and this condition must last at least for fifty
days, for there will be no stay OF the pesti-
lence, no resumption of business until frost.
Averaging the support of each individual at
20 cents per day, which il 10 cents less than
the cost Of army rations, for fifty days, the
support Of the suffering and destitute will cost
| 81 1850, 900, and this for subsistence alone.
Nothing for medicines, clothing, proper sus-
tenance for the sick, and burial OF the dead
has been taken into account in this calculation.
| 1t has occurred to the undersigned that COM
prehensive system of relief should be at once
inaugurated to avoid the appalling distress
which will sicken and shock humanity when to
the awful destruction Of the plague are added
| the horrors Of famine. We suggest that in
each of the great cities of the Union a central
depot for the reception of supplies be at
once opened where the contributions Of pro-
visions, tea, coffee, wines, medicines
and clothing may be sent. The lines
of transportation over both land and water
have volunteered to transport supplies to the
stricken cities free Of charge. Let New Or
leans, which is most accessible by sea and
land, and which has more facilities for trans
portation, be constituted the central depot for
the reception Of supplies, which can De for
warded to the Howard and Peabody Associa-
tions of that city as fast as collected. Let
Vicksburg, Memphis and smaller towns that
are affected send to New Orleans their agents
to aid in receiving distributing and forward
ing pro rata supplies to the respective towns
and cities for which they are destined.
We appeal to the Chambers Of Commerce Of
the great cities to inaugurate this movement
forthwith. We appeal TO the charitable and
good. We appeal to the ministers of God for
their influence, and that of their congregations.
Even the smallest donations of provisions,
money or medicines, will be acceptable.
The characters Of the noble gentlemen who
compose the Howard Association. and the Pea
body Association, and the Young Mems Christ
ian Association are guarantees that all charities
will be properly and honestly applied.
In the name Of a common country and
kindred humanity we invoke for our stricken,
dying, and starving people the charity Of those
whose homes and loved ones are secure from
the pestilence that walketh in darkness and
the destruction that wasteth at MONDAY.
E. JOHN ELLIS, Louisiana.
r. l.. GIBSON Louisiana.
JOHN T. MORGAN, Alabama.
VIM II. MCCARDLE, Mississippi.
CIRRUS BUssEY
President New Orleans Chamber Of Commerce.