Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1878-09-14
The Yellow Fever Scourge-An Appeal
to the Charitable.
WASHINGTON, d. c., September S.-The
following appeal was issued to-day:


AN APPEAL TO THE CHARITABLE.
To the Chambers Of Commerce and the Charitd.
Ole Of the CHIEF CRies Of The Union: The cry OF
anguish from the stricken cities and people
from the South has been answered by no.
BILE burst of charity from cities and people
OF the whole country. Contributions, great
and small, have been extended to sufferers.
The Secretary of War has generously ex-
tended the aid of the Government to the
poor and needy of the st-ridden cities. But
great as has been the charity, the necessity is
yet greater, and the sums subscribed are yet
New orleans, Vicksburg and Memphis, as
well as in the smaller towns of Holly'Springs,
Grenada, Port Gibson, Canton, Greenville'
Brownsville, Baton Rouge and Delhi.
ALL BUSINESS is ENTIRELY SUSPENDED.
1t is estimated that in the suspension of
business on the Mississippi River south of
Memphis over fifty steamboats, are tied up,
and gangs of stevedores and other laborers
who were engaged in receiving and dis
charging of freight, are without employment
Four great lines of railroads are paralyzed,
and their employees are idle. Nearly every
place of business in cities and towns where
the fever prevails are closed and their en-
ployees are discharged. These employees
are poor and dependent upon their labor for
support. 1t is estimated that of these unem-
ployed men there are in New Orleans 1900,
Memphis 5000, Vicksburg 1000 and smaller
towns 1900, making total of 1900 dis
charged workingmen, most OF whom are
heads of families, and represent a total pop
ulation of not less than IS,0o0 in actual and
desolate 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 pestu
ence, no resumption of business until frost.
Averaging the support of each individual at
20 cents per day, which Is 10 cents less than
the cost of an army ration. for fifty days
support the suffering and destitute will cost
ST. 0,OOO, and this for subsistence alone
nothing for medicines, clothing and proper
sustenance for the sick and burial of the
dead has been taken into account in this cal
culatiou. 1t has occurred to the undersigned
that n comprehensive system of relief should
be at once inaugurated to avoid the appal-
manity when to- the awful destruction of the
plague are added the horrors of famine.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF RELIEF.
We suggest that each of the great cities of
the Union a central depot for the reception
of supplies be at once opened, where con-
tributions of provisions tea, coffee, wines,
medicines and clothing may be sent. The
water have volunteered to transport supplies
to the stricken cities free of charge. Let New
Orleans, which is the most accessible by sea
and land, and which has more facilities for
transportation, be constituted the central de-
pot for the reception of supplies which can
be forwarded to the Howard and Peabody
Associations of tnat city as fast as collected.
Let Vicksburg, Memphis and smaller towns
agents to aid in receiving, distributing and
forwarding pro rata supplies to the respect
i've towns and cities for which they are des-
tined. We appeal to Chambers of Commerce
OF the great cities to tnaugurate this move
ment forthwith; we appeal to the charitable
and good; we appeal TO the ministers of God
! for their influence. and their congregations.
EVEN THE SMALLEST DONATION
of provisions, money or medicines, Will be
acceptable. The character of the noble gen
tlemen who compose the Howard Assocta-
! ton and Peabody Association, and the
/ Young Mems Christian Association, is guar
antee that all charities donated will be
! promptly and honestly applied. In the name
| of a common country and kindred humanity
/ we invoke for our stricken, dying and starv-
! ing people, the charity of those whose homes
and loved ones are secure from the pesti-
lence that walketh in darkness and the de-
] struction that wasteth ut MONDAY.
(Signed) f. JOHN ELLIS. Louisiana.
X. l.. GIBSON, Louisiana.
JOHN j. MORGAN, Alabama.
WIN. ii. MCCARDLE, Mississippi.
] CYRUS BUssY,
President N. o. Chamber of Commerce.