Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-09-12

Boston paid into the widows benefit
fund last year the sum of S6194.S5; 8
lodge in Louisville 4S74.45 and tire,
other lodges upward of $1,000.
THE MEMPHIS RELIEF COMMITTEE
has nursed 10s members and members
families since the fever appeared here
on the 9th of July. OF these 6fteer
brothers and sixteen members o.
families have died, an average death
rate of about two in seven. The
remainder, seventy-eight in lumber
have convalesced or are in a fair way
to do so. About 40 brothers remain.
ed in the city after the fever broke
out. 1t is estimated that half of these
had the fever in previous years and are
not liable to be again attacked. With
their families the order has about COG
persons looking to them for assistance
in case of need.
The relief board was originally
composed of eighteen members, three
from each lodge. Their names are
VIM. l. Berlin, G. Mundinger, K. w.
Davis, D. f. Goodyear, Ben X. Pull
len, N. L. Avery, G. A. Castor, H.
P. Maxwell, W. f. Shippey, William
Souhr, VIM. Wesche, Louis F. Ebert,
James B. Cook, D. @. McDougal, P.
II. Kennett, Sidney Cook, G. R. Egg
new and W. B. Gibson. OF the fore
going Mr.. Berlin has since died and
several others are now away from the
city. The board meets every Monday
at 8 I'm. to review the work of the
previous week and lay out work for
the ensuing one. Six members of the
board from the executive committee,
President J. B. Cook, Acting Score
tary W. B. Gibson, and superintend-
ent Of nurses, X. w. Davis, are on
duty at all times. Mr.. Davis visits
every sick person regularly, sends for
physicians when needed, provides
nurses and performs all possible SER
vice hat will tend to the comfort,
relief or welfare of the sufferers. The
physicians are allowed 50 per visit and
81 additional for each person if more
than one is to be prescribed for at the
same house.
The remainder of the information
obtained at the interview will be
given in President Cooks own words
in reply to the following questions
asked by u reporter:
Reporter-You have noticed doubt
less the interview between General
Smith and the reporters of the Appeal
and Ledger, as appeared this morning
and on Monday last. General Smith
stated that Howard visitors, ten or
more Of whom are on duty, receive no
pay for their services except enough
to defray their actual expenses, or at
least some of them, whose dependence
is upon their daily labor for support.
are paid different amounts, according
to the number in their respective fami-
lies. Do you pay the members of your
committee, and if so, how much?
MI. Cook-We simply pay the SUI
perintendent Of nurses 50 per day and
our secretary the same amount. They
expressed a willingness to labor free
of charge, but we prefer to pay them,
so as not to be under any obligation.
No other person connected with the
committee is paid a dollar.
Reporter-How much do you pay
nurses?
Mr.. Cook-Our best get SO per day
of "a hours assistant nurses 50 per
day, and helpers 81. W. endeavor to
employ only the very best.
Reporter-Do you use buggies, and
if SO, how much do they cost yer day =?
Mr.. Cook-We have n buggy and
horse that belongs to the order; the
expense now is simply feeding and
stabling. After the epidemic the out
fit will be sold.
Reporter-How much have you ex-
pended in the burial of your brethren
and members Of families since the
fever %appeared2
Mr.. Cook-Tho expenses of funerals
will probably aggregate $3.50. This
amount is not paid by the relief board.
The expense Of funerals for members
is deducted from their benefits, and
for those Of members families is paid
by a special assessment on the lodges
to which the families of the members
belonged. Therefore, in our expenses
We do not include funerals.
Reporter-What is the total outlay
expended for relief since the fever
appeared?
Mr.. Cook-We are now at work
Analysing u accounts in order ia
place each separate item to where it
belongs, in order to give a very full
exhibit of our expenditures. Our
total expenses to date do not exceed
$500.
Reporter-Do you hold any secret