Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-12
WASHINGTON. D. G.. AnrIl IL.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April IL.
To the People Of the United States:
The calamity of Chic touches the whole
world. disaster which no human fore
sight could perceive or prevent has laid
waste the beautiful island whose songs have
been among the worlds most treasured pos.
sessions for five and twenty centuries. A
single Sunday afternoon destroyed the fruit
of sixty years of industry, and turned
a peaceful and pleasant country into a
scene of desolation and horror, without one
moments warning, by the unheralded and
irresistible forces of nature. Seven thou
sand human beings were crushed and
buried beneath the ruins of their own happy
homes. Ten thousand more have been
extricated, wounded and dying, and 10000
are left wandering, without roofs,
or food or plan for the future
stricken by an unseen hand, famished, ap.
palled, despairing. The situation admits Of
no delay. The suffering is present and
pressing. No community could recover
from so mysterious and terrible a blow ex
cept through the slow lapse of time. Neigh
boring powers have rushed to Chic with In
stant aid, but the shocked and sorrowful
people must be nurtured through many long
days back to comfort and confidence, to
nope and home, to joy, to strength aud self
dependence
In this sudden and overwhelming anguish
accredited representatives of the desolated
province have appealed to us to implore the
generous assistance of the American peo-
pie. We do not appeal to American people.
They need no appeal.
In this sweet charity the new world in
slsts upon its right to stand and share with
the old. But gathered in the nations capi-
tai, from all sections Of this great land, feel
ing profoundly that ga Kings business re
quireth haste" and confident that in thus
complying with the request of our friends
and neighbors from over the sea,
we rightly interpret the eageruess of every
American to minister, not only sympathy,
but prompt and definite succor. We venture
earnestly to beg the pastors Of all churches,
Catholic, Protestant and Hebrew, to take up
collections in their several congregations
at the earliest practicable moment, and we
pray the Presidents of boards of trades and
the managers Of all moneyed institutions to
circulate subscription papers that each may
have immediate opportunity to give of their
wealth and pour their prosperity through
the channels that shall soonest reach the
fainting sufferers whom nature could not
spare and whom humanity must restore
The well known banking house of Riggs
q Co., OF Washington, d. c., has kindly
consented to receive all moneys collected
for the purpose, and for convenience and
dispatch the several sums received will be
acknowledged In the daily papers of Wash.
ington.
We ask from editors of newspapers the
favor OF giving this letter prominent place
in their columns.
The letter is signed by Harriet s. Blaine,
of Maine; Ellen Ewing Sherman, of Ohio;
Alice Key, of Pendleton, Ohio; Mary G.
Miller, of California; Anna L. Morton, OF
New York; Mary Montgomery, of Gibson,
La; Lydia McLane, of Johnston, Va; Mary
s. Logan, of Illinois; Malvina F. Harlan, OF
Kentucky,
CHIo, April ia violent shock of earth
quake, lasting four seconds, and increasing
gradually in strength, has just passed over
the island, followed by the falling of houses
on all sides.