Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-01-04

We are glad to learn, as we intimated yes
terday, that movement. is on foot in our
city, to take measures for collecting articles
ofclothing, household necessaries, and money,
in behalf the Michigan sufferers. This title.
michigan Sufferers, has become 60 familiar
to all, through frequent mention in the
newspapers. that the impression NAV widely
prevail that the needs of those who have been
rendered destitute through the terrible fires
which have lately devastated so wide a dis.
trict of country, have been supplied by the
bounty already sent out from the larger cities.
From information, however, which comes
from both private and public sources, il is
only too sadly apparent that that which
has been so far done, has been quite
inadequate to cover what proves, amongst
the three thousand homeless families. to
to be multitudinous necessity, even in the
essentials of living. Let any one," writes
an intelligent visitor from the burnt district.
''who is disposed to infer from the generou.
gifts sent in from our whole country that
enough has now been done, enter With me
ferers. At the best, it is shelter onlv
twenty four feet by sixteen; in MANY in.
stances, only small part of the amount of
lumber needed for this size has been SUD-
piled. Not few have been obliged to draw
this material over bad roads from ten to
nineteen miles while the difficulty of pro-
curing horses, or even the necessary fodder
for them has been a source Of great distress
to many who had not even a dollar at their
disposal. This shelter contains but one room
and has hut one door and one window. II
is boarded roughly without, but as yet has
neither plaster nor boards within. There is
many a crack the width Of finger, and here
and there hole through which one could
thrust the hand. The winds and rains dis
pufe the possession with them. The stoves
purchased for them at first were not of the
sort which they require; and, though heated
red-hot, make but slight impression on
the chilly air. Sit down upon the
sOap-box which is the only chair they can
offer you, and look at that sack of straw upon
the floor, covered neatly with bed quilt or
blanket. There is no bedstead, there are no
sheets-nO pillows. They will not complain;
but if you question kindly enough you will
learn that two thin cotton quilts or a pair of
poor blankets are the only covering for a
family Of eight or ten, You see that this
over clothing is very thin, and you feel more
sorely ashamed than they that Christian
charity should have sent them so many rag
bags. As for any semblance of other neces-
saries, you look in vain. Six weeks after
the fire, many housewife was still without a
thimble or pair of scissors. If am at all
extreme in this description, it is that l have
sketched the best rather than the worst. l
have seen only few that were above this in
comfort And around you in such a home
stand-not a coarse and ignorant family, but
men, women and children, With noble, gentle,
and intelligent faces. | have conversed
with hundreds, and not complaint has es-
capped from them. No one ever suggested
that it was hard to bear; but when the kind
word was spoken. or little help given, the
tears Of gratitude could not always be stayed"
Mucn OF tnls distress VIII soon De met
Happily, also, the utmost confidence can be
reposed in the chairman of the new commit
tee, Ex-Governor Baldwin of Detroit. May
it not be feasible for our citizens who CO.
operated so generously and efficiently through
the several religious societies, in tine cases
of St John and Memphis, to unite in sim
liar effort, at this time in behalf of their suf-
fering and needy brethren in the West2 A
general consultation on the part of all who
may be interested in this cause, has been asked
for, and we are requested to state that
meeting for the purpose of organizing some
plan of raising supplies, will. be held at the
chapel of st. Marks church, on Pleasant
street, tomorrow Thursday afternoon
at go o'clock. 1t is earnestly hoped that
this invitation may meet with general
and heart" response