The Evening critic., 1882-06-21
IOWNS GREAT DISTRESS.
Let the Charitable Respond to Her
Appeal For Aid.

The following appeal for aid to Iowa has
been furnished to the Associated Press, with a
request for Its publication in all the papers In
the country
TO the Public: After two days and nights
spent In trayersing the track of the tornado
that swept over this State with such fearful
havoc last Saturday night and having reports
from scores of reporters of the Register and
Associated Press sent to all parts of it, find
the condition of the stricken people 80 piteous
and so needful OF instant and generous help
that send this appeal to tho people of the
United States In their behalf. The tornado
made a destructive sweep through thickly-
settled PORTION of Iowa, some $50 miles In
length and on an average half a mile wide,
extending from points south OF Ames, in the
centre OF the State, and in the shape OF cres-
cent, 10 South English, In Keokuk County.
From the southeastern part OF the State we
have the names now of 90 OF the dead and
300 of the wounded, half of the latter grlev-
ously hurt and probably q fifth of them
fatally. Over 300 families have had their
homes totally destroyed, and there arc now at
least ] 800 persons homeless and in want
The loss In property Will exceed 50 100000
and may reach s3,0O0,00O In the town of
Grinnell alone over 100000 In property was
destroyed, on none OF which was there a cent
Of insurance, as In the case of fires. 1t Will
take at least $500, 900 to put the people there
beyond need and distress. 1t will take $780,
coo at once to put the wounded people in SON
dition TO be cared for. 1t will take 81 100000
at the lowest to keep the sufrerers from want
ana 10 nelp lnem 10 put Inc numDleSt or roofs
over their heads. The people of Des Moines
and Iowa are responding generously. The cit
liens OF this city have subscribed $4,000 this
morning and will make 1t $50, 900 before night
in money, and are also sending provisions and
clothing. II will take the help OF every hui
name city and town in the West and of every
liberal city and town in the East to put com.
fort and safety between these stricken people
and further suffering and fatality.
Grinnell Is town OF New England people, a
thrifty. intelligent people, and with the lowest
rate OF crime and 1lliteracy In the Slate and
the highest rate Of intelligence and morality
The rich towns OF tho East may well help
these SONS and daughters OF New England in
the distress and need caused by the utter
calamity visited upon them so cruelty by this
moloch OF the air, which has killed 500 OF
manned and mutilaied 200 OF It's people,
many OF whom VIII soon die, and all OF whom
must be cared fol. for months, and has wiped
out totally nearly half million dollars In
uninsured property. Iowa College has mad all
its buildings destroyed, its 400 students made
homeless, and has suffered a loss OF $4,000
OF uninsured property.
The condition OF the other town and farm
Ing communities is fully as pitiable and help
less. All that the people OF Iowa can do VIII
be done TO alleviate the condition and repair
In part the losses OF the sufferers; but 1t VIII
| take S1,O00,000 to do II, even in halfway
| comfort and recOmpense, and the people OF a
| State who have always borne their share and
done their part in all national calamities may
| htly ask the people OF other communities TO
help them In this hour OF great calamity 10
many OF the worthiest Of It's people; aud to
| this end ask my fellows OF the press through
| the United States to place the facts before
| their readers, and give their II mely help to
| its sufficient purpose OF raising and providing
| aid at the earliest moment possible.
After graphically describing the suffering
and havoc entailed by the shower, and the
terrors and misery OF that night, the editor
says:
The sad state In which 1t has left hundreds
| OF families, before prosperous, may not be de
| scribed IN words, but, once known to generous
hearts, II must command the instant sympa
thy OF the liberal and immediate help. Re
mittances may be made TO the Hon. j. b. Grin
| nell, at Grinnell, or 10 the mayor Of Grinnell
| j write from the knowledge OF two whole days
ana nights spent at the scene OF desolatioI
and among the dead and wounded, and tel
the facts OF the multitude OF horrors simply al
| they are, feeling that they Will themselves
| best appeal 10 the country and most elfectu
ally aid the sufferers. j. $. CLARKsoN,
| Editor Des MOinos ReqisteT.