Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-21
An Appeal for the sufferers,

DEsMoINEs, June 2O.-The following an.
| peal for aid has been furnished the Asso-
ciated Press, with the request for its publica-
ton in all the papers in the conntry:
To the Public:
After two days and nights spent in travers-
ing the track of the tornado that swept over
this State with such fearful havoc last Sat-
urday night, and having reports from scores
OF the reporters Of the Register and the Asso-
ciated Press sent to all parts Of it, l find the
condition of the stricken people SO piteous
and so needful of distant and generous help
that send this appeal to the people of the
United States in their behalf. The tornado
made the swath of destruction through a
settled portion of lows, some $50 miles in
length and averages half mile in width, ex-
tending from a point south of Ames, in
the center of the State, and swept in the
shape of a crescent to South En-
southeastern portion of the State
We have the names now of sixty-nine dead
and 500 wounded; half of the latter are
previously hurt and probably a fifth OF them
fatally. Over 800 families have had their
homes totally destroyed, and there are at
least $500 homeless and in want. The loss
in property will exceed 100000, and may
reach $3,000,000. In the town of Grinneil
alone over 100000 in property was de.
of insurance, as in the case of fires. 1t will
take at least 100000 to put the people there
beyond need and distress; it will take $780,
600 at once to put the wounded people in q
condition to be cared for;It will take 81 OO0,-
600 at the lowest to keep the sufferers from
want and help them to put the humblest of
roofs over their heads. The people of Des-
Moines and Iowa City are responding gener-
ously. The citizens of this city have sub
scribed $4,000 this morning, and will
make it $4,000 before night in money,
and are also sending provisions and
clothing besides, but il will take
the help of every humanejc city and, town
in the West, and of every liberal city and
town in the East, TO put comfort and safety
between these stricken people, and further
suffering and fatality. Grinnell is a town
of New England people-thrifty, intelii-
gent people, with the lowest rate of
crime and illiteracy in the State and the
highest rate of intelligence and morality.
The rich towns of the East may we'll help
these sons and daughters of New England in !
their distress and in need of the utter
calamity visited upon them by this Moloch |
Of the air which has killed fifty of their |
people. 1t destroyed $50 of its homes, |
manned and mutilated 200 more of its |
people, many Of whom will soon die, and all !
Of whom must be cared for for mouths; and |
wiped out, totally, nearly $500, 900 in uuin- |
sured property. Iowa College has had |
all of its buildings destroyed, its 400 students
made homeless and has suffered a loss of |
900 of uninsured property. The condi- |
ton of other towns and farming commune |
ties is fully as pitiable and helpless All |
that the people of the State of Iowa |
can do will be- done to palliate the |
and repair in part the losses
Of the sufferers, but it will take about ST. |
O00,000 to do it, even in half comfort, and |
people in the State who have generously |
borne their share and done their part in all /
national calamities, ftly ask the people of |
o:her communities to help them in this hour
Of great calamity to many of the worthiest
Of its people. And to this end l ssk my fell
lows of the press throughout the United
States TO place these facts before their read
Ere, and to give their timely help to its suffi-
,ient purpose of raising and providing aid At
he earliest moment possible. The fury and
power of this calamity were as indescribable
n their mightiness of strength as their havoc
md power were cruel and complete. Many
people were bereft of their houses, not a
plinter ss large as a finger, not shred
Is large as a skein of elk remaining,
md hundreds have no clothing left except
he night-clothes they had on. Cases of ex-
optional horror and exceptional pathos 10
he piteous whole. Little children, with
10Th parents killed were left manned and |