The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-09-21
The Grand Army Of Charity.
News and Courier.

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sleeve, n record of his sacrifices on the
field of battle. Both were fine Speci-
mems Of the gentlemen Of the great
Northwest. They were Ex-Governor
Lucius Fairchild and Col. l.. b. Gray,
both Of Madison, Wis.,, and their mis-
sion was one Of love and mercy. Gov.
Fairchild is the mmander-in- -chief and
Col Gray the adjutant general Of the
Grand Army Of the Republic, an assoc
cietion composed Of the veterans who
followed the fortunes Of the Stars and
Stripes from 1861 to 1865. and who have
since 1865 laid down their arms and de-
voted their lives to relieving the distress
Of their fcl'owmcn.
The mission Of these gentlemen was
to investigate the situation in Charles
ton and to report to their comrades if
there existed necessity for additional
aid to this stricken city. Yesterday
morning both gentlemen drove through
the city i'll company with IL reporter and
visited the various portions Of the city.
In the course OF conversation Governor
Fairchill said that the Grand Army was
an association formed for benevolent
purposes. of veterans who hnd served i.
the Union army during the late war.
Its purpose WAS purely benevolent, and
it had from 300 600 to 100000 members
in its ranks. The objec, cf his mission
and that of Gel. Gray was to look into
the condition Of things in Charleston and
to report to their comrades if there were
any need to offer aid 1t was this spirit,
he said, which had prompted the Brook
iyn Post to offer the services of one
hundred veterans to aid in preserving
order. or for any other purposes that
might be required Of them. The Posts
of the organization are scattered through
out the States in almost every village,
city, town and hamlet. and these old vet
Grams are anxious TO know if the neces-
sites OF the occasion are such as to re L.
quirc additional aid. Ii it is, they will
willingly come to the aid of Charleston.
The organization can act promptly and
efficiently.
At p. III. Governor Fairchild and
Col. Gray met the committee on relief
which was IN session at the City Hall.
After conversation with the committee
and full investigation of the situation,
Governor Fairchild issued the following
address, which was tclcgraphed last
night to the Associated Press and which
will be sent in circular form to every
department commander in the United
States.
CHARLESTON: Sept. IA, 1886.
Contr"des Of the Grand Army Of the
Repmblic:
With you have been profoundly
touched by the great calamity to Charles
ton and vicinity caused by the recent
earthquake. came here as your rep
resentative to learn the exact facts as to
the necessities Of the people and to take
such action rs the occasion might re-
quire.
The situation is briefly this The i'm
mediate demand for food is promptlv an
sWered by funds already contributed !;
bat there is class Of citizens whose
houses are more or less shattered who
have no means with which to repair
them f.; this class, and those who, being
housetess, have suffered loss Of personal
property, require aid from abroad. 1t
Will be to them continued calamity un-
less help is rendered. The community
here have done and are doing every
thing in their power: A large sum Of
money is required to do all that ought
to be, done. This condition Of affairs
warrants immediate and extraordinary
effort feel confident that every com.
radc is anxious to do what he can to
bring comfort and happiness to this
stricken people. therefore request de-
partment commanders to call upon each
Post in their departments at once to ap-
point committee which shall collect
such sums as comrades and their fellow
citizens, in cities, villages and on the
farms, may desire to contribute.
The money should be transmitted to
department headquarters. whence it will
be sent to w. A. Courtenay, Mayor Of