The Portland daily press., 1886-09-16
FROM CHARLESTON.
A Generous Offer of Aid from the
Grand Army.

haired, unpretentl0uS looking Bentlemen aI-
rived in Charleston yesterday; one OF them
carried an empty sleeve, record OF his sac
rifice ON the field of battle. Both were fine
specimens of the gentlemen OF the great
Northwest. They were Ex-Governor Lucius
Fairchild and Colonel E. B. Gray, both of
Madison, Wis, and their mission was one of
love and mercy.
Governor Fairehild is the commander-in-
chief and Cononel Gray the adjutant general
of the Grand Army of the Republic
The mission of these gentlemen was to in
vestigate the situation in Charleston, and to
report to their comrades if there sexistera
necessity for additional aid to this stricken
city
Yesterday morning both gentlemen drove
through the city in company witg reporter.
In the course of conversation Governor Fair
clild said that the object of the Grand Army
was purely benevolent. The, object OF his
mission and that of Colonel Gray was to
look into the condition of things in Charles
ton and to report to their comrades If there
was any need to offer aid. 1t was this
spirit. he said, which had prompted the
Brooklyn posts to offer the services of 100
veterans to aid in preserving order or Tor
any other purposes that might be required
of them.
All the old veterans, he said, are anxious
to know if the necessities of the occasion are
such as to require additional aid.
Call for Aid to All C. A. r. Posts.
Commander Fairchild issued the following
address to the members of the G. A. r. last
evening;
Comrades Of the Grand Arnly Of the Repab-
Tic:
With you / have been profoundly touched
by the great calamity 70 Charleston and vi
cinity caused by the recent earthquake. L
came here as your representative to learn
the exact facts as to the necessities of the
people and to take such action as the occa-
sion might require. The situation is briefly
as follows The immediate demand for food
is promptly answered by funds already con-
tributed, but there is class OF citizens
whose houses are more or less shattered,
and who have no means whereWith to repair
them. This class and those who, being
houseless, have, nevertheless, suffered loss
Of personal property, require aid from
abroad. 1t will be to them continued ca
lamitv unless held is rendered. The COM
munity 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 lmmedl-
ate and extraordinary effort l feel conf
dent that every comrade is anxious to do
what he can to bring comfort and happiness
to the stricken people, | therefore request
department commanders to call upon eacn
post in their departments at once to appoint
a comittee 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 trans
mitted to department headquarters, whence
it will be sent to w. A. COurtenay, Esq,
mayor of Charleston. A committee, con-
sisting of seven of the best citizens of
Charleston, will see to it that the money is
properly applied to the relief only OF the
worthy and necessit0us.
LUCIUs FAIRCHLD,
Commander in Chief.
In an editorial upon Governor Fairehild's
mission the News and Courier says
"What we want right now is to hold up to
the Union the glorious fact-equally credit
able to them that offer and to them that take
that in Gods providence the city whose
very name was synonymous with disunion
and strife, however justi6able, is through its
poignant misf0rtunes made the means OF
demonstrating to the republic and to the
civilized world that all Americans are kin,
and that this is indeed and in very truth one
country, one people"
Interview with Governor Fairchild.
This morning Governor Fairchild and
General S. w. Crawford of Philadelphia
said that they expected great things of the
G. A. r. They said that the address issued
last night would bring in contributions from
every post in the Union, and that this action
would bind North and South together as
nothing else could do. Old Confederates are
much touched at the brotherly feeling of the
Grand Army of the Republic, and they say
that all sectional hate is forever buried.
Governor Fairchild says that much money
is needed, and he hopes that all posts will
espond liberally. He expresses himself as
appalled, at what he sees, and says that
newspapers have given no idea of the real
damage and destitution.
While the public mind is directed to the
study of earthquakes, it may be well to know
that in Abheyille county, eight to twelve
miles from Ninety six, there have been
strange and unacconntable noises for the
last five months.
Henry j. Kinard, some time in May.
stated that the noises continued, and .could
not be explained.
1t was suggested that it was either blast
ing or the running of trains on the railroad.
He said that they had thought of all these
things, but the noises did not proceed from
any such causes. They were heard over an
area of eight or ten square miles. No spec
ial excitement was caused, and only a pass
ing inquiry was made. They were evidently
of subterranean origin such as they have in
earthquake regions or at least that will be
the opinion now.