The Portland daily press., 1888-09-19
YELLOW FEVER.
Action by the Board of Trade for the
Florida Sufferers.
ALetter From the Rev. n. E. Foss.

A special meeting of the managers of the
Board of Trade was held yesterday morning
to consider the condition of the people of
Jacksonville, and other fever stricken dis
tricts in Florida. IL was the unanimous
opinion Of all present that the necessities of
the people in those places were such as to
invoke the sympathies and assistance of all
charitably disposed people, and the follow
ing resolutions were adopted
Voted, That committee of three be an
pointed by this Board to cooperate with
such committees as the City Government
may appoint for the purpose of Soliciting
and receiving subscriptions for the relief Of
sufferers from yellow fever In Jacksonville
and other places.
Messrs. Hollis b. Hill, Louis A. Goudy
and Sidney W. Thaxter were appointed said
committee to act in behalf of this Board with
full power to fill vacancies, or enlarge the
committee from the Boards membership.
Rev. ID. e. Foss sends the PRESS the fol-
lowing letter:
To the Editor of the Press.
The Board of Trade in conjunction with
the City Government, having taken action
looking toward the raising of fund for fe-
yer stricken Jacksonville, as one deeply in
terested in that terribly scourged city, ask
space in your paper to present brief state
ment of the case.
:, But little more than month has passed
since the disease became really epidemic,
and yet more than one thousand persons
have been smitten with this dread disorder.
while the death roll includes some of the
most faithful ministers, number of the
Leading lawyers, nearly half a score of heroic
physicians and not few Of the most sue
cessiul business men OF the city and for six
weeks, at least, the new cases will increase
at the rate of from 40 to 100 per day, and the
list OF the dead will grow longer and longer
until hard frost comes and that may not be
expected much before December LIST.
The people remaining in the city are
largely those who have no means which
would have enabled them to leave the CITY
weeks ago; business is Frustrated; the work
lngman's occupation is gone and he can
neltDer supply, the ordinary wants of mis-
family or provide proper treatment and rem
edies for them if stricken down.
- Inc situation. in brief, is this: "a city of
So,oOO inhabitants Is reduced to 1880, and
tnose are hemmed in In their sorrow stricken
city by scores OF guarantees sustained by
armed men these people have no means Of
flight and if they had there are no places
willing and able to receive them.
The bulk of the present population there
lore must remain and nobly tight and forget
their fear in constant work to alleviate tie
sufferings of others or calmly await their
own almost inevitable attack.
10 supply the necessities of life for these
poor people $1,000 per day are needed, and
in providing medical attendance, skilled
nursing, proper remedies, to keep the city
clean and properly disenfected and to meet
the numerous demands, at least $1,000 more
are required so it is safe to place the daily
need Of money at $4,000.
1t is matter of simplest calculation then
to discover that ere this fell DESTROYER de-
parts, from $4,000 to 100000 will be
needed.
Thousands Of Portland's people were once
made homeless in night, but Jacksonville's
affilction is in some respects worse She has
plenty of comfortable and beautiful homes
but alas they are tenantless, in some instan-
ces whole families having been swept away
in a single week.
In view Of these facts appeal to the pros
porous business men and the citizens in gen
eral OF Portland, to respond with their well
known and oft tried generosity and to send
back to the Sunny South practical assur-
ance Of sympathy.
Fl. E. Foss,
Pastor Trinity M. e. Church, jacksonville.
IND Acting Pastor Pine St, NJ. Z. Church,
Portland.