The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-07
THE FLOOD SUFFERERS.
Distributing Money to the Needy
in Conemaugh Valley.
The Amounts Received Not Up
to the Expectations of Many.

Judge Cummin and William R. Thompson,
of Pittsburg, arrived at Johnstown, Penn,
few mornings since, from Cresson, and at
once went to their Office, where they started
to pay out the 100000 to be dis
tributed among the food suf-
ferers. More than two hundred per-
sons were in waiting ready to receive their
money, but the growing and grunbllng that
was done among the crowd when they re-
ceived the amounts allotted to them were
simply terrible. Judge Cummin
the names Of certain persons who had re-
ceived money, because they were once well
off and did not now want their names to 60
to the world as recipients Of charity. His
request was acceded to. Up to noon sixty.
three persons had received s5735.
The well-known G. S. Dick, one of Johns
towns most prominent citizens, lost 5000
by the food. Dick filed a claim for $1,000.
His warrant was filed out for $50. Dick was
angry, refusing to accept the amount. A
neighbor of Dicks, whose loses were much
greater, also received warrant for eighty
dollars. w. Horace Hose and John P. Lin
ton ioined hands with Mr.. Dick, and refused
to take the oath required. 1t was thought
that others would join this movement,
and from present appearances the most
prominent people will not take the amounts
that are offered them. If this movement
should prove to be a concerted one it is ex.
pected that there will be some trou.
bic over the money. The highest
son was $500, the lowest $50. More than two
thirds of the applicants received $50 or less.
Women who are weak from sickness are
waiting O chance to get little money, be it
ever so little that is given to them. Some are
in Johnstown in torn dresses and some with.
out shoes Others are carrying crying chill
dren in their arms. -...-....
Al the Office there are employed about forty
clerks, who are busy making out applications
for poor people who are glad to get anything.
Only tie poorest of the people are on hand,
and the impression is that those who can pos
sibly subsist without taking the oath required
will refuse to swear.
The first man paid wcs John Warner. He
receiveds50 and walked away in such man
ner as to leave those in charge in doubt as to
whether he was satisfied or not.
During tho day 165 checks, aggregating
S16,335, were issued. Treasurer Thompson
cashed 149 Of the checks, amounting to $l4,-
6S5. A large number Of new claims were un-
der consideration, and was not believed that
the S5OO,000 Of the Governors fund would
reach all the sufferers at the rate orders were
issued. Another distribution will follow and
all will be considered in the order Of their
coming. ..
The total registered losses in the Cone
maugh Valley are between IS, 900, 600 and 50,
100000, not including that Of the Cambria
Iron and Pennsylvania Railroad companies,
or such others as did not register. So far the
people have received the $40 head fund,
which amounted to $3.50, 900, and the first dis
tribution of the general fund involves
$500, 600, so that the sufferers have been
paid S66O,00 In the average case this
amounts to about l per cent. OF the actual
loss and if, as the commission says, only
about 81, ,0O0,OOO remains to be paid, there
will be per cent of their losses made good
to the sufferers.
This state of affairs has depressed many,
and the result is that hundreds have left the
town. Probably for the first time in IFS his
tory. the Cambria Iron Company finds itself
wanting men, several hundred positions being
vacant
Hundreds have left because nothing but
ruin meets the eye wherever they turn: In
deed, the work yet to be done in clearing up
the town is so great and the force Of work
men employed so small, that men of judg.
ment predict it will not be completed until
next summer.
There seems, according to the opinion Of
most. but one means Of recovery, and that
is to invoke aid from the National Govern.
ment It is understood that meeting fol
this purpose will be held shortly