The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-10-23
THE WORK NEARLY ENDED.
Relief Societies Withdrawn From
Johnstown-Miss Clara Barton Is
sues a Farewell ADDRESS

Z
ance of the relief fund 10 the 4,Soo people
entitled to it rested upon Secretary Krener
I The latter, in an interview, said that within
two weeks all relief money would be paid
out and that the Commissions work would
( end.
/ At the Red Cross Hospital this evening
meeting was held to organize Local Wo-
mans Benevolent Association. that will fol-
( low in the footsteps of the Red Cross.
Mss Clara Barton, President of the Ma
tional Red Cross. has issued the following
farewell address to the citizens Of Johnstown
I MISS sARros's ADDEEss.
"Not only is the work of the Relief Com
mission nearly ended, but the Red Cross. as
well. must soon fold It's tents" and sever its
connection with the scenes of the labors
which have held us willing workers more
/ than a third of year in your midst, and
with brave aud patient people who have
+ grown dear and are never to be forgotten.
Il was in the dark of rainy morning, on
/ the 5th OF June, that our organization, with
1 a force approaching half hundred, came TO
1 live among and become your "neighbor'' in
the true signification of the term as defined
/ by the Master.
! One month was given to distribution from
tents, at Poplar street bridge, aided by house
! to house inspection over the town, in order
to reach those who either could no; or would
not be likely 10 come 10 US.
But the sympathetic bounties OF the out
side world overran our tent life, and in order
/ to make ourselves ready for the more heavy
distribution which the improvement of the
streets and homes would make possible in
I the first week of July the National organi-
zatiOn withdrew from Poplar street and
I threw up its present warehouse on the gen.
erously-tendered grounds Of your revered
townsmau, Judge Potts, on Walnut street
at the same time asking the formation Of a
5 committee of Johnstown ladies Of every de-
/ nomination, and who would best know the
( conditions to whom the people might go
( and make known their wants, which later
we would undertake to supply 50 far as in
our power.
This committee, known as ''The Red Cross
Committee of Johnstown Ladies. or Miss
/ Titles Committee, women scarcely healed
Of their own bruises sore hearted, home
less, and bereil, came tearfully but bravely
to our SIDE and performed work Of tender,
discriminating justice and charity such as |
believe few ladies may ever have been called
to do.
The written wants of over two thousand
families, with name, address, number in
family. ages. sex, and condition. were by this
committee passed directly to Us, aud subse-
quently over Thousand more families have
been added to the regular list of applications.
thus making the number of persons upon
/ application - be reached and servel By US
something over twenty thousand
To you, whose eyes have become as Amil
lar with the sight Of our teams upon your
streets and al your stations as with your
grocers or express wagons, We need not ex-
pain in what manner. nor with what mate
rial. this has been done. Such articles as
were most needed Is a nucleus for the furn-
ishing of the little, bare, cherries house TO
make il the beginning of home, We have
endeavored, with our hail-dozen teams and
half hundred workingmen and women, out
doors and in TO = lace there.
Two other houses. ll6x50 feet, have been
built-one on Locust street. in charge OF
Mrs. Henry, and one at Kernville. in charge
Of Ms. Linton, both honored Johnstoxn
ladies. and are in active operation for the ac-
commodasion of the people of ihe town,
who have kindly dignified them by the name
Of hotels The entire proceeds of these
houses, furnished and ready for occupancy,
accrues to the ladies who conduct them
never one cent to MS, and with the single
stipulation that the rates shall not exceed
twenty five cents meal for any Johnstown
person.
Another block Of nearly equal dimensions.
for families desiring 10 live separately, had
been erected ST woodvaie and iear.ng that
the winter might bring need for some gem
erai refuge for the sick. We have, with tie
advice and cooperation of your local physi-
clans, and through the kindness of secretary
kremer. utilized half dozen small sized
"Oklahomas FOR wards, erecting them on
the same lot with our warehouse, together
with new wooden attachment at the rear,
for kitchen, dinins. sleeping store. and
linen rooms They are to be amply furnish
Ell warmei, lighted. AMI plssei over to the
hands Of the local physicians of tn town,
for the use Of lis homeless sick who need
shelter and care.
The application from the ladies CON-
mittee are nearly filled. only few hundred
families remaining unserved whose names
have reached us through any legitimate
channel
These thousands Of homes, either new or
repaired, have received the first beginning
Of a household.
The State fands, 30 generously contributed
are being distributed throughout the town.
It's large. untailing works ofiron and steel
are in active operation. It's schools are open,
its churches are reyiying. its place of busi-
ness are active and prosperous. Its new
buildings. if not luxurious. are at least Iva
Die, and far more comfortable than those of
the pioneers who have settled all our prairie
States and Western borders, or than people
generally erect 10 live in while endeavoring
TO make living or amass E,rtune in new
country. In view of all this, We feel, with
the writer Of this mornings article, that
under the unprecedented woe which blight
ed your homes and darkened your lives, il
were well that strangers came in 10 do for
your people what they had not the means
nor the heart TO do for themselves, and that
up to the present time their aid and presence
have been needed and well. bat that possibly
the time has nov come when as dispensers
Of public charity they should withdraw, the
people Of Johnstovn once more come to
stand upon their own feet, and the avenues
Of trade be fully opened"
But nothing is more true than the remark
50 wisely. thoaghtfully, and tenderly made,
that there win still be those who cannot do
without help whom ''ye have always with
YOU and whom we are commanded 20 re-
member.
In this We also join with The writer in the
recommendation OF thorough and strong
organization of your people as dispensers OF
yoar own charities. for which charge the
action Of the smaller committee which
have witnessed shows oonclnsiveIy you have
abundant and rich material.