Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 18??-????, 1889-06-06

vislons-The President Presides at a
Meeting and Makes Feeling spe ecIl--
Cheerful Donations from Many Other
Sources.
WAsHNsToN. May 5.-The meeting
for the relief of the ,Iohnstown sufferers
at Wizards hall brought together many
prominent public officials, army and
navy officers and citizens and resulted in
generous contributions and donations of
money. provisions and clothing. Presi-
dent Harrison presided and ma ie brief
but eloquent and impressive speech that
touched the sensibilities Of all who heard
him and ELECTED from his audience fire.
quent applause His arrival in the hall
was the occasion for loud applause Dis
trict Commissioner Douglas called the
meeting 10 order and introducing the
president to the audience. invited hum tC
preside over the deliberations.
President Harrison in taking the chair
spoke as follows: "Everywhere TODAY
Is distressingly conscious Of the circum.
stances which have convened this meet
ing. 1t would be impossible to state
more impressively than the newspaper.
have already done the distressing mel.
dents attending the calamity which ha.
fallen upon the city OF Johnstown and
the neighboring hamlcts and upon q
large section OF Pennsylvania situated
upon the Susluehanna river. The grim
pencil Of Dore would be inadequate C
portray the
Horrors Of This Visitaiicn.
''In such meetings as we have h-re in
the natioEal capital and other like gath
eriDgs tEat are taking place in all the
cities of this land. we have the only RAYS
Of hope and light in the general gloom.
When such a calamitous visitation falls
upon any section of our country We can
do no more than 10 put about the dark
picture the golden border of love aud
charity Applause. II Is in such fires
as these that the brotherhood of man is
welded. And where is sympathy and
help more appropriate than here In the
national capital: ] am glad 10 say that
carly this mQrning from a city not long
ago visited with pestilence. not long ago
itself appealing to the charitable people
Of the whole land fOg relicf-the city Of
Jacksonville. Fla, there cdma an ehb OF
that tide Of charity which flowed toward
II in the time of its need, in a telegram
from the Sanitary Renef association au-
thoriziBg me 10 draw upon them for
81. islQ 4orilla reliel. ~ tbe.- -RsaRss3Sapis
sufferers. Applause. Bat this Is nc
time for speech. While ] talk. mon.
women and children are suffering fot
the relief which we plan 20 give. One
word OF two Of practical suggC sii0n and
viii leave this meeting in your hands
TO sive effect % your impatient benevo-
ience. ! have a despatch from the gov
erBor Of Pennsylvania advising me that
communication has just been opened
with Nlliansport. on q branch of the
Susqueianna river. and that the losses
in that section have been appalling: that
thousands Of people there are
Homeless and Penniless.
And that there is an immediate call for
food 10 relieve the necessities He ad-
vis,s me that any supplies Of food tha.
can be hastily gathered here should be
sent via Harrisburg 10 Williamsport
where they VIII be distributed. | sug
gest. therefore. that a committee be- con
stituted having in charge the speedy
collection OF articles OF food. The oc-
casion Is such that the bells might well
be- rung through your streets 10 call the
attention of the thoughtless to this great
eXigency, in order that a train load of
provisions may be dispatched tonight or
IN the early morning to this suffering
people. | suggest secondly as many OF
the people have had the entire furnish
ings of their houses swept away and have
now only temporary shelter. that com
mittee he appointed to collect such
articles of clothing. and especially bed
clothing, as can be spared. Now that
the summer season is on it can hardly he
that a house in Washington can't spare
blanket or a coverlet And third, |
suggest that from the substantial bust
ness men and bankers there heappointcd
a committee who shall collect money.
for after the first exigency is passed
there viii be found in those communities
very many who have lost their all. who
Will need aid in the reconstruction of
their demolished homes and in furnish
ing them 50 that they NAV be again in
liabitcd Need say in conclusion that
as q temporary citizen of Washington it
would give me great satisfaction if the
national capital should 50 generously
respond to this call OF our distressed fel-
low citizens As TO Toe conspicuous among
the cities of our land. IApplausel.
The President sends His Mite.
| feel that as ! am now calling for con- !
tributions. | should say that on Ssur- |
day. when first apprised Of the disaster
at Johustown, | tclegraphed a subscrip- |
ton to the mayor Of that city. / do not |
like to speak OF anything SO personal as
this, bat J felt it due to myself and TO |
you that ! should say so much as this,
After the president concluded his ad- /
dress, a number of vice presidents, I
secretaries and the treasurer of the meet I
ing were selected and working COM 1
mittees were appointed. Il was an
enthusiastic meeting and the responses /
to the presidents cali for immediate sub /
scriptions were prompt and liberal. The 4
district bar gave $50. Attorney General I
Miller 500. John W. Thompson 500. !
National Metropolitan bank $500. Ma
tional Bank OF Republic $500. Private /
Secretary Halford $50, Secretary Noble /
$3.50, g. II. Lemon 500. Bancroft Davis 1
Sl09, Secretary and Mrs. Proctor $500 I
and Auditor John lunch Sl00, great 1
Of citizens subscribed Sla0 An /
aggrt gate OF $1,000 was subscribed. /
Perhaps more valuable than the money |
were the large quantities |
of food and clothing donated by scores
OF merchants throughout the citv.