Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-08-28

XnfCrmation Regarding Its Organizations
Extent and Method of Work.
The Red Cross Society is an organ
ization for the purpose of securing
neutrality to the ground occupied by
hospitals, etc., during war. and to pro-
vide relief from disasters by food, pes
thence or other calamity during peace.
The movement had its origin in Eu-
rope. After the battle. OF Solferino, in
1859, Henry Dunant, Swiss gentle
man, visited the battlefield, and spent
several days there assisting in the
care of the wounded. He was much
impressed by the sig&t of terrible suf-
ferings caused through lack of suffi-
Gent appliances and help for the care
of the wounded. In 1862 he published
a description of what he had seen, set
ting forth reasons for establishing in
every country permanent societies for
the relief of the wounded in war. His
article was Immediately translated
into several European languages, and
made deep impression. A society
In Geneva, Switzerland, called the
Geneva Society of Public Unity,
appointed a committee, at the
head of which was General
Dufour, the General-in-Chief OF the
Swiss Confederation, for the purpose
of carrying out the proposals OF
Dunant. This led to an international
conference held at Geneva in October,
1863, which was attended by delegates
from sixteen governments, and which
called an international congress that
met in Geneva in August, 1864. This
body held a session of fortnight, and
drew up a treaty of nine articles,
which has since obtained the approval
and adherence of every civilized ma
tion of the globe. This treaty secured
the naturalization of hospitals, mate
rails, nurses and surgeons in time of
war, and that these might be recog-
nized a common design was fixed upon
for the flags of hospitals and conveys,
and the arm badge for persons. This
was q red cross upon q white ground,
a design adopted as a compliment to
Switzerland, which has this design on
her flags, with colors reversed. This
association was introduced into the
United States by Miss Barton, who
had been in Europe during the
Franco-German war, and seen the
noble service accomplished there
through its means. She was not. how
ever, able to arouse much sympathy
On the part Of Congress at first, but
she established the first American So
ciety of the Red Cross in Washington
In 1877. President Arthur signed the
Geneva treaty in 1882 The society
founded by Miss Barton has now branch
societies in several of the States. This
society aims to be equipped, not for the
war alone, but for all great calamities,
having supplies and trained nurses to
send out wherever needed. Much good
work was done by it in the floods on
the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in Feb
ruary and March, 1884, and by giving
relief to sufferers by the earthquake in
Charleston in 1886, and in the yellow
fever epidemics in the South. The
twentieth anniversary Of the Red Cross
Society was celebrated in its parent
city, Geneva, in 1884. The occasion
was made very interesting by an ex-
hibit of how electric lights could be
used on battle-felds at night in find
ing the wounded and the slain. Other
improved appliances for the good work
of relief corps were also shown.
cago Inter Ocean.