Morning journal and courier., 1893-11-18
THE FLEETING SHOW.
Some of Its Facts and Fancies. Written for the JOURNAL AND CoURIER.l
 THE np1,rH rH rIun

ON THE BRINK cF THa SEAL
 That most energetic, capable, and prac tical woman, Clara Barton, President of the American Society of the Rsd Cross, with little company of assistants, is de- ing grand work among the distressed people of the Sea Islands.
 For hundred miles along the Atlantic coast, between Charleston and Savannah, are scattered thirty or more islands with curved and twisting channels between. They seen to have been bitten and torn away frem the main land by the restless and hungry aea. The inhabitants of these islands number more than thirty thousand, about per cent. being white psople, the rest negroes, trus islanders, many of whom have never left their sea girt homes, nor could they be content elsewhere, though the islands have been re- peatedly devastated by whirlwinds, and were rocked by the earth quake that laid part of Charleston | in ruins. Last August came the great cy- clone, severest disaster of all, and the sea | and the storm swept them clear of homes | and crops. Trees were twisted and thrown | down, crops laid low and soaked with | oceau waves and beating rain, and the salt ! spray blighted all against which 1t was driven. Shelter, food, clothing, all were swept away, and 1t was two days before a boat could cross to Savannah to carry the l news and beg for assistance.
 l Miss Barton, with eight assistants of the Red Cross Society, has been located at Beaufort, s. c , for several weeks. She is experimenting the work of relief, the State authorities having turned the whole man. assment to her because it was believed that she could conduct 1t most wisely. The devastated territory has been divided into three sections, with committees on each island composed of whites and the most intelligent of colorsd residents, who daily investigate and report. There has been nothing in the way of supplies for which the need has not been pressing, from tents, lumber, food, bed clothing. clothing of all
 kinds and tools of all kinds, down to but
 tons and pins.
 Supplies of all kinds have been gsner-
 ous!y sent, ,and of these contributions four
 ffths gre the gif. of the north and west
 the western donations coming from even as
 far as California, and transportation com l panies, all the country over, have delivered
 everything at the door of the Red Crosi
 society's office in Beaufort absolutely free 1 But aside rom SaVannan ana Cnarlesfon
 the south seems to be withholding the help
 ing hand from these, her own people.
 Miss Barton expects to remain personsll!
 in charge during the winter months. Thsr' Ia much to be done. She has just pur
 chased half million feet of lumber witl
 which houses are to bs built for the home
 less, those who work upon them being fe, end clothed while working. This will sup ply employmens for many, while others ar ditching and draining the land, and th l women are sewing upon the clothing an
 materials furnished them by the charits
 ble.
 , There is danger before them, ,snd sgslns . this the struggle may bs long and severe The rotting crops, the stsgnant pools C water, the choked and polluted wells, hur ], ger and deprivations of sll kinds, brin q about malaria and swamp fever, and man
 are suffering and in need of constant a tention. On Edisto island, with its popI }, lation of four thousand people, there
 but one physician, and his patients throu
 his door from four in the morning unt a eleven at night. For the sick arc needle # tents and cots, drugs and nourishiug foo
 For the we'll, who are faithful l. and earnestly working, with tV ,a peeks of grits and two pounds 70 bacon as the weeks wages of V, man with family, there Is wanted mo 10 lumber, tools Of all kinda, ssrengthsnil ,e food, clothing and shoes. The sweet p {, tato crop is total failare, the corn or'