The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-13
TIE DESOLATE SEA ISLANDS.
The Cry Of Distress from Our Stricken
Coasts-2O, 900 Mouths to be Fed
Governor Tillman Again "
Asks for Aid.


Governor Tillman Again
Asks for Aid.
columbia Register, 9th.
The immensity of the disaster which
has devastated the sea islands is just
beginning to be understood in South
Carolina. The following report from
DR.. Babcock and the appeal of Gov
ernor Tillnaan give a clear idea of the
horrible suffering caused by the dread
cyclone of August q. A generous and
adequate stream of contributions should
speedily follow their publication.
Governor Tillman yesterday issued
the following appeal, which the press
associations will lay before all the peo-
pie Of the Union: E
To the People of the United States:
The hurricane which swept the South
Atlantic coast on the 9th Of August
was unparalleled in its severity. 1t
spread desolation and ruin throughout
the entire State of South Carolina, but
the sea islands, spreading northward
along the coast of South Carolina from
the Savannah to North Edisto Inlet,
were the greatest sufferers By reason
of the severity Of the wind and the un-
precedented height of the tide. The
sea invaded the land, hundreds Of
houses have been swept away by the
waves or blown down by the wind,
while the exact number of deaths will
never be known, it cannot be less than
a thousand, and vegetation has been as
completely blasted by the salt water as
though it were the breath of the simeon.
What was prosperous and blooming
expanse of rice fields, gardens and
farms is to-day desert, with the very
landmarks destroyed, 4 leaving the peo-
pie withoutshelter, without food, with
out the possibility of getting work lex
cept for limited number) to confront
the terrors of starvation until another
crop can be grown. Owing to the fact
that nineteen-twentieths Of them are
negroes and that the means of commun-
ieation with the remote islands have
been destroyed, ] have only within a
day arrived at a clear understanding
of the, situation and the horrors it un-
folds. DR.. J. w. Babcock, superinten-
dent of the State Lunatic Asylum, an
accomplished physician and sanitarian,.
who went to the scene of the disaster
gon the first of September as my official
representative, returned to-day and his
report accompanies this appeal. I do
not deem it necessary to dwell upon
the picture he draws. I have not felt
justified heretofore in asking for help
except from our own people. Thep peo-
pie Of This statsf whose losses by tie
storm will rnnaap into the millions,
have responded nobty and immediate
suffering is ssbeing alleviated, but star
Vation or pestilence will claim many
thousands Of victims before the winter
is over flour efforts are not supple
mented by the charitable in other
States.
I pledge my official word that contri-
buttons shall reach the people for whom
they are intended, that the charity
which may be given shall not be mis-
applied, that !aziness and idleness will
not be encouraged, but the money and
provisions which may be donate1 shall
be applied to the support of these peo-
pie so as to enable them to rebuild
their homes and take new start in
life with the New Year. There are not
less than 10000 thus destitute. Bread
alone for the storm sufferers will cost
not less than $4,000 between now and
March, while practically eleven months
will elapse before they can grow any.
Contributions Of food, clothing, medi-
cine, bed clothing, anything that can
be nsed in house-because everything
is gone-will be thankfully received.
We can buy these things with money,
but if money Is not to be had, don't
hesitate to contribute. Send all con-
tributions In money to me. They will
be acknowledged through the press
and put in bank to be checked against
as needed. Send other contributions
to the Central Relief Committee,
Charleston, S. G. My efolts to relieve
these unfortunates are stimulated by
the feeling that being negroes, ignorant
and helpless, they are peculiarly the
wards of the Executive. A common
humanity pleads with those who are
able to help these poor wretches ia
their destitution.
B. r. T1ILMAN, Governor.
DIR. BABCOCl' S. REPORT.
His Excellency, B. R. Tillman, Gov
ernor South Carolina.
Sir-As result Of the investigations
made at your request, 7 submit the fol-
lowing report:
Three days were spent in making
personal visits to the islands around
Beaufort and I there found the situa-
tion so serious as to demand immedi-