The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-07

Great Suffering on the Sea Islands
this Winter.

The Work the Red Cross Society Is
Doing The People Destitute, the
Relief Nearly Exhausted, and the
Supply of Provisions Used Up-A
Gloomy Outlook Among the Suf-
ferers.
MIR John Macdonald of the Red Cross
Society arrived in the city yesterday on
the government launch Blessing, which
was furnished to the Red Cross Society
for use in its work on the Carolina sea
islands by the Secretary of the Navy
Mr. Macdonald has just finished an in
spection of Hilton Head, Pmckney Island
and Jenkins Island, and is on his way to
Daufuskie The launch was compelled to
put into Savannah Tor coal
Mr. Macdonald reports tho condition
of the people on the sea islands
as depiora BILE now as Immediately after
the storm. They We're left hOuseless and
homeless, their crops and all supplies
were washed away, all their tools, farm
ing implements and fishing boats carried
away, and every means Of maintaining
and preserving existence destroyed
There are 20. 600 people he says, who are
absolutely helpless and dependent upon
outside aid. The Red Cross has almost
exhausted its funds, and contributions of
cash and supplies have almost ceased to
come in The problem which presents
itself is what will become Of these people
during the winter Without shelter and
without means of maintaining existence
starvation and death are the prospects Of
the people of the sea islands during the
coming winter.
TOUR OF THE ISLANDS.
A MppNrrNr1 Il.
Macdonald at the Marshall House last
night.
Il will simply give you the bare facts"
said he ION Hilton Head / found 279
families representing ,09S peoplein actual
need of help. On Pinckney Island there
are 25 families, representing "a people in
the same condition.
There were 70 houses completely
washed away at Hilton Head and Al
wrecked.
THE majority of the people have about
corn enough to last them a month. Very
few have more than enough to last that
time. Some have none at all A great
deal of the corn is 80 rotten the hogs will
not touch 1t. The cotton is all DESTROYED
About to 10 per cent of the rice will be
saved. There is not well on the island
except one at Hilton Head and one at
SeabrOok The people are drinking the
brackicsh water and the result is that
many are suffering with acute malaria
Many are suffering from storm sickness,
resulting from exposure. There is
a disease breaking out among them
resembling scrofula. 1t prevails chiefly
among the women and children. | Judge
1t was caused by eating corn saturated
with salt and drinking brackish water.
HELPED TO REPLACE THEIR HOMES.
ITO assist these people in getting shelter
before the winter comes on | issued 1886
pounds Of nails This is a small matter,
but, unless something is done before the
winter comes on, the people will die from
exposure.
THE large number of aged and infirm
people on Hilton Head is noticeable. In
issuing rations to the younger heads of
families | stipulated that they were to re-
build the houses of the old people |
stipulated with Rev Dr. AYES to superin-
tend the work. This will insure the old
people being housed during the winter
The question of food comes next
The Red Cross has about 500 600
available, and there are about 10000 peo-
pie to be fed, clothed and housed. l sent
many of the younger men away to get
work elsewhere, and many more are pre-
pairing to go. We proposed at first to is
sue ratiOns at the rate of peck of grits
and pound of meat to a family of seven
per week, but the destitution is so much
greater than we had anticipated, so many
more to be fed. clothed and housed and so !
many sick TO be furnished with various
articles that the funds in the hands Of
the Red Cross are so small that we found
1t impossible to give any meat at all. All
that we are able to do unless we receive
more funds is TO issue a peck of grits per
week to each family.
we are in great need of lumber nails,
hatchets and saws for building, and we
have no money to buy them.
WILL DIE FROM EXPOSURE.
After going over these islands and in
vestigating the condition of the people I
am convinced looking the matter square
ly In the face. that there are bound to be
as many deaths this winter from exposure
and privation as have been caused by the
storm itself
Miss Barton, President of the Red
Cross, is az Beaufort, where she will re-
main during the winter, She has FIVE as
sistants, but more are coming
the younger men are being sent
away to pick cotton 1t is proposed TO
put the others at work rebuilding their
houses, clearing up and ditching their
lands and improving their condition gen
orally. Food will be supplied only to
those who work. A peck of grits with
out meat is not sufficient to feed family
OF seven for week and keep them in
condition to work. They will become
emaciated and unfit to work"
Mr.. Macdonald says that it is not the
pohcy OF the Red Cross to beg for aid.
IL simply accepts what is sent to it and
makes use of it.
1t IS in great need now of building ma
terial, food and clothing for the people of
the sea Islands, and all such supplies
sent 1t will be properly applied
Mr.. Macdonald was one of the passen-
gers on the wrecked steamship City of
Savannah. He was there on his way to
Brunswick to offer his services as a
nurse, but being delayed by
the wreck, the quarantine was
declared off before he was able to leave
Savannah. An appeal being made for
volunteers to aid in the work on the sea
Islands, he at once offered his services. |
he will probably continue at this work
for some time He is a trained nurse bV
profession, and has been a member of the
Rcd Cross for several years.