Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-09-21
"a strong Appeal to the People
{ Of the United States for Aid Tor
the storm Sufferers.

tC, nj InG1 CulOCNl
the Storm Sufferers.
The most distressing reports
still continue to come from the
islands overfowed during the late
storm. Dr. Babcock, whom tne
Governor sent to the scene e
make a personal investigation o
the real condition Of affairs, has
returned and reported to Gov
Tillman that starvation is starting
IN The face Of at least twenty thous'
and souls. Upon receiving the
doctors report the Governor a
once telegraphed to the mayor o.
Charleston to come to Columbia
TO confer with him in regard te
appointing a permanent commit
fee Of relief in Charleston and al
the same time issued the following
proclamation:
10 the. People Of the United States:
The hurricane which swept the
South Atlantic coast on the 9th
Of August was unparalleled in its
severity. Itspread dessolation and
ruin throughout the entire State OF
South Carolina, but the sea islands
spreading northward along the
coast Of South Carolina from the
Savannah river to the North Edlsto
inlet we're the greatest sufferers, by
reason of the severity of wind and
the unprecedent height of the tide
The sea invaded the land. Hun
dreds of houses have been swept
away by the waves or blown down
by the wind, and while the exact
number of deaths will never be
known, it cannot be less than l'ooo
and vegetation has been as com
pletely blasted be the salt water as
though,it Wore the breath of the
simeon. What was a prosperous
and blooming expanse of rice
fields, gardens, and farms is to-day
a desert with the very land marks
destroyed, leaving the people with
out shelter, without food, without
the possibility of getting work, ex-
cept for a limited number, to con-
front the terrors of starvation un-
Til another crop can be grown.
Owing to the fact that nineteen
twentieths of them are negroes,
and that means Of communication
with the remote islands has been
destroyed, I have only within a
day arrived at clear iunderstand-
ing of the situation and the hor-
ror it unfolds.
DR.. j. w. Babcoek, superinten-
dentso of the State .Lunatic Asylum,
and an accomplished phisician,
who wentto the scene Of The dis
aster, on the first of September,
saa my Official llrepre alive, re-
turned to-day and his official re-
port accompanies the appeal. !
do not deem it decessary to dwell
upon the picture he draws. l have
not felt justified hitherto in ask
ing for help except from our own
people. The people of the State
whose losses by the storm will run
up into the millions heve respond
ed nobly and immediate suffering
is being alleviated, but starvation
or pestilence will claim many
thousand victims before the win
ter is over if our efforts are not
supplemented by the charitable in
other States.
I pledge my official word that
contributions shall reach the peo-
pie for whom they are intended;
that the charity which may be
given shall not be misapplied;
laziness and idleness will not be
encouraged, but the money and
provisions which may be donated
shall be applied to the support of
these people SO as to
enable them to rebuild their
houses and take a new start in life
with the new year. There are not
less than twenty thousand thus
Bread alone for these
storm sufferers will coast not less
than $4,000 between now and
while practically Seleven
months will clapse before they can
grow any. Medicines, bed-clothing
anything that can be used in a
house-because every thing is
gone-will be thankfully received.
We can Luy these things with
money; but of money is not to be
had don't hesitate to contribute.
Send all contributions of money
rDla In oooLpow1odn rod