The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-29
UNDER THE RED CROSS.
Clara Barton Writes Carlisle of tn
Situation on the Sea Islands. c


Situation on the Sea Islands. !
Washington, Nov. 2S.-Miss Clara Bar
ton, president of the Red Cross Society,
in letter to Secretary Carlisle, under
date of Beaufort, S. c., Nov 80, says:
1 am informed ty telegram from p " De
Graw of shs United Press that you have di.
reCted some boats to report to me for service
at these islands, No words can tell YOU how
needed they are, nor how welcome they will
tie. In my dispatch TO Mr.. DeGmw, asking
tor boat, said that without such facilities
death from exposure must result Desiring
to avoid a sensation, withheld the fact that
the last three deaths reported TO us had been
from that cause,
We have here 10000 people scattered over
$50 miles in length destitute. not only of the
comforts but OF the necessarles Of life. Six
thousand houses must be built or remade to
take them up from the winter ground not
In 80 has bed, blanket or
cover; not in 100 has food for two
days save the remnant OF the weekly issue
OF charitable provisions we can make for
them, which is the pitiful amount Of peck OF
hominy and pound of pork for a family of
seven persons for week, and the sword of
Damocles hangs over our heads. pointing to
the months beyond when we shall fail OF that.
These seventy islands are cut and crossed
by rivers, sounds and creeks, often too mar
row and shallow to navigate, too wide and
deep to ford, and again sweeping swift and
dangerous, to the open sea. Their
boats were nearly all lost; the
bridges are gone and neither lumber. nails nor
tools to make others; whatever we have TO
give we must largely carry to them. Even if
they had their little boats. in
the long row OF twenty to forty miles
10 come for their provisions In the frost and
cold, half clad and half fe d, they would
perish. The families at home would starve.
l bring these facts to you. Mr. Secretary, not
to move you TO greater pity, but to show YOU
how needful a provision you have made, the
suffering bodies you will have saved, the faint
hearts cheeFed. There are six months OF
this till something grows. Tho privilege of a
loaf will be needed all the time-it is our
only conveyance, we cannot procure II for
ourselves. All our available funds IN sight
for this field are Jess than 80 cents apiece for
the next six months.
The great cryof all these men is after all
not so much for food, as for work Seven
clock Of every morning finds gang of $50
10 700 men in front OF the headquarters wait
ing to learn y we have shovels or hoes to let
them 20 to work either ditChing the land
building their houses, or preparing the ground
for the next years planting, and this without
cent OF money, only for the little
'ratiOns' of meat and meal which they all
know is already their own. II we
had the suitable tools or the means to pur
chase them, we could put 5000 men TO work
in three days, under their own foreimen at u
cents day, payable in meat ana meal. for
themselves and families, upon improvements
which would make the sea islands the garden
spot Of the eastern coast. Hereafter, let no
one say that the sea island negro is not will
ing to work.
Occupied as your time is. Mr. Secretary. I
will not apologize for this long letter for II is
my duty to let the state Of things be known
and to those who have the ability to compre-
bend the situation, II not TO relieve IT, May
ask of you the favor to pass this letter, also
to our hOnored President, Mr.. Cleveland
whom have not hRd the pleasure Of meeting
personally since his return to us as CHIEF
magistrate. r -.-r
With sentiments OF the highest esteem and
gratitude have the honor to remain, very
respectfully, CLARA BARTON
President American National Red Cross