Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-01
TO AID SUFFERER S
From the Recent Storms on the Sea Coast
Islands.
Memorial From the Red Cross Society
Proposes q Plan Of Relief
Presented Today.

A memorial was presented in the House
and Senate today from the Red Cross So
ctety In regard to the southern storm suf-
ferers. The memorial says:
THE American National Red Cross an
organization national and international,
Official in other countries and semi-official
in this, taking charge Of relief work un-
provided for by law, other than the marine
hospital and life saving departments Of the
government takes cognizance Of, respect
fully presents this memorial in behalf and
in the name Of the 30,OOO destitute and suf-
fering people of the Sea Islands of our
coast. On the petition and at the earnest
solicitation not only Of South Carolina's s
governor, her senior Senator and most
prominent citizens, but also some of the
leading humanitarians of the country, the
Red Cross went to the field of calamity
and, after a careful, thorough and pains
taking investigation, we, the president of
the Red Cross and her field officers find
this condition of affairs to exist:
In n district las miles long, from the islands
on the boundary line of South Carolina and
Georgia to Charleston on the north and
from Hilton Head. Folly and Morris islands
to point inland twenty miles or where
the tidal wave had spent its fury. there
are $4,000 people, suffering for the bare ne
homeless.
Thirty thousand people to feed, clothe,
nurse and shelter for seven months or until
next years crops can be harvested. To do
this we have on hand scarcely $4,000, or
one dollar a head with which to keep every
man. woman and child alive for seven
months with food. to say nothing Of cloth
ing and the other necessities of life.
Just to feed this multitude and keep any
thing for the future needs We are obliged
to make this standard ration:
Six thousand houses will have to be built
week, one peck of hominy grits and one
pound of pork.
Six thousand houses will have to built
entirely, or repaired necessity demands.
We have already purchased 10000 feet
of lumber. the generous lumber merchants
ard railroads making 1t possible to get
this large amount at IS a thousand feet
delivered, with the privilege of duplicating
the amount If necessary.
The people can raft this lumber to their
islands, but saws, hatchets and nails must
be had to build the houses.
The soil on the islands Is wet and sour,
the drains and bitches choked up and use
less and vegetation will thrive in but COM
paratively few places. The people are liv-
ing on this damp ground in tents. under
sheds and trees. and the storm Of the 18th
of October that swept over this district
found them defenseless and left them in
a more pitiful condition than ever. Malaria
in acute form is there typhoid, typhus
and pneumonia will in the near future be
The condition of the district is as stated.
The remedy we suggest is this:
The Remedy.
The sum of $4,000 be intrusted to the
Red Cross upon good and sufficient bonds.
in double the amount named. to be used
wholly and solely in the employment of
labor in putting the islands in proper san
itary condition, draining the lands so that
crops may be produced and houses built
for the people who are now helpless
through no fault of theirs; strict account
to be kept and vouchers made for every
expenditure, and IL balance remain it
to be returned to the treasury of the United
States. The Red Cross will undertake to
feed and clothe these people from the funds
and provisions given by our generous citi-
zens If it can be relieved in the manner
prayed for. Free rations must not be given,
as that demoralizes and pauperizes.
If the lands are not drained and ditched
no crops can be grown. which will keep the
people in an impoverished condition.
We pray your favorable consideration of
this memorial and immediate action by
joint resolution, for If relief is denied the
world will soon ring with the humiliating
cry that famine exists in the United
States of America. CLARA BARTON,
President of the American National Red