The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-09-26
RED CROSS IN CHARGE.
An Appeal to the People OF the United
States-The Sea Islands Present a
Gloomy Picture-The Stories of Des.
titutiOn are Not Exaggerated.

htutiOn are MOI Exaggerated.
4 AT the request of Governor Tillman
the central relief committee in charg
OF the money and supplies for distribu
tion among the coast sufferers held
meeting in Charleston last week, tn,
OBJECT OF which was to confer will
Miss Clara Barton and her associates
with the view of the Red Cross AS
sociation taking full charge OF tn,
work OF relief. After full discussion
OF the points involved, the Red Cros
Association was formally requested t,
assume entire control of the relic
measures, and in behalf of the Associa
tion, Miss Barton accepted the trust
The local committees are to cooperate
in the distribution of relief until the
Red Cross perfects its arrangement.
for systematic prosecution of the
work. Governor Tillman and Mr.
Joseph w. Barnwell wore the spokes
men on behalf of the State and the
relief committees, and they heartil,
agreed upon the proposition to turr
over the work to the Red Cross AS
| ISOLATION.
| After the adjournment OF the meet
ing, Miss Barton made the following
statement for the information and
guidance of the public, ard which is
| supplemented by brief statement
from Governor Tillman, both of which
are Important:
MISS BARTON'S STATEMENT.
think the present condition OF
| the Carolina sea islands bears out all
that | have seen in print. I should
think that the people on these islands
are seeing, perhaps, the best that they
will see for some months if left to
themselves. Myreason for this opinion
is that through the liberality of the
people they have some supplies in
hand to-day which, without rcplenish-
! ing, will soon be exhausted. In ad-
dition they have small quantity of
food stuff that was saved from the
storm which really seems pitiful to
look at. This, too, will soon be con-
sumed. Sufficient time has not elapsed
to develop the miasmatic conditions
that are certain to follow from the vast
amount of vegetable matter killed by
the salt water and which must decay
on the ground. There are two means
of earning a liveliehood among the in
habitants of these sea islands farming
and mining in the phosphate fields.
The farm interests have been
almost completely destroyed and there
Is nothing to be done on the farms til.
spring. The storm swept away the
hiuShllCiy ull VI VIC pIlOSpudUc
miners, and il will be six months
before they can resume work. The
other resources of revenue are meagre
and will not supply the demands Of
the thousands in need of food and
shelter. The sanitary condition, never
the best, Is now naturally as much
worse as could we'll be imagined. The
water supply has become brackish,
the destruction of houses has necessi-
tated crowding many families into one
hut. With but little clothing, less
food, decaying vegetation, stagnant
water, exposure to the weather, medi-
cal assistance miles away, few medi-
cal supplies, what but sickness can be
and immediate relief? What is there
to prevent the recurrence of the
malignant malarial fever that history
shows has followed the previous storms
that have visited these islands
Already the physicians have their
hands full and new cases of malarial
fever are being developed every day.
One bright spot is the superb work of
the Marine Hospita s34sService under
DR.. Magruder's cont Il through the
direction of DR.. Wyman. AS far as
this service has reached, it is directing
the clearing of wells, the burial of car
casses and the drainage of the soil,
wherever practicable. This service is
limited to methods of sanitation and
does not furnish in any way the food
homes, that these destitute people
require. All of this must be left to
the generosity Of the people at large.
There will not be work for these
people for months. The crops, on
which they can get advances through
liens, will not be planted until the
spring.
Con the upper islands there is a
considerable area of truck farms and
on these the work of preparation does
not begin until February. The work
in the phosphate mines will be paralyz-
ed for months and there is no regular
work to which the laborer can turn,
willing as he may be to work, for the
support of himself and family. The
fishing boats OF the people were swept
to sea, their poultry in the main
drowned, and on many islands COWS
and goats were destroyed. The entire
sea coast belt of islands extending
South from James Island to Hilton
Head Island with 10000 population has
been devastated. Crops were ruined,
houses swept away, clothing destroyed,
sickness is breeding and perhaps half
of these people will be dependent upon
public charity for support, if they are
not already so.
"There is a severe winter season
ahead. The men, so far as | have been
able to see and hear, are willing to
work where there Is anything to do,
| but there is little if anything and
| there will be less when winter comes.
| If they leave the islands their families,
| generally large ones, will be LETT be-
hind entirely destitute and helpless
| The appeals for help have been
| generously responded to up to this
time, and have doubtless saved many
lives. The fund has been almost en-
tirely expended in the purchase OF
grist, bacon and flour, the principal
staples of food, and those supplies
have been judiciously and honestly
distributed. But the work has just
begun. Months and months of bread
have to be supplied. Governor Till.
man has shown his hearty co operation
in the work Of relief, and has given
his personal attention to it. The Red
Cross comes to this scene by the unite /
request of Senator Butler and Cover
nor Tillman, and after examining the
situation it recognizes tho necessity
for some central direction of the work
OF relief, and at the solicitation of al
parties has agreed to remain in the
field and take hold of the work.
| The generous heart of the people
OF the United States has always beer
equal to meet occasions Of this kind
when brought to this knowledge, anG
1T Is to give to them tis information