The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-07-11
The Work of the Red Cross.


The Work of the Red Cross
Miss Clara Barton Speaks About
the Sea Islands
To the Editor of the News and Cou-
rier: If no other services call for my
pen this morning. it would be a suf6'
cient motive that it comes to thank
you for the graceful, manly and cordial
note of yesterday, which will always
holds its place among my treasures Of
elegant literature, asking for per-
sopal audience for your correspondent
for some facts concerning the work
which has recently been brought to a
close. after one of the most prolonged
sessions of relief known to any field OF
disaster. I was the more willing to
giant this. to speak plainly aud can
didly With him. leaving him to handle
the subjec. in his owu way presenting
facts as they appeared to him, for the
reason that intended before really
leaving your vicinity to say few words
for myself, if you will kindly give place
to them 10 ysarj jjonraai swhaash through
all our sojourn here has been not only
our stay and support, but the brave,
faithfal exponent of The truth, jas.iee
aud humaphy to it's constant readers
throughout The St.te 1t is lirale to
saw. thass wisbout the strong, honest
sappess given 10 oosessaf no uocersain
sound. bearing in every line the cour-
age Of its convictions, of the Charleston
News and Courier, no work OF relief of
this great disaster could hare lived and
been carried TO aoy Success. | was also
more than willing that your correspon-
dent should present the details. giving
such facts and figures as came to his
mind to ask for as being Of interest
to your readers. Very naturally wrong
impressions would be given in has.y
writing, as names representing entire
districts are spoken of as siegle islands.
/ reeapisula,e in order that nc apparent
errors remain. We have certainly no
desire TO swell the nomber, they are
large enough; our effort has always
been to keep them down.
The ratioDs issued have been as fol-
lows: ST. Helena, STA persons !;
Ladies Island. including Coosaw, Corr,
Morgan aud adjoining smaller islands.
3, 500; Hilton Head. including the
twelve islands in the group and adjoin-
ing mainland. Including Blufftoo, q
SIS: Parss Island. s5g Port Royal
Island, 4. .66S; KeaD's Neck, situated
on the mainland. including Coosaw and
Pacific phosphate districts. / .437. !;
Hutchinson slsad District. including
Benpett's and Aiksseabero Points, Fen
wick, Seabrook. Birds, Sampson and
o,hes-smaller islands. S,2S8; Edisto,.
Wsdmalan. Johns and adjacent is-.
lands, 5000. The above figures do
not include the special issues on the
mainland Of "a, 4,000,in number nor the
regular labor ra.ions of $500. which is
q double ration.
I say that I was more than willing to
leave all this aeedful detail to other
hands, inasmueh as the subject which
/ desired to present is of different ma
ture concerning the general points OF
welfare and. may | say. reputation of
South Carolina, aud addressed to the
people of all this grand and goodly
State Of old reDoBn, Proud and cbiv-
alroos, all the world knows that it must
be hard and distasteful for her to ac
ceot help under any considerations.
and it is only in the fury of an ele-
mental rage as when the earth crumbles
under her, or the seas roll over her.
that any one essays to attempt 1t; and
it was for the reason, if 10 other had
been peeded. that I came personally to
stand among my workers, and see to it
that the Red Cross, st least. bear in all
it did demeanor Of delicacy and re-
spect, where it must extend its aid. l
believe it has done this...-.-.@-s-,.s~4
It cannot be necessary to repeat at
this late day that I was asked by your
Gove.nor to accept the charge OF the
relief of the sufferers of the sea island,
of whom it was said there were thirty
thousand who would need aid until
they could raise something to subsist
upon themselves This was accepted
with great hesitancy, and only in view
of the fact that no other body Of per-
sons in all the land appeared to assume
the responsibility, aud with the cordial.
us.elfsh aud generous support Of the
advisory committe of Charleston and
Beaufort, to whom our earnest thanks
are due, the work has been carried on
to successful conclusion. 1t later de-
seloped that an equal number Of per-
sons, both white and colored, residing
on the seagir. coast Of the State, now
known as the mainland" we're nearly
~ .-l .oopv