The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-30
Recent Appalling Calamitiss.


To Editor The Herald and News: Re-
Gently six square miles of earth were
overturned, by erosion, into the River
St.Anpie, Canada. It was formidable
landslide, and houses, mills, etc., upon
it's face, were destroyed. Smoke exud-
ed from the ground in some places, tell
ing the sad story of the destruction by
suffocation and fire Of the unfortunate
ones entombed alive.
Tidings came to US at the same
time that about $50 shocks of earth
quake ia Greece were felt in eight
hours. Many places were partially de-
stroyed and more than 100000 people
homeless and without food. So wide
spread the destitation that the govern
ment was powerless to afford adeqIste
relief. The number of shocks in the
specified time is perhaps unparalleled
in the history of earthquakes.
The intelligence comes up from Vene-
zuela that far-reachiog seismic disturb
ances have lately wrought havoc IN
many towns. Thousands Of lives were
lost and the city of Langunios has dis
appeared with its inhabitants and a
silent lake of water now covers the spot
where the city with all its life and &C.
tivity so recently stood.
Sunday, Goth, the church bells and
engine whistles warned the people OF
Williamsport, JohDstown, and other
places along the Susquehannah and
Connemaugh rivers, in the Pennsylva-
MIA valleys, to flee for their lives, as
destructive food would descend upon
them during the darkness Of night.
The churches were opened during the
forenoon for q brief interval of prayer,
and then all was commetion. Carts,
wagons and Fastening people could be
seen in every direction removing house
hold goods and effects to places of safe
ty. But for this, timely warning the
Johnstown horror would doubtless
have been repeated.
And now, nearer home, in Carolina,
the revelation is made that one huradred
and fifty families of white farmers, con-
sisting Of 600 souls, together with their
work animals, are nearing starvation
unless speedy help is given. They re-
side in Button township, Beaufort
County, where the cyclone ragged last
fall. These farmers lost between 80 and
80 per cent. of everything and have
barely subsisted by making every pos
sible sacrifice until the present time.
In addition to the loss of their fall sup
plies, their oat crop is a failure. They
are Carolinians, high-minded and hon
orable, and. have borne their troubles
bravely without making q sign. They
now ask bread for their little ones and
| work animals until they can recover
themselves. It is either help or starv-
alton. The appeal has gone out and
charitable responses are being made.
Will not Newberry show her sympa-
thy for the sufferers?
! The country at large, through the
Red Cross Society, contributed nobly
to the suffering colored people who were
storm-swept. This was eminently
right and proper. Their houses were
rebuilt;they were clothed, fed, nourish-
ed in sickness and aided in their crops
through eight mcnths, which was as it
should have been Under the frightful
fate that befell them, but is it not
! strange that the sufferers Of their own
race, by the same cause. were left to
perish? 49,. ..
If the ennobled service of the ''Red
Cross" is builded upon the inciple
that "the most refined realizations ol
life's duties are to be found in the serv.
ice of humanity" then is its disclimi
mating conduct inexplicable. ......
! Congress and our State Legislature
! S1 Sn "a
coast sufferers. Congress can throw
away millions upon millions Of dollars
| in precious time squandered in idle
| legislation, but cannot dole out pit
tance to those who are providentiallJ
stricken and smitten into the dust O
helplessness. Why not? European
governments, in the plenitude of theil
power, throw the arm Of protection
around those communities which art
overturned by the visitations of God't
permissive providence, and help thos'
who cannot possibly help themselve.
when the trouble is beyond the react
of private aid. Help from governmen
in moment of dire necessity canno
be construed as paternalism. It woulC
rather set forth the humanity if no
the Christianity of the powers that be
It will be remembered that the cy
clone twice descended upon the devot
ed coast making sepulture of the sc;
for hundreds and like an ominous birt
of prey, with outstretched wings, swep
almost everything resistlessly before it
: relentless fury.
From what we have known Of tn
origin of the RedCross Society, we wer
, firmly of the opinion that its bssi
principle was mercy-mercy and mag
> nanimity towards all men, irrespectiV
, of caste, class, creed, color or condition
. that it was to be instant in peril t
"rescue the perishing" whenever neces
8 sity and tribulation followed war, pes
r thence, famine, flood or fire; but in th
centre of the stricken communities "
find men, women and children throug
weary weeks and pitiless months mab
: ing a heroic fight agaisA hunger
e Worthy citizens, who's s'-A o fault
o their own, are driven / -. Try an
woe into the very jaws ~ lir an
death, with no relief afo. theI
& for sweet charity's sake.
To our mind there appears to be br
one explanation to this surprising rev'
lation, and that is, political or sections
prejudice. True men and women ris
above party and rise above sectary
the discharge of life's duties, which al
e "greater than life ITSELF"
R. 81. G.
r. 10 O oraot no;otoko to ennooeo III.