The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-12
AID TO THE INJURED.
Citizens Of Providence Propose to
Organize a New Society.
Its Object Is to Instruct Its Members
How TO Make Themselves Useful In
Cases of Emergency.

The project to organize branch Of the
Emergency Association in this city, which
has just been suggested, is one that
should meet the approval of every citizen
OF Providence This association, which
has been incorrectly known as the
Red Cross Society, has been organized
with marked success in all the large cities
OF Europe as well as in many places in
this country. New York, for instance,
has a well organized branch that has
succeeded in doing great deal
of good and while the attempts TO organ
ize similar societies in Rhode Island have
met with failure there is no reason why
such project should not be successfully
carried out.
The Red Cross Society, which was
organized many years ago, has definite
purpose that Is quite foreign TO that Of
the Emergency Association, its object
ieing to furnish well trained
physicians and nurses OF both
sexes that may be called upon
to go anywhere in case of great loss Of
life, either from accident or illness. The
Red Cross Society has already dis
tinguished itself in fields OF battle and
has done an incalculable amount of good.
The Emergency Association is an en-
tireiy different thing, however, The
render the first aid TO the injured, and
| they are then left TO do their own work
| for themselves.
One OF the most successful branches of
| this society /, located in New York. There
the members have taken such great in
terest in their work that they have at
tended even more lessons than were neces-
sary, and some of them have become even
more capa BILE than many physicians.
AT the presCn time one branch OF this
society exists at w Consocket although IL
is in mere inactive condition In 1889
the attempt was made 10 spread the work
all over the State. For this purpose the
Rhode Island Association was organized
with DIR. John w. Mitchell as president.
Woonsocket, Newport, Bristol and Provi-
dence were provided with central COM
mittees, but there the work stopped.
DIR. Gardner I. Swarts, however, had
seen the successful workings of the asso-
citation in other cities In Europe as well 9
America, and was determined that the cau Z
should not die for want OF organizatio ioL.
He, therefore, used every effort to draw
the people together but as he was unable
TO complete the organization to his sat
isfaction he decided to change his plan
and to give lectures upon the subject
before classes of men and women.
This was done and with the best OF re-
suits. Lectures were delivered before the
men of the Builders Iron Foundry, the
Gorham Manufacturing Company and
other manufacturing establishments
where such knowledge is frequently OF SO
much advantage. Lectures were also given
before the members of the young men 9
and young woman's Christian associa-
tions and at many other places where
classes were organized the fire.
men and the members of police
force were well drilled in the
work of the association. DIR. Swarts did
the greater portion of the work, although
in the case of the police department he
Yves assisted by DIR. Palmer.
When the course hao been delivered a
number of times interest in the work be-
gan to die out. Then it was dropped and
since that time ii has never been revived.
Glasses have been formed by those who
were particularly interested in the subject
and DIR. Swarts has always consented to
lstruct them, but no attempt has been
made to effect an organization.
Now, however, the effort is to be made
once more, and ii is to be hoped that it
will be more successful than at the pre-
vious attempt. The value of the training Z
has been illustrated in the police, who
have been able to prevent much suffering,
"a we'll as having saved lives by their
prompt appliance of the instruction re-
ceived at the emergency lectures.