The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-05-23
HELP NEEDED At ONCE.
4 DEPL.ORhBLE CONDITION ON The
COAST.

|, 4 Pitifut Appeal from White People
to Governor Tnlmsn-D .scrimi oated
Agsinst by the Rad Cross soclety-No
Fcod for Peopls or Animals.
COLUMBIA, S. c., May 18.-MauY
complaints Of destitution in the coast
| region Of the State, which suffered 30
much from the storm Of last August, are
still being made. Strane as it may seem
the majority of those complaints are
from white people. The colored pee
pie appear to have been well provided
Tor. Atany rate white people are suffer-
ing IN that section from the lack of the
necessities O: life and the situation is
made more terrible by the statement
that there is no way for them to help
themselves.
Grave charges have been made that
the Red Ccoss Society has Disseminated
in favor Of colored people in its distribu-
ton OF charity. These charges have been
whispered for some time but have been
given little publicity because there was
appreciation CT what Miss Barton and
her society were doing, even ifthere was
partlality 10 colored people. Governor
Tlllman has received numerous letters
making bitter complaint against MISS
Barton's management, but be has not
SAID anything about it. He has just re-
celved an appeal from the coast section
for aid which he feels should meet an
early response. The writer Of the letter
is said to be man Of standing and yer.
acity and bis picture Of affairs can be
depended on as correct. The Governor
will be glad to receive subscriptions from
charitably disposed aud will do anything
90 aau to sid n the relief appealed .Gf IT,
The following is the letter and does not
need to be read a second time to see
that help is wanted and needed quickly:
''BLUFPToN, S. c., May IL.
Governor B. r. TIlman, Columbia, S.
{.
Dear Sir: Ga or about April 26sh
the citizens (whlte) Of our township,
that is B Biuffton, held meeting and reso-
luIions expressing their destituhon and
need were passed. Although not per-
sonally present at the meeting I under
sand from the committee that copies Of
theae resolutions were sent to you; also
TO the New York World, Charleston
News gcd Courier, TIE Safe, to The
.52va0uah Board # Trade aud Cotton
Ex .haUge. A. a resident Of this town.
ship for years an, I ,hiuk, fully &C.
quaiDted with the conditions OF its p
people. The response made to the cry
of our people Tor aid has been so luke
warm that | take the liberty OF writing
YOU. The elu2uon as il exists nov IN
tbs community is worse, # possible,
;han Ii was Just after the August cy-
clone Y"ur appeal tEen to the people
Of our cnuutry brought its reward. fnat
t hte people f mis- conmuntty did
80: receive b. help aud assi-tauce from
Inc ID u<aud5 OF dollars and provisions
sent to cue coast is not their fault, but
1e fault OF those who Were charged with
rs proper Distribution. It is not my
purpose here 10 array toe officers of the
Red Cross Society. That has been done
by those who WELD better pen than
90. S III the facl is known TO every one
here and has been known for months
that the Red Cross authorities bad dis
gracefully naisused their authority and
tha. they were more than partial IN the
distribution Of the charity. am well
within the limits when [ state that the
white citizens of this community have
not up to date received $500 in supplies
while thous apds have been issued out to
negores, many Of them in nowise
needy. for they hold pensions from the
United States government. And now,
sir, the situation ss it exists here to-day
is simply this as near as [ can get at it:
There are $50 white families in the town
ship, carrying over 600 souls and that
today they are Without means-means
to feed the women and children or the
farm animals. The farmers OF this COM
munity have struggled as few people
have ever been called upon to struggle.
The cyclone destroyed their cotton aud
LETT them with little corn and that dam
aged; net with rebufs by the Red Cross
thew have borne their suferings as best
they could, using every means they had;
trading what little they had until now 1t
is all gone and starvation and no farm
animals faces them. Unless they can
get food for themselves and for their AMI
mails the result will be fearful. Crushed
as the farms were by the cyclone they
set to work in good heart to prepare
for the crop Of this year and the larger
portion of it is now planted. How they
re to work the crop without iced Tor
ANNALS is what faces them now; as much
as feed E)r themselves. am well aware
that with your many ties you are doubt
less barrassed beyond measure, but, sir,
We must ask your aid. How the help is
to come must be left to your judgment
but come it must and quickly. l could
cite to you, if necessary, dozens of fami-
lies who have not weeks provisions
and no earthly means Of getting them.
As have sad above, the response TO
tie cali made IN the resolutions has been
yery lukewalm. Sill there were two
answers. one from gentleman on our
coast here who suffered like all the rest
and more than many, who sent US out OF
HIS ItsIIE, - iiS OJtiOk IL cIA@SS SSN@S 'hNA~
the ''re!et committee of the New York
Evening Post" who are stationed IN
Beaufort. This committee, consisting
Of Drs. While, Gib5es an0 Pcloleau, and
Mr.. Thomas Talbird, answered once
and tier aid was charity indeed, for they
led the hungry. Is here not some wa,
Of calling the attention of the farmers OF
our S ale to tie condition here? is
probable that the farmers ia the upper
ri OF Inc State, nov that the season ls
veil advanced. may be able to spare
same 'rD, esDeclalty II their oat crop Is
ssf1. Che "ar cop here Is failure, tor
r.. he oily h i!f AZ iuch Of rsiu in A oril,
., rus ',n1 5oa ot:s We're oaoDtlny Ii
7cua.; ,ns ul} -en' - Charleston,
c.p,s. =. .d 70 n car= >! tn en, Ot the
s:~am-r Pc. B y, hey vii be carried
10 Bait ., or - her B-au'1rt, free OF