Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-26
THE WINDY CITY.
Visited by the Most Severe Weather In Twenty-Five Years-Mayor Swift Calls for Aid for Suffering Thousands
 Generous Response.


 Chicago, Jan. 25.EThe people of Chica- go, in bodies and as individual citizens, were aroused today to take prompt and generous action for the relief of the two score thousand destitute inhabitants, whose suffering for fuel, food and cloth : ing has reached an extreme stage as a result of the terrible cold wave which came upon the city Saturday increasing in intensity, until today 1t reached the low est point recorded in a quarter of a cen tury. Between 5 and o'clock this morn ing the weather bureau in the Auditorium tower, where it is warmer than on the street, recorded 20 degrees below zero. Only once in the history of the bureau December 24 1872, 23 below-has the tenn perature fallen lower. From 9 a. m. to 2 D. m. there was gradual rise, the range being IS to 22 degrees, but the re- lief was hardly felt when accompanied by a cutting wind from the northwest. The highest temperature for the day was 10 degrees below, and tonight the mer- cury is moving slowly down again, with no hope of material relief held out for to- morrow.
 Mayor Swift issued a proclamation this afternoon according to his expressed intention yesterday, appealing in urgent language to all citizens who have the means to spare to contribute at once money and supplies to prevent the starv- ation and freezing of unfortunate thous- ands. He urged the subscription Of $l00,- 900 as being none too much to afford the help needed. The funds of the charity organizations have been depleted, owing to the extra demands made upon them even during the mild winter weather which prevailed here until a few days ago. fea tet.5nls
 The Chicago Relief and Aid society was compelled to make a special appeal for money last week to carry on its work because of the unusually large number of heads and supporters of families who are unemployed.
 Before the mayors procla ma tion was issued contributions to the special fund came pouring into his office in currency and checks, while various offers of pro- visions, clothing, coal and wood were re- ceived on a liberal scale. The board of trade and other organizations started to raise relief funds and the churches and Salvation Armies began making sys- tematic and extensive arrangements to help in the charitable work along their special lines Soup houses and shelters long as necessary. A plan which the mayor and Chief of Police Badenoch agreed upon at a conference today was immediately put-inte effect. The city will buy with the special fund, food and fuel and distribute them on demand through the agency of the police depart ment. This reliefis to be afforded with out the usual investigation until the regu- lar charitable organizations are able to take up the, work. All police stations have been thrown open to the homeless, and tonight everyone was crowded with refugees from the freezing air. The may or's proclama tion Is the first of the kind to be issued in twenty-five years. :.
 The worst and most numerous cases Of suffering were reported from South Chi cago and Kensington, where thousands of men have been laid off at the steel mills and other establishments.
 Much damage was done in the suburbs to telegraph and telephone wires by the cold Traffic with Cicero was suspended until late today by the collapse Of cable poles. The ,worlsof affording instant tenn porary relief during the indictment wealth. CT was pushed by the police agents, using the patrol wagons and ambulances. In such a systematic manner that no case of destitutton reported remained unat- tended to tonight. 1ff'''fFN'