The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-19
WAS IN THE OLD ONE.
Mrs. Shuricl1 Was in the Old Dams
VILE Red Cross Society,


Vile Red Cross Society.
Mrs. Us. Shurick, one of the st. Paul
women most active in the local Red
Cross work. was a member of the first
auxiliary Red Cross society organized
in the United States at Dansville, N.
Y, Aug. %, 1871
Mrs Shurick was actively associated
with Miss Clara ESrton, who was at
the time on the executive board of
the local society, in relieving hundreds
Of people who lived in the fire devas-
tated districts of Michigan.
After this work had been we'll ac-
c0mplished the central society and the
Evansville society, which included in
its membership many prominent peo-
PIE, turned it's attention to securing the
adoption by the government Of the
United States of the treaty Of Geneva,
by which this country could cooperate
with the confederation of relief sooi-
cites of thirty or more countries.
The direct aim of the societies being
to ameliorate the condition of wounded
soldiers in the armies in campaigns on
land or sea, all We're to work under
the sign of the Red Cross. which was
to neutraliZe those who were engaged
in the work. This sign Of the Red Cross
was chosen out of compliment to the
Swiss republic, where the first conven-
ton was held-the Swiss colors being a
White cross on red ground, the badge
chosen, these colors reversed.
In 1871 Evansville was the country
residence of Miss Barton on her return
from Europe where she became ac-
quainted with the Red Cross move
ment. Miss Barton had been chosen
president CT the American association
organized as above noted, and the citi-
zens organizing this first local society
were DESTROYS Of paying a compliment
to Miss Barton and at the same time
doing honor to their village. The fol-
lowing officers Of the society We're cho-
sen: President, George A. Sweet; vice
president, Mrs Fanny B. Johnson, sec
rotary, Mrs. Mary Noyes Colvin, treas
urer, Hon. James Faulkner Jr.; eXecu-
tive board, Miss Clara Barton, Maj.
Mark J. Bunnell, DR.. G. Bastiap, Maj.
E. H. Pratt, Mrs. George Hartman, T.
p: Gallagher. William Kramer, Oscar
Woodruff. Mrs. Reuben Whiteman,
Mrs. i. @. Galpin; consulting counsel,
Judge John A. Van Derlip. Before
month had passed this society was in
the midst Of a great work, for, under
the wise advice of the great hearted
and wise Miss Barton, the scope Of
the American society's work had been
broadened to include all the sufferers
by great calamitieS or pestilence No
sooner had the skies of Dansville
grown dark and it's atmosphere bitter
with drifting smoke from the burning
forests and villages Of Michigan, than
relief rooms were secured and the
white banner with it's bright red cross
unfurled. The response was immedi-
ate. Eight large boxes of carefully pre-
pared and mucn needed clothing and
bedding were shipped, bearing the
stamp of the first Red Cross in the
country, and others followed, until the
society was notified that the naked
and homeless had been clothed, and
10 more was needed Money was also
| collected, and Maj. Bunnell was dis
| patched as the first field agent of the
| Red Cross, charged with the duty of
| the proper distribution of supplies and
| money, and Of making direct reports
| Of the condition and need of the suf-
! ferers. Soon following the organiza-
| ton Of the Evansville society the Soci-
| ETY. of the Red Cross Of Monroe Coun-
| ty was formed, and in three days from
| its existence Prof. J. B. Hubbell was
| on the burnt fields of Michigan to re-
! pert the needs of the people, and the
! day following his report $4,000 in cash
| was forwarded to him.
| This was the commencement of the
! great work of the Red Cross in this
country, since so diligently pursued by
Miss Barton and her faithful field
| agent, DR.. Hubbell, notably in this
| country during the Johnstown floods
and after the Charleston earthquake,
across the waters in far Armenia, and
lately among the starving reconcen-
| tra0OS of Cuba