New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-08
DONALD HARPERS OFFER.
READY TO TURN OVER ossABAw ISLAND
TO THE RED CROSS

READY TO TURN OVER OSSABAw ISLAND
TO THE RED CRoss.
If THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT NEED THE PROD
ERTY THE SOCIETY Is LIKELY TO SECURE
IT AS = HOSPITAL STATION FOR
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
The Red C~oss, when a few weeks ago had
expected to be able. through the generosity
of David H. King jr.. Of this ci'y 10 secure
hospital facilities en- Jekyll Island. near Bruins.
wick. Ga. but which was disappointed In that
expectation because Of antagonism to the plan
on the part Of Mr.. Kings fellow club member
owning places en- the island, is rot unlikely to
have placed at It's disposal in the near future
another island In every way as well adapted to
its purposes as Is Jeky Island.
About three weeks ago Donald Harper, wen.
known international lawyer Of this city and
Paris. whose native state Is Georgia sent The
following letter to President Mckinley:
No - Broad-st New-York CITY,
June u. 1888
To the President:
Sir: II affords me pleasure to offer for the
service OF our sick soldiers who may contract
cont agious diseases during service. my property
on Onabaw Island. consisting OF several thou'
sand acres This island Is one OF the largest on
the Georgia coast. lying between Savannah and
Brunswick. and is high, dry ana heaithy'
seems to me peculiarly adapted Tor hospta ser.
vice for contagious diseases on account OF iu
complete isolation.
n nv offer can he OF service will you kindly
DONALD HARPER.
To this letter a prompt reply was cent by the
President through Secretary John Addison Por'
ter, as follows:
Executive Mansion.
Washington, June ~. lS3A
Nv Dear Sir. Your letter OF the list inst
rendering to the United States Government your
property on Ossabaw Island for hospita! use
has been received. and by direction OF Tue srs .
dent brought to the personal attention OF the
Secretary Of War Permit me to assure you tnas
the President thoroughly appreciates this gen.
erous and patriotic offer
yours JOHN ADDISON PORTER.
Secretary to the President
Mr. Donald Harper. No. % Broad-st.. New-fon
City
few DAYS later Mr.. Harper also received TINS
letter. from SUPERINTENDENT Sternberg l. > A.:
Dear Sir. Your letter 10 the President. offer.
ing YOUR property for use az a hospital Tor con-
tagious diseases has been referred 10 me tN
reply. There is no immediate use for such hos.
pital but I appreciate your generous oHeT, ana
shall put your letter upon file for future reler'
GEORGE NJ. STERNBERG
Mr. Harper deemed IT proper to offer the island
first to the Government. but it is understood
that IL the Government decides that It does not
need the property. the owner will place it at tho
disposal Of the Red Cross Ossabaw Island Is
about twenty-five miles below Savannah. and
fifty OF sixty miles north Of Jekyll Island. In
case CT an outbreak OK contagious disease like
yellow fever or smallpox. among the troops In
Cuba, there is no place on the mainland in the
Southern States 10 which the sufferers could be
transferred without opposition On the part OF the
residents and 10 bring them North would In
volve dangerous prolonsation OF the voyage
from Cuba. But Ossabaw Island is only com.
plratively short distance from Cuba, and as II
is eight or ten miles from the mainland o.
Georgia. the establishment there OF a hospital
FOR contagious diseases could not be regarded BY
the people OF the State in any sense a menace
20 the public health. The island Is easily acces-
sible TO hospital ships. the water around 1t being
so deep that large vessels come the
shore. transferring the sick TO the land In small
boats with the minimum OF inconvenience. There
is at present on the island no building which
could be at used a complete hospital
but the old Harper homestead and a number o.!
small cottages are there. which would DO as at
least a temporary shelter The land is elevated
and dry. and there is an abundant supply OF pure
water
The only persons living on the island are the
! plantation slaves OF NJ Havper's grandfather
and their descendants. who have never lef, the
property. Ossabaw Island has been in the fam
| fly since the time Of Sir Patrick Houstoun. the
first colonial Governor Of Georgia. who was Mr
Harpers ancestor. The Governor. ever whose
grave in Bonaventurc Cemetery. Savannah
stands the oldest recorded tombstone IN Georgia
laid out his sea Island with beautifu, avenues
several miles in length. bordered with live oaks
and these leafy avenues with the Spanish moss
dripping from the ancient trees. are eth there
! IT. their picturesque loneliness.
Mr. Harper has used his island only rs Q
hunting ground. but he IL entirely willing to
forego the pleasure. FOR he mas offered :he prop
erty to the President absolutely without charge
and without condition ~ any sort. FOR as eng
a period Of occupancy as may be necessary and
II contagious diseases hospital should ne
placed there. it would probably be several ears
| before the owner and his friends would desire
TO hunt over II again. There are thousands OF
deer on Ossabaw Island wild hogs and cata'
mounts In great quantity. alligators innuner'
| able ard great many quail and other game