Evening star., 1900-09-27
GALVESTON NEEDS MONEY
RESULT OF MRS. MUssEY,s OBsERvA-
TIONs IN STRICKEN CITY.
OF the Immense Sum Contributed, but
S5O,OOO Received-PeOple Pere ~-.a
forming Wonders.

Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey. OF this city,
who is connected with the National Red
Cross organization, has just returned from
a visit to Galveston, Tex where she went
in company with Miss Clara Barton and
other officers of the society According to
Mrs. Mussey. much of the real situation re-
suting from the recent disaster is not
known outside the wrecked city. she
makes statements that are not only inter-
esting. but somewhat startling
Il attended a meeting .of-the city coR-
mittee in Galveston last Sunday" Mrs.
Mussey informed Star reporter today. Il
announced that / was about to start north.
My words had the effect almost of an cleo
trio current. Those men jumped to their
feet spontaneously, and l was told that the
greatest favor could do for Galveston and
her people would be to let the people of
Washington know just how matters stood.
You may be surprised to know that of
all the money that has been contributed
throughout the country for the relief OF the
sufferers the city Of Galveston, or what
is left of 1t. has received only $4,000. The
country should know that what Galveston
needs is money. The noble people of the
city are performing wonders under the cir
cumstances but they must soon come to
standstill unless money reaches them. The
force of men at work cleaning the streets,
which are In frightful condition, Is little
the ordinary work of street sweeping in
Washington today. Many more should be
put to work. but there is no money with
which to pay them. The force now en-
ployed can be kept at work only few days
longer, and then the funds hand will
have been exhausted.
People without Homes.
"One of the greatest needs of the people
is homes. If they had shacks, even, they
could start anew. To house the people in
any sort of fashion will require So 600, 600.
They are sleeping anywhere. Buildings that
have held together to any extent are
crowded. and in some instances it has been
necessary to compel the vacation of struc-
lures that are considered dangerous.
True, relief trains have been hurried to
Galveston with tons and tons of supplies but
where are those train? Our journey from
Houston to Galveston consumed twenty-four
hours. The run is usually made in about
an hour. A single track connects the two
cities. Travel is frightfully congested, and
II Is a problem to ferret out the whereabouts
of the supplies. In this connection it might
be well TO say that the greater portion of
the supplies In question is of no use. 1t is
possible they may be sold and the money
put TO good use. If the people had money,
supplies could be purchased of those Calves
Ton merchants whose stock in trade escaped
the Jury OF the tornado. In that way the
resumption of trade could be fastened II
business Is not soon resumed more people
will have to leave the island. and other
communities Will find thousands of unem-
ployed men and women on their hands
Some squares of the city are completely
wiped out of existence. while others are
huge piles of debris Bodies being un-
earthed constantly 1t is now sthe custom
TO pile wood about them. pour on a little
oil and apply a match. Many of the bodies
that We're taken eighteen miles TO sea and
weighted have drifted back. The people do
not speak of any of those who lost their
lives as dead. They simply say that he or
she has gone.
One Result of Storm
Galveston, you know, is on a sand spit.
A strange result Of the storm is that gray
clay now covers the island. This clay COW
ers the first floor of the warehouse turned
over to the Red Cross. The people welcom-
ed the coming Of the Red Cross with some
thing like an ovation. BY request we took
charge of the orphans and located them on
the second floor of the warehouse Many Of
the incidents that came to our attention
were amusing as well pathetic. The Off
GERS of the Red Cross were made members
OF the city committee 1t was interesting
to see the leading citizens of the city work
ing side by side with laborers. removing
debris and handling corpses. There is no
danger OF mismanagement, for the commit
tee comprises unusually intelligent people.
Every man in Galveston not armed with
a pass Is compelled to work. In order to Sc
cure a pass the individual must prove that
he has steady employment or Is engaged in
special work. Those who had the means
have left the island, but eventually most of
them will go back.
There is no more sickness in Galveston
at present than is usually the case. The ia
cilities Of the city hospitals are adequate
to cope with the situation Nurses are not
needed. Disnfectants, however are most
useful.
LAS l said before, what is most needed is
money. | have come to Washington direct
from Galveston, and the city committee
desires that the people of the country shall
know the facts"