The National tribune., 1901-05-30
TEXAS STORM SUFFERERS.
Preliminary Report Submitted by Depart
ment Commander Peck.

preliminary Report submitted by Depart
ment Commander Peck.
To the Post and Corps that con
tribute toward the relief OF Texas storm
sufferers. the following report submitted t'
Commandcr-in-C Chief Rassieur by Col. Chas
b. Peck. Commander of the Department o.
Texas. just before his retirement from ofhcc
will be of interest:
.'On the evening of September S, 1900
there occurred at Galveston and adjacent
mainland. semi-trOpical tornado, which FOL
its destructive results may be fifty character
lied the disaster of the 18th century More
than 6.GGO lives were lost. many millions
of dollars of property were swept away, and
hundreds of our comrades and their depend
ent families left homeless and destitute As
soon as communication with the stricken dis
trict could be obtained, prOfeTs of aid from
all over the country poured in. followed by
substantial tokens of sympathy. Before or
ganization could be effected. many thousand
dollars had been subscribed by members of
the Grand Army in the North and East,
which went into the general relief, organized
and handled by his eNcellency, GOV savers
of Texas. OF this sum about $1,000 was dis
tributed through Grand Army channels, and
l. our comrades were bencticaries TO some ex-
| tent in the general relief distribution.
.'On September 10 the members of VAIN
right Post -, of Alvin, Tex, issued an
appeal TO their comrades in the North for aid,
which was promptly responded TO. Believ-
| ing that better results could be obtained
through organized and recognized channels.
| applied to the COmmanderin-Chieff for per
mission to issue an appeal as Commander OF
this Department. In approving my request
the COmmander-in-Cb Chief required the can
collation. of the appeal sent out by Vain
wright Post, and the approval OF our methods
as well as the necessity for the appeal Dy ms
Senior Abide Camp and Chief of Staff, Col.
Ed. Ketchum, and of the member of the
Council of Administration for Texas, Col. w.
f. Connor, who is also Il member of the EX-
ecutive Board of the National Encampment.
I Iii f1V~
obtained, and the action of Wainwright Fost
was prompt and honorable. Their appeal
was cancelled, full report of receipts and
disbursements made, and all subsequent CON
tributiOns turned over to these Headquarters,
from whence thereafter all aid has been dis
penSCd.
..As Commander of this Department l as
sociated with me as an Advisory Board the
Commander of Hancock Post, of Galveston,
Col. Ed y. Ketchum; the Commander of Nc
Clellan Post, ., Col. y. l.. Mills, Houston, and
the Assistant Adjutant-G Gencral of this De
partment, Col Il. q. Rust.
About the time of the issuance of our
appeal the Woman's Relief Corps, under the
leadership of Mrs. Annette Van Horn, De
partment President, and with the approval
of the National President, issued their appeal
to the Auxiliary Branch of our Order The
National President also assigned TO duty as
Custodian Mrs Ada c. Work. Past Depart
ment President for Texas, and Mrs Nina
Metcalf as Treasurer. 1t was agreed thai
cash should be sent 10 the Commander and
Assistant Adjutant-General of the Depart
ment. and to the Treasurer of the WOman'S
Relief Corps. That all moneys should be dis
bursed by check of the Department Com
mander. and all supplies received, cared for
and distributed by the Custodian for the
Relief Corps.
Responses to the two appeals have been
most generous, aggregating 21,S96.13, of
which S14, ,0S5.66 was in cash and S7,S10.47
in supplies. OF the cash contributions
S7,631.24 was received on account of the 6.
a. r., and So, 454.42 on account of the W. II.
''The disbursements on account Of relief to
date have been as follows:
Supplies by Custodian, s7,s10.47; cash re-
lief to G. A r. members proper, SS,643.17;
cash relief to W. 4. c., S526.7S; cash relief
10 Union veterans not members, 81 10000;
hospital expenses, salary and expenses of
Custodian, printing, supplies purchased,
headquarters expenses etc, $1,090.44 A cash
balance remains on hand in the Commercial
National Bank, Houston.
LAS Commander of this Department l de-
sire to extend profound and grateful thanks
to the organized Posts of the Grand Army
of the United States for their contributions
in behalf of unfortunate comrades and to
the generous individuals who contributed to
a like service. The contributions from the
Grand Army came from $40 Posts, and have
been distributed among Grand Army conf
rades and Union veterans, their dependent
families, widows and orphans TO the number
of 1864 persons.
'Apprecatiye recognition is given to the
noble Auxiliary, the Woman's Relief Corps,
and especially TO the three ladies associated
with me in the execution of this trust. Fit
ting acknowledgement should be made OF
their services by the National Encampment. |
Il desire to record my acknowledgment Of
services rendered by the Advisory Board, es
pecay the Assistant Adjutant-General, for
most efficient services rendered. Also TO the
Senior Aid-de-Camp and Chief of Staff 10 the
the Executive Board, Messrs. Ketchum and
ConnOr, who have had continuous access to
the books and papers connected with this
matter, are cogniZant Of every feature, and
are invited to report their findings in con- |
nection herewith. In pursuant to instrGc-
tiOns given with the approval Of the Com
TO our appeal, final report
will be submitted to you, together with the |
books, vouchers, and cash balance, II any |
there be, in time for the next National Ell |
campment."