The times., 1901-05-30
RELIEF FOR FLOOD SUFFERERS
Tennessecans i'm Washington Hold n
Meeting TO Raise Funds

A number of prominent Tennesseeans,
resident in Washington. held a meeting
at the Ebbitt House last night for the
purpose of starting a movement for the
relief of the people who have suffered in
the recent disastrous floods in Johnson
Washington, Greene, Carter, and Tnicei
Counties in the eastern part of Tennessee
1t has become known that thousands of
people were rendered homeless and destt-
tute by the inundation and that the suf-
fering is beyond description. Reports
were delivered at the meeting which show
that the destruction of property and loss
OF life have been greater in this flood, in
proportion to the population, than result
ed from any similar occurrence in this
country in many years, not even except
ing the Galveston disaster
The appeal of the sufferers found quick
response, and when II. Clay Evans, Com
missioner of Pensions, called the meeting
to order at o'clock. nearly sixty ma
tives of the Big Bend State had assem-
bled.
Mr.. Evans briefly explained the reasons
for the call of the meeting and said that
he had received letters from Elizabeth
town, Tenn, reciting sad tales of priva-
ton.
A NJ Hughes, on nomination of ]. A.
Smithson, was then elected chairman of
the meeting. with Milton Atkins as Sec
retary.
Milton Atkins spoke briefly on the his
tory of the State and the grand traits
OF the people living in the flooded sec
tions.
Judge John V. Wright addressed the
meeting briefly, saying that the whole
country ought to help the food sufferers.
that
example by contributing to the good
cause.
Mr.. Evans suggested that committee
be appointed to take the matter in hand
and to see all Tennesseeans in the Dis
trict of Columbia and ask them for aid.
We would like outside aid" said he,
and will welcome it, but we must first
do something ourselves. 1t has been ten
days since this disaster occurred and the
poor people cannot wait while we talk"
Gen. Allen S. Tate made a motion that
the chairman appoint a committee of
three. this committee to select sub-com-
mittees, to work in the Government de
partments. This was agreed to and A. NJ.
Hughes. B. II. Warner, Gen. Allen S.
Tate, Judge John V. Wright. and Milton
Atkins were named as the committee
1t was then decided that an address
would be prepared by the committee and
published in the local newspapers. This
address will appeal for funds, food. or
clothing for the sufferers.
a subscription list was then opened. so
that the money might be sent to the suf-
fererS at once. Mrs. Henry X. Gibson,
wife of Representative Gibson OF Tennes-
see, headed the list with SUBSCRIPTION Oh
S. Those present at the meeting re-
sponded to the cause nobly and $40 was
raised.
ELI
$50; w. II. Robinson. So; ]. III. Hensley,
S5; Gen. A. S. Tate, $5; d. Montgomery,
s.; John K. Moss. 50; Ii; PresneH; 80; j. +,
Booth. $; A. c. Durden. 81; George ;.
Fitzgerald, s.; j. a. Smithson, So; ". a.
L. Hoge, 81; ]. H. Dortch, 81; John 5.
Benham, s.; T. J. w Brown, s3; a. 7.
Naff 81: A. NJ. Hughes, $5; C. L. Slack,
81. A. C. Smith, 81; II. D. Best, 81; NJ 7.
dener 81; II. w. Miller, So; Gen. Marcus
]. Wright, 81; Judge ]. V. Wright, 81; r.
NJ. Norman, s.; F. P. Tate. 81; Thomas
Webb, 81. Total, :l45.
a subcommittee will be appointed in
each department and an attempt Will be
made to have every Tennesseean in the
city contribute to the fund.
letter was read from Lee Miller, the
Chairman of the EliZabethtOwn Relief
Committee The letter took five days TO
reach this city and fixes the damage IN
the vicinity Of Elizabethtown at more
than 81, 100000. More than a thousand peo-
pie are homeless. Every store and fac
tory in the town has been swept away
and food is very scarce.
Henry w Coffin also read letters and
kilograms from the flooded district. These
stated that 500 families were homeless
and absolutely destitute in one town
alone Mr.. Coffin stated that Woodward
& Lothrop would receive and forward all
supplies donated. The Southern Railroad
Company has agreed to carry all supplies
to the flooded regions free of charge.
Clothing of any kind will be welcomed, az
many Of the flooded families have moth
ing but what is on their backs.
Representative Richardson of Tennessee
was unavoidabiy absent from the meet
ing, but sent a letter of regret and stated
that he would aid In every way possible.
The following committee was appointed
to receive funds: ]. A. SmithsOn, S.
Tonckley, J. S. Becham. A. c. Smith, and
W. H. Kaufman.