The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-02-03
STORM SUFFERERS STILL IN NEED.
pr. Glaytor Makes an Appeal for
Further Relief Of farmers in
Lower Richland.
20 the Editor of The State.

s-lO R1esVOS cS os'e-s1e W W. ' -
timely in It's remarks in the issue of
she 18th instant relative to the need
81 relief for Che sufferers from the
storm that swept a part of lower Rich
land.
In response to several articles written
by reliable gentlemen OF the storm
stricken area and kindly published by
The State, a few people and communi-
ties have given literally of clothing
and money. But the hearts of the
many have not been reached or the
Suffering would not remain so acute.
Why is this? For the heart of the
Sonth Carolinian is proverbially warm
and sympathetic and in cases of known
suffering they usually respond literally
and freely. I think I can explain the
apparent apathy in the matter
In case Of a great disaster, as by
food, FIRE or wind. the daily papers
send their representatives to the scene
at once, the Associated Press takes
"a hand and each individual case of
suffering is noted and published to the
world. The suffering then appears in
tangible form, the sympat4lies of
the people are appealed to more
strongly, because of the immediate
and TERRIBLE distress depicted so graph
cally BY reporters and Others in its
midst.
Note the disaster at Pacolet and
vicinity during the last summer. Be-
sides government aid in the shape of
tents and provisions. the hearts of our
own people ocsned wide and money
vent TO the reseue SO freely chat it
might well be compared to the foods
that wrought the awful calamity.
NoW as TO lower Richland and the
scene Of the disaster in question. On
the morning OF June l, 1903, the
crops. mostly worked by tenants.
were beautiful, well worked and grow
ing veil; That night, Just after dark,
there came storE, accompanied by
nigh wind and such a downpour of
hail as the people never had known.
Fbe wind blew down barns, killing
one person. wonnding several others,
and killing number of work animals.
The hail stripped bark from the trees
and destroyed every vestige of the crop
over an area of not less than IS square
miles. These people did not ask for
aid then, they we're not in need, for
tia merchants and land owners had
promised to supply them through the
sumner and SO they did. There was a
chance at even so late a date to re-
plant and make part Of a crop. So
these poor people, uncomplaining, put
their shoulders to the wheel and
planted second time. The rain con-
tinued and grass grew apace, SO the
cotton could not be cultivated. The
fields became so boggy that mule
could not go in them. Even yet, he
fail having arrived. some still hoped
to make something, until the frost in
October. That blighted all hopes and
scarcely q tenth of crop was harvest
cd. No corn. or other food stuff but
grass.
To add to all this trouble, sickness
has been more general than ever
known before, due in part to the ex-
cessively vet season and to the lack Of
proper food and raiment Even now
many of the old negroes re very weak
and debilitated from the latter cause,
hence cannot perform any labor, and
so become burden rather than help
to their families.
The land owners and merchants have
been very liberal. in most cases taking
only q part of the poor crop made,
The land owners are dependent for
their living on the income from the
land and most of them are in debt.
Hence their inability to relieve TO a
great extent the suffering Of the
negroes. Many negroes in this section
Own lands themselves but have to
mortgage them to get supplies to work
their crops. These mortgages could
not be paid, SO they have nothing tc
fall back on this year and many have
no money with which 20 pay their
taxes.
The physicians have practicea among
these people and furnished much
medicine without hope of recon-
pense, but they cannot afford te
furnish gratis the large amount Of
expensive preparations needed BY
many. If February and March car
be tided over I think the immediate
distress will be: relieved. Right now
they Iced food, clothing and some
medicine. I believe. as Dr.. Ray ha!