The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-11-25
Boon FOR DRUHKARDS
Salvation Arm ucas Ambulance
In Reforming Them.
NOTABLE RESULTS ATTAINED.

Cleveland, O.-Corps Of Experts
Gives First Aid to Those Injured In
Drunken BrawIs.
The first of its kind in America, an
ambulance for drunkards and those
injured in drunken brawls, in charge
Of a corps from the Salvation Army
trained IN rendering first aid to the
injured, now patrols the saloon and
Tenderloin districts Of Cleveland, O.,
in the late hours Of the night.
In Berlin, Germany, corps Of trained
workers have done similar work, but
without the aid Of an ambulance.
Some Of the members Of the Cleve-
land corps who are Introducing the
work in the United States are them
selves Germans and have had practical
experience In their own country along
this line, says w. Frank Mcclure, spe-
cial Cleveland correspondent OF the
Los Angeles Times. The addition of
the ambulance, they say. is a decided
help. The ambulance now in use is a
temporary one, but one especially de.
signed and equipped will be ready
for service in a few weeks. The new
plan Is attracting much attention in
Cleveland and is bringing notable re-
suits.
Members of the corps wear the but
ton Of the National First Aid to the
Injured Association of America. OF
which Clara Parton is president. Each
n has made a study Of rendering
first aid to the injured In accordance
with medical science.
Each member Of the corps is also
equipped With a shrill whistle. which
is attached to the front of the coat OF
dress. The workers, going in COM
panies of two or three into the noto-
rious districts. leave the ambulance
standing in charge of one of the num-
Der at some point on the street. and
when they find some one who needs
help IL Of those who make the discov-
cry blows his whistle, and the ambu-
lance come quickly to the scene.
Each member also has tie red cross
upon his sleeve. and one in each de-
tachment of the workers carries a lam
tern.
Men found in saloons who are so
drunk that they are to all appearances
paralyzed are picked up on a strctcher
and taken to a Salvation Army shelter.
When next day they become sober they
are given good advice and sent to their
homes, If they have homes, and en-
ployment; if not, they offer them work
and 0 and shelter. All are invited
to attend the religious meetings and
urged to start life anew.
Many 4 MAJ is found in the late
hours of the night bleeding as the re
suit of Il saloon browl. His wounds are
bandagcd by careful hands. and if he Is
seriously Injured or unconscious he il
taken In the Salvation Army ambu-
lance to Il OF the city hospitals. When
he is able to leave the hospital he is
visited by some of the members of the
corps who rescued him and is offered
every assistance to keep on his feet
and become a man.
Also IN the Tcndarloin girls are found
drunk or helpless from being drugged
perhaps. These girls are taken to the
rescue home of the Salvation Army.
The corps in making its rounds at
night in search Of the downfallen and
unfortunate carries with 1t religious
tracts and also little tin plates bearing
Il verse of Scripture. which are placed
in the hands of all who will accent
them. Coming into a place where men
and women are drinking, the members
OF the rescue corps introduce them
selves with the words: "Good EVENING"!
God bless .you all! We are bringing
YOU some tracts" When they find
some Il who takes the tracts Will
much interest and seems willing te
listen the workers talk with him. Thus
far in the pursuit of this work they
have not leen roughly treated either
by saloon keepers OF visitors.
The police in Cleveland are friendly
to the plan-in fact, it is in accordance
with the Golden Rule" policy now in
force in Cleveland that a man found
drunk shall be taken home rather thar
to Jail, especially if 1t Is his first of.
Tense.
The work Of the new ambulance and
corps of rescue workers has been in
progress but Il few weeks, but in that
time 26O streets have been patrolled,
145 saloons have been visited and 1900
tracts and tin plates have been dis
tributed. Sometimes the corps contin-
ues its work until 5 q. m.
Definite results and instances of per-
manent good are being c%hronicled right
along. One man for twenty years a
drunkard is now reformed and work
ing in the army. The first nights tour
resulted in finding a woman in a con
cert hall in an epileptic fit brought on
by drink and later a man lying help
less in an alley. The woman was TAX
en- to one Of the hospitals of the city.
The man was placed in a bed at the
Salvation Army citadel, where two
members of the corps remained to care
for him.
Colonel Williams Evans, recently APP
pointed head Of the Salvation Army III