Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-26
SITUATION CRITICAL,
COX WIRES WILSON
Ohio Governor Appeals for Aid
''In the Name of
Humanity"
GETS FOOD AND TENTAGE
FROM WAR DEPARTMENT
ife-Saving Crew Sent to Dayton
and Public Health Surgeons
Are Ordered There.

41C O4uC1Cu 4AClCs
President Wilson today received an
urgent appeal from Gov. Cox Of Ohio.
after the Presidents proclamation re-
garding the need for relief funds had
been issued, and a telegram had been
sent to the Buckeye executive. MIR.
Cox's message evidently had been sent
before the Presidents message had
been received, or delayed in transmits
sion about four hours.
Gov. Cox's telegram reads:
1--WE have asked the Secretary of War
this morning for tents, supplies, rations
and physicians. In the name of humanity
see that this is granted at the earliest
possible moment. The situation in this
state IS very critical We believe that
10000 people were unsheltered last night
and the indications are that before nigh'
the Muskingum valley will suffer the rate
of the Miami and SciotO valleys.
The President replied at once, sendine
the following telegram:
"Your telegram received. Have directed
the Secretary of War Immediately to COM
ply with your request and TO use every
agency of his department to meet the
needs of the situation"
Conference With Miss Boardman.
The Presidents appeal for funds for the
Red Cross was issued shortly after con.
ference the President had with Miss Ma.
bel Boardman. chairman of the relief
board of the Red Cross. Miss Boardmar
had been busy all morning arranging te
have the appeal go out for funds, and she
believes that there will be prompt re-
spOnse from all parts of the country.
The President kept in close touch with
the situation throughout the day through
press dispatches and adyices from Secre
tary Garrison of the War Department.
Secretary Garrison called on president
Wilson early this afternoon and outlined
the situation.
I'VE are sending tents. rations and
physicians said the Secretary as he lef
the White House. lust as quickly a.
possible: We will do everything in oul
power for all afflicted districts
Before Gov. Cox's appeal for 50.O0t
tents and 100000 rations reached the Wa
Department the supply branches of thu
army already had put themselves II
| condition to respond promptly to such al
appeal. 40 such number of tents i
available, and it is assumed that wha
Gov Cox wishes Is tentage for 5000
people.
These could be accommodated in abou
5000 tents and there are more than tina
number on hand at the army stOrehOuse
in Philadelphia. The rations are in stool
at ST Louis and Philadelphia and can b
very promptly distributed il railroad
Transportation can be opened into th
flood country.
Anxious About Bicknel1.
The Red Cross here is anxious for infor
| nation regarding the whereabouts Of Ma
tional Director Ernest P. Bicknell, wh'
started Monday from Washington on hi
errand of mercy for Omaha. He was las
| heard from yesterday morning at Well
ington. Ohio If he can be reached h,
will probably be diverted from his origi
! nal destination to the neighborhood o
| Dayton.
T. j. Edmonds, Red Cross agent al
| Cincinnati, reported from Dayton today
the urgent need of food, clothing and
| blankets from nearby cities for the relfel
| of the flood sufferers. He made no esti
has large corps of nurses in Dayton
and it is supposed that they are already
at work extending relief.
Mayor Dahlman OF Omaha notified th
Red Cross to1ay that outside aid prob
ably would he unnecessary there. He
| said the dead numbered 12O.
| The Red Cross agent who investigated
the situation at Lower Peachtree. Ala.
today, reported that sixty-five wer.
wounded in the cyclone which swept tha
L
James r. Jackson. Red Cross agent a.
Cleveland, has been directed to proceed
/ to Piqua and Sidney. Ohio, to take charge
of the relief work there and in othe
be directed by Agent Edmonds at Day.
| ton.
I Life-savers to Help.
| The life-savlng crew, stationed a.
| Louisville, KY, has been directed te
proceed to Dayton, Ohio. to undertake
whatever rescue work it may find pos
sible to do. The Treasury Department
| Is ready to give any other aid through
| the life-saving service or other service
under its diree ton for the aid of the
storm and food stricken districts
The keeper and six men will proceed
at once from Louisville. One man. the
only other member OF the crew, VIII re-
main at Louisville station.
The life-savers will take whatever ap
paratus that may be considered neces-
sary to the work Of rescue cut out for
them. The sele ction of apparatus will be
left to the discretion OF the keeper.
The public health service has offered Its
a assistance to the state health authorities
of Illinois. Indiana and Ohio. While nc
response has yet been received, the fed
eral health service Is preparing TO meet
any emergency. The surgeons In the vi
cinity of the flood-swept district have beer
ordered to hold themselves in readiness
to. move, and it was announced that the
public health he spitaIs at Detroit, Cleve-
land. Louisville, Cincinnati Cairo. Evans
Vile and st. Louis would be thrown open
for the care of the sick and disabled i'm
mediately upon request of the states.
Secretary McAdoo today ordered Sur
geon p W. Vile of the United States
marine hospital at Cleveland to proceed
at once to Columbus. to cooperate witt
the state board Of health in preventing
the spread of disease In the flooded dis
trict of the state. Orders were also SEN
TO DIR. j. o. Cobb. at the marine hos
nital at Chicago. to go to indianapolis II
cooperate with state authorities.
Washington Cut Off.
Washington today was practically Gu
off from the food districts in Ohio. In
diana and the western part of Pennsyl
vania. Trains due to arrive during TIL.
morning from the flooded territory wer.
either Cancelled or reported hours late
No reports at all were received from som,
~ the trains due during this morning.
4 number OF people expecting friends
from the west went to the Union station
nnI,, IN he disappointed Others who in
tended going west gave up the attempt
when they learned the conditions of
..aH. one train for Pittsburgh left