Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-14

Miss Vera Tharp, assistant to Miss
Sara A. Brown, secretary OF the Wap'
clio County Associated Charities, was
In Chicago when the Eastland disaster
occurred which cost hundreds OF lives
by drowning in the Chicago river. The
methods employed by the Red Cross
society with which she worked In re.
lieving the distress Of the rescued and
families Of the victims is told in the
following by Miss Tharp:
The Red Cross organization of Chica-
10 Immediately set its forces into &C.
ton at the first report of the Eastland
disaster.
The duties Of the organization, first
called for emergency relief to the
neople as a mass At the call Of the
organization, ten visiting nurses were
at the docks within half an hour after
the disaster occurred. They worked
necessarily all day and all night Satur-
day. and all day Sunday. giving aid to
the victims, who were all taken to the
arn,ory. Having the bodies all taken
10 one place saved much time and
made identification easier. These
nurses were relieved Sunday night by
others who were ready to take their
places.
An appeal was at once made for
funds. the Office OF the Red Cross So
ciety being used as the central clear
ing house for all individuals and So
cieties wanting to help. In less than
forty-eight hours the mayors commit
tee had raised $4,000.
IN the mean time, the trained social
workers from the different district Of
fees Of the United Charities, who are
nledned members of the Red Cross So
ciety. were called upon to give their
services. Between thirty-five and for
~ responded and set to work immedi-
ataly visiting the families as their
calls came in to the emergency once
Of tho Red Cross, which was located at
the western Electric building.
Ralph Reed, superintendent of the
stock yards district ONCE Of the Unit
ed Charities, and under whom l did my
field work during my stay In Chicago,
was located in the Office of the Red
Cross at the Western Electric building,
and attended to all emergency calls
from non-employes. During one half
dav he received between $50 and 200
calls. A visiting force of twenty of
the trained workers from the United
Charity ofaces, visited these homes
and rave emergency relief, In most
cases paying for the burial expenses
The Western Electric company set !
aside $1,000 which it is using for the
families OF the employees, In emergency
cases under the supervision of their |,
welfare secretary. But the company Is j
also working with the Red Cross in |
getting together data needed for per-
manent plan for the care of the fam
Lies which are left dependent, and |
which number less than fifty.
In plans for the constructive treat
mont Of the dependent families there ]
will have to be careful and complete !,
Investigation of the conditions Of the
families in question. This will be car
ried out by the trained social workers,
who will then provide for what needs
there may be. A close supervision,
BY the charity visitor, of the money
given will be made as the vultures
working are many.
Two undertakers have had their IL
censes revoked for overcharging. One
charged 5000 for the burial OF two
children in q dependent family. 9th
prs are trying to collect from the fam
lies and the relief agencies too.
Photographers are influencing
people to have enlarged pictures Of the
forms after they were wrapped IN
blankets, lawyers are urging suits, etc.
At present two plans for reconstruc-
tive work are being considered: hrst
money pro rata In lump sum. Sec