The weekly soliphone., 1915-09-03
Newport Citizens Working Hero
ically.

1--WE are not mendicants. We
are not standing with hat in hand
asking for aims. Our citizenship
figuratively took a hurried glance
over local conditions, saw our peo-
pie were in no immediate danger
of losing their lives or of suffering
from hunger, and we Immediately
turned our attention to that mighty
eXpanse of water across the levees
ard set out to rescue and succor
the thousands who are stranded in
the lowlands. We have almost
gone our limit. Not for ourselves
but for those who have lost their
all in this flood we appeal TO the
citizenship of Arkansas for contri-
buttons. Some of the city newspa-
pers have done us an injustice in
their reports of conditions here.
They have stated ample relief sup
plies have been sent to Newport
| and that cash contributions
amounting to $4,000 have been re-
ceived by the local committee.
Neither of these statements is true.
While we can take care of the
needy in Newport, we have not
enough supplies to feed the people
in the lowlands who look to US
for help. The cash contributions
total 81, $50 instead of $4,000. The
committee yesterday ordered a car
load of fresh meat from Little Rock
that cost us to $4,000 The citi-
zens here have responded in cash
donations and in supplies until they
have actually reached the limit.
We are grateful to the people of
Paragould for the substantial check
sent us and can assure your citi-
zens that every dollar placed in the
hands of our relief committee will
perform a humanitarian mission
among the flood sufferers"
This statement was concurred in
by Chas. G. Henry, secretary and
treasurer of the relief committee,
and cashier of the Arkansas Bank
& Trust Company, by Hon. Geo.
Hillhouse, by Mayor A, T. Hubby,
/ Sheriff McCuiston, Hon. S. D.
Campbell and other leading citi-
zens of Newport.
Mayor Hubby Makes Statement.
eve feel that all Arkansas will
learn of our distress and help us.
We had no idea that a statewide
appeal would be necessary, but the
situation is even worse than any of
us ever dreamed of. We must have
help. We must get food, clothing
and money here to care for the
thousands who are destitute, and
| feel that Arkansas will not fail
us.
Eve are just beginning to real
ize the awful calamity that has
come to Newport and residents in
the county surrounding this town
, IOT a VlSlduC6 Ol ~ lullSS.
From he best information We
have been able to obtain, between
1000 and 5000 persons are abso-
lutely destitute. Many of them have
escaped with only the clothes on
, their back. All they possessed in
the world in the way of clothing
and food has been destroyed by the
flood, which is the greatest and
most destructive in the history of
this section of the state.
Newport is able to care for its
residents, although many of them,
like those in the outlying districts,
are without food and clothing. 1t
is the residents of rural sections,
many women and children who have
been imprisoned in their homes for
DAYS. who are now coming into
Newport demanding assistance. The
situation is critical, and | am COM
PEELED to ask the good people of
Arkansas to send anything they
can in the way OF food, clothing
and money to relieve the present
condition"
Vigorous Campaign for Sanitation.
The sanitary committee in New
port, composed of DR.. E. l.. Wat
son, DR.. G. X. Stephens and o. l,
Hubert, who has been assisted by
DR.. Milton Vaughn, city health Of
ficer of Little Rock, is directing a
vigorous campaign against the
threatened epidemic of sickness
following the flood. AS fast as the
waters recede squads of men with
wagons follow with general clean
up. The foul deposits left by the
muddy torrents, the driftwood, the