The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-03
take STEPS TO AID
| STORM SUFFERERS
Chief Werner Authorizes Well.Known
Coiorcd Women to Assume
Charge OF Work.
LOSS PLACED AT HIGH
FIGURE BY INSPECTOR
Fifty Coiored Families Homeless.
With Nothing Mt All Left as Result
of Unprecedented situation.

Though the damage done by Sun
day afternoons storm will total, ac-
cording to conservative estimate, a
half million dollars, those who suf-
fered most severely are the negroes
who lived in the Shockoe bottom, who
lost practically everything they pos
sessed. About fifty families, number
ing In all between $50 and geo per-
sons, are homeless, anG of these sew
eral are sick.
While the police and city officials,
on one hand, have gone to work clean
ing up the debris and bringing con-
ditions in the flooded section to as
near normal as possible, the police,
colored church workers and charitabiy
inclined people have started a move
ment for the relief of the homeless.
Commissioner Beck, of the Admin
istrative Board: City Engineer Boiling.
Building Inspector Butler and Super
intenjent Cohn, of the street cleaning
department, and others early yester-
day put their men to work at clean
ing UP and clearing away wreckage.
Considerable progress was made dur
ing the day. and by tonight the dam
gerous walls of the buildings between
Main Street Station and the Railroad
Y. NJ. G. A. will have been removed.
Take Steps to Relieve Sufferers.
Investigation into the conditions of
the colored people whose homes were
wrecked and household and other
goods washed away, made yesterday
morning, showed considerable suffer
ing. Major Werner, chief of police.
and C. 2. walford, of the school
board, yesterday took steps to provide
partial relief.
Major Werner issued authority to
workers for relief of the sufferers in
appointments as follows:
ITO Whom 1t May Concern:
81 have this day august - re-
quested Mrs. Ora b. Stokes, wife
OF Rev. William III. Stokes, OF
Ebenezer Baptist Church, and
Miss Blanche Bullar, of the COL
ored visiting nurses, TO aid the
destitute coiored families who suf-
fered by reason of the overflow of
Shockoe Creek ON Sunday after
noon last"
Mr.. Walford gave permission for
the use of the basement and FIRST floor
of buchanan School as a center from
which to receive and distribute sup
plies.
All those who will contribute to the
relief of those who are in dire need
because of the storm should send the
articles, food or clothing or house.
son 1881.
The losses to property on Main
Street. where three buildings were to-
tally destroyed, and where two were
SO badly damaged that one Is certatnl
to. be pulled down and that the other
may have to be condemned and
RACED, and to property in the rear.
along the lowlands beside the banks
of Shockoe Creek. are unuspa4E
heavy. On the south side of MaES
Street, opposite the wrecked build
were flooded. the damage is estimated
at $4,000. An estimated damage of
$4,000 was done meats stored in the
cellars of the Swift Packing Com
pany.
Cannot Estimate Loss
The loss sustained by the c. & 0.
in the destruction of records kept on
file in 15sS-4o-42 East Main Street
cannot be estimated. Many papers,
receipts and records which cannot be
duplicated. were lost.
The c. & o. owned the three build
ings at those numbers. S. j. London
badly damaged It may have to be con-
demnei w. A. Cheatwood is the
owner OF 1895, total loss. The losses
in buildings alone without contents
or stocks is estimated at $4,000.
Michael Jacobfni, who rented the
ground floor of 1888. and who had
recently installed several pool tables
and an expensive soda fountain, lost
heavily.
Consider Storm Damage.
The Administrative Board session
yesterday gave consideration to storm
damages and took steps for the clear
ing up of wreckage.rsg City Engineer
Boiling was instructed to put to work
at once all necessary men TO clear
away driftwood and all other obstruc-
tons from the channel Of Shockoe
Creek from the river to the plant of
the American Locomotive Company.
The clerk of the First Market was
authorized to remove all debris from
the market. The South Richmond
hands and carts force was ordered
to restore the roadbed and sidewalks
of Clopton Street between Decatur
and Hull Streets. heavy damage hav-
ing been done thereby the storm.