The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1916-02-09
Hickman Suffering Is
Very Severe.
.DEST|TUTION GROWING WORSE
Homeless People Are Without
Food Or ReSources-Ap.
peal For Help.
PITIFUL CONDITIONS PREVAIL

Hickman, Ky, Feb. 3.-The situa-
ton tonight is worse than at any
time before, and the people of llick-
man are face to face with the grav-
est condition almost ever known
here. The suffering is pitiful, with
little relief in sight as yet. No aid
has been received from the Govern
ment or State so far, aside from
tents sent by the State. Funds are
exhausted and there are calls for
help from every direction.
The number of people to be fed
and cared for is growing all the
time, as their funds become exhaust
ed, very few of the laboring people
having enough ahead to tide them
over one week, and tonight there
are 500 people to be fed A canvass
was made to-day and names obtain
ed by city authorities. The City
Council and many ladies of the city
made a house-to-house canvass to-
day begging for money, clothing and
food for the destitute, accepting any
thing that could be gotten, and con-
tributions from the outside world
will be joyfully received.
Citizens of Martin, Tenn, sent 400
loaves of bread, and the N, C. & st.
i. railroad and S. l.. Dodds, of this
city, to-day contributed each a car
load of coal to the refugees.
In the refugee camp, in tents,
there are 200 people who We're una
BILE to obtain shelter with friends,
presenting the most narrowing
scene, children half-clothed, hungry
and crying for food, with not enough
covers for the extremely cold wealth
er. Old clothes sent to the camp
are greedily accepted, so many need
ing clothes to protect them.
Mayor Tom Dillon to-day sent tel
egrams to Senator Ollie James. Con-
gresham Alben Barley and Con-
gresham Joe ]. Russell, of Missouri,
advising them that a message had
been received that the river will
reach fifty-four feet on the Cairo
gauge, with no assurance that it will
stop at that height. They were in
formed there are several hundred to
be fed and resources are exhausted;
that citizens of Hickman have held
off as long as possible and must
open a commissary to all tomorrow
morning.
"Unless outside aid is received at
once" the message read, 1--WE will
bankrupt every available resource"
Aid was sent to Vernon Roger and
family to-day on No. Island. They
We're marooned on top of a smoke
house, having gotten in the smoke
house, fearing their home would
wash away.
The steamer Charlie Kremer, en-
ployed in bringing out cattle from
inundated lowlands, struck a cross
current between here and Columbus,
Ky, some fifteen miles above Hick-
man and barge loaded with stock.
containing seventy-fve head of
horses and mules, sank, despite all
that could be done. When last seen
the stock were swimming in all di-
rections. 1t is feared that all were
lost, as nothing could live in the
cold water long. The land is cover
ed for miles with water and there is
no place for stock to go. The steam
er carrying them hurried to Cairo
for a barge, but could not get back
under several hours.
- Congress- Taking Action.
Washington, Feb. Am imme-
date appropriation of 100000 for
the purchase of food and tents for
Mississippi Valley food sufferers was
provided for in a bill reported ia
vorably in the Senate to-day by Sen
ator Robinson. of Arkansas. of the
Appropriations Committee. Senator
James, in urging the passage of the
bill, read a telegram from Mayor
Dillon, of Hickman. II provides for