Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1917-07-12
Storm Victims
Trust God and
the Red Cross
Men, Women and Children Are
StoIoaI In Their Losses Of
Loved Ones and Homes
-Klddles Brave.
nx CHARLES Lee pRYsoN.

By CHARLES LEE BRYsoN.
A firm belief In q protecting Provi-
dence, and In the Red Cross as one Of
the chosen agents Of that Providence,
was one Of the first things that con-
fronted q visitor to Nation and
Charleston after the terrible tornado
which swept across both cities in the
spring. This attitude was best exem-
plifed In q middle-aged man ! found
amid the ruins Of Nation, but in vary
ing degrees It was shown by almost
every grown person I questioned.
I encountered this man In the very
heart Of the wrecked district. He sat
ON a little heap Of timbers. Beside him
lay the crushed frame and wheels of
an inexpensive baby cab. All around
him were boards, spllnters, bricks, bits
Of bedding and household furniture
Rrist that had gone through the mill
Of the storm miller. asked him II
he had been In the storm-though his
arm In splints and the lump on his
head were evidence that he had.
Eyes, this was my house." he re-
piled simply.
'Dld you lose anyoner
"oh, yes. My baby and my fve-year-
old were killed. Ny wife and four 9TH
ers got hurt, but they're getting bet
rer."
I expressed my sympathy and
added:
And vet Il seems to me you're
lucky that anyone at all II left
don't see how a cat could come alive
through such a wreck as this"
1T was God watched over them"
he answered earnestly. II always
.sked him to look after them. and he
lid. He took the ones he wanted, and
left the ones he didn't want yet"
Having no argument against his
philosophy. I inquired after the in
iured wife and children.
"Oh. the Red Cross Is caring for
hem." he replied brightly. "They are
surely doing a good work. Doctors and
nurses and hospitals ana Things 10 eat
they're doing great Things for Mat
toOn."
got him to talk further On his ex-
HeriencpS In the storm. He had not
been at home. but near Charleston, sew
raj miles ~ the east. He and several
.,ther men had taken refuge In barn,
hut II was carried away and all were
more or less injured. He was felled by
beam-Or something, he could not be
sure Misunderstanding him on the head.
Then he was pinned by an immense
splinter driven through his arm.
1T was Gods will" was his only ex-
PLANTATION.
Not far away ] found a woman Of
sixty-two clamberlng over the wreck
age. picking radishes from a garden
which was buried under fragments OF
her and her neighbors' houses.
ibid you live here?"
Eyes, this was my house" She
swung her arm In comprehensive
semicircle, taking in much of the land
scape. "Flve rooms full Of rhe incest
furniture"
"were you at home? Did you get
hurt?"
"Oh, yes, 1t broke three ribs, In
jured my spine. and hurt me all over"
was the cheerful response. -Four
hours after the storm they found me
under that pile Of tlmbers."
There was not a word Of complaint.
Only praise for the Red Cross. and the
hope that II she could get the bricks
and planks Off her garden, she might
grow some potatoes.
That was the spirit everywhere.
Nothing to complain Of, and a gener-
GUS appreciation Of the response Of the
Red Cross with surgeons and nurses
and whatever was needed to help them
back to q normal life again.
The children actually made q sort
Of holiday Of 1t. found a number
Of them in the Methodist Memorial
hospital in NATION. and they were
glad to have a visitor who would lis |
ten to their stories.
at hurt my leg-just lOOk!" ex-
claimed q young lady Of perhaps nine
years, pulling up her hospital gown |
and displaying with pride bandages
from ankle to thigh. And my arm,
A nurse whispered that a great deal
Of nesh had been torn from the leg, |
but that she was improving nicely.
"DO You remember what happenedf"
asked her.
"Sure. The window broke in. and the
wind slammed me down In q cor
ner and the sewing machine went on
op OF me, and Il, n q whole lot OF
'ther things"
A chubby little girl In q neiEhboring
ot had q great secret to tell me. She
Vas sitting up amolg her pillows, one
I'm and her chest Swathed In q null
ltude Of bandages.
I'm going home she confded. '-The
octor don't know t, and Tn not 60
ng to tell him, but I'm going"
She had suffered four broken ribs
nd q lacerated arm. Not q complaint
ut Of her-nothlng but chuckles at
he dlsmay the doctor would expert
nee when he should ind that she had
one home.
Another was rather cresffaIlen that