The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1917-08-16
Storm Victims
Trust God and
the Red Cross
Men, Women ard Children Are
Stoical in Their Losses of
Loved Ones and Homes
-Kiddies Brave.
BY CHARLES LEE BRYsoN.

dence, and in the Red Cross as one Of
the chosen agents OF that Providence,
was one OF the first things that con-
fronted a visitor to NATION and
Charleston after the terrible tornado
which swept across both cities In the
spring. This attitude was best exem-
plified In a middle-aged man found
amid the ruins of Nation, but In vary
ing degrees IT was shown by almost
every grown person questioned.
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. splinters, bricks, bits
of bedding and household furniture
grist that had gone through the mill
OF the storm miller. 1 asked him IL
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.
"Did you lose anyoneT
"Oh. yes. My baby and my five-year-
old were killed. Ny wife and four 9TH
ers got hurt, but they're getting bet
ter"
expressed my sympathy and
added:
"And yet 1t seems to me you're
lucky that anyone at all is left. /
don't see how cat could come alive
through such a wreck as this"
ut was God watched over them"
he answered earnestly. az always
asked him to look after them, and he
did. He took the ones he wanted. and
left the ones he didn't want yet"
Having no argument against his
philosophy, 1 inquired after the in
Jured wife and children.
"Oh. the Red Cross is caring for
them" he replied brightly. "They are
surely doing good work. Doctors and
nurses and hospitals and things to eat
they're doing great things for Mat
toon."
L got him to talk further on his ex-
periences In the storm. He had not
been at home, but near Charleston, sew
eFal miles to the east. He and several
other men had taken refuge In q barn.
nut II was carried away and all were
more or less injured. He was felled by
beam--or something. he could not be
sure what-striking him on the head.
Then he was pinned by an immense
splinter driven through his arm.
ut was Gods WILL" was his only ex-
PLANTATION.
Not far away found n woman of
sixty-two clambering over the wreck
age. picking radishes from garden
which was buried under fragments OF
her and her neighbors' houses.
did you live hereT"
YVES, this was my house" She
swung her arm I'm comprehensive
semictrcle, taking In much OF the land
scape. Five rooms full of the incest
furniture"
Were you at homer Did you get
hurtf
"Oh, yes, II broke three ribs. In
tpred my spine. and hart 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 compla,nt
Only praise for the Red Cross. and tho
hope that n she could get the bricks
and planks OF her garden, she might
grow some potatoes.
That was the spirit everywhere
Nothing 70 complain OF, and gener.
Gus appreciation Of the response Of the
Red Cross with surgeons and nurses
and whatever was needed 20 helm fhem
back TO n normal life again.
The children actually made n sort
of holiday OF u. I found number
Of them In the Methodist Memorial
hospital In Nation, and they were
glad to have visitor who would lis
ten 70 their stories.
1t hurt my leg-just look r. ex.
claimed n young lady OF perhaps nine
years pulling up her hospital gown
and displaying with pride handaees
from ankle 20 thigh. "And my arr.
t0O---seef"
nurse whispered that a Rreat deoi
OF mesh had been torn from the leg
out That she was improving nicely.
do you remember what happened5s
asked her.
sure. The window broke In. and the
wind slammed me down In cor.
ner and the sewing mschlne went on