Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-08

ing duties TO the volunteers who are
ready and anxious to pc OF service; of
the larger and more efficient charity or,
carnations of the country the Ked
Cross is able to command inc services services
enced in the organizing ana directing
of works Of relief. Upon the occur
renee Of disaster the f tSase crafs ea,s
charity organizations. known as Inst1-
tutional Members of the Red Cross. 70
send instantly to the scene en,,r as many any
National Director of the Red Cross, if
possible, also hastens to the field of
of all Red Cross relief measures
Through utilization with the great nurs-
ing societies of the United States: the
for hurrying swiftly to the scene as
many trained and experienced nurses as
the character of the disaster requires.
$50. Procedure Illustrated by Cherry
Mine Disaster-Perhaps a brief, account
of relief operations following the great
mine disaster which occurred in Cherry.
what clearly the manner of Red Cross
. procedure.
Fire broke out in the mine at Cherry
on Saturday afternoon. Early on
Monday morning representative of the
Red Cross from the United Charities Of
Chicago Tan institutional member OF the
a hasty survey of the situation. A few
hours later the National Director arr
rived from Washington, They found
the village Frustrated by the tragic
death of one-half of all the men in it's
population.
The mining company had already APP
pointed local relief committee con-
sisting of the manager of the mine. the
mayor the president of the local union
Of the United Mine Workers and one or
two others. Beside this committee there
were seven trained nurses from Chicago
competent and busy. but with no recog-
n n relation to the local committee
nj
salvation Army from Chicago. capable.
devoted women. doing. what they could
Independent of any other. agency: Also
there were sisters of charity from
neighboring town. a Methodist deacon
esS from Rock Island a deaconess from
the congregational church in Oak Park
and other volunteers from different
points. Al was confusion. There was
no leadership, no system. no centraliza-
fective relief organization were being
spent IN unrelated and partly futile ac-
SCI. Prompt Work of the Red Cross
called q public meeting in the Knights
Of Pythias Hall. All the disconnected
importance Of getting together for unit.
cd work was urged. and as result OF
the conference general relief commit
sentatves Of the Red cross, the village
government. the miners union. the min
ing company and of certain relief COM
noiehborins towns. The National Di-
rector Of the Red Cross was made chair
man of this committee and the, mayor
of Cherry became secretary and treas
urer Relief headouarters were imme-
diately opened in the Knights of Pyth-
las Hall. a subcommittee of minors was
the bereaved families for temporary
use. a simple system of records was
begun, an empty store-room was taken
clothing and nroyisions which had he
gun To arrive. were collected. sorted and
placed in charge of an cxpcrienced gen
oral merchant to be issued on orders of
tho relief Cnmmittee All the independ-
Ont relief agencies reported to the Cen
IL duties according 10 a coherent plan
which covered ali aspccts of the stu
alton.
Thus. within twcntv-rour hours after
tbc arrival III thc Ped Cross rcnrcsenta-
iivcs littcr confusion had hcan convert
ed int" an orderly svstem Of procedure.
rhe offort of this nromnt calm huSi-
ocss-like organization Of all the forces
IF relief was TO allay excitement. relieve
anxiety and instill into the troubled
its needs would be supplied. The
.nowIedgn snread throuehout the state
bv the newspapers, that a united, re-
hc ion nncoura@ed The nmblic to
oromptness and liberality in lis contri-
So The Emerrency Period-Tbe
ancrgencv neriod yarieS in duration ac-
nr1ioa ~ ~ ,h,rantcr ~ M diSns1c,
~ III roso,'rces and racnnora+i,Io ah;,
~ ~ tho nnonic nffacted In Cberrv
IL o,,aroo,c,t in.riod ,yaS grna+1y NO
inn.od hdca,,so ~ cwtrnno doIaT il, 70
cnWorino thn hodias ~ ,ict ms FROM the
ninn A'1 ~, thny wnrc recovered and
him.ind il vas fo,ipd 10 he ante imnos
eih,n rnr thn bernared famiI;es 70 urn
nav ,,ipde awaV from tha borror -" ~
tt inil,an s IN f,itI,rn ~. ,i ~ ~
enrioms resnonSihiiities Ordinarilv this
neriod continues a few DAYS or after
tho greatest disasters few weeks
During its continuance greatest emphs-
sis is laid upon providing for the primi-
tive needs of the people-sheIter, food,
clothing medical care etc-with such
swiftness and comprehensivcness as
will reduce physical suffering to a min
imum system discrimination and thor
oughnesS at first may have to make con-
cessions to the overwhelming necessity
for quick relief While the emergency
period endures. those in control of re-
lief operations should make use of the
opportunity Ia fiji out the Red Cross
record cards fully and accurately. The
information on these cards will become
the basis for the permanent disposition
of the case Of each beneficiary and the
fairness and Justice of the final awards
will depend upon the completeness and
care with which the records have been
prepared
563 The Work of rehabilitation
When tho most urgent immediatc needs
Of The sufferers have been met and q