The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-10-23

Civic League Relief Committee having
grown beyond the ability of the force,
enlisted to care for all the sick and
to meet the daily increasing demands
a meeting of citizens was held Sun
day afternoon to devise ways and
means to meet the emergency. Afte,
a statement of conditions and needs
by Mr.. I. C. Strauss, who acted as
chairman, the situation was discussed.
generally, the object sought being to
find a way to relieve the distress ex-
listing in the city on account of the
epidemic Of influenza. The meeting
finally decided to appoint central
committe with full power to act and
70 establish headquarters at the. Girls
High School building from which all
the relief work shall be directed. This
committee will carry on and supple
men the work that has been done by
the Civic League Committee in CO.
operation with those who have been
doing so much to alleviate the suf-
fering in the city during the past ter
days. The following gentlemen were
named TO serve on the Central Com
mittee:
l. C. Strauss, E. S. Booth, c. C.
Rowland, Rev. J. H. Wilson. J.. W.
McKiever, L. D. Jennings, II. G.
Osteen.
A committee was appointed for
each ward to canvass the city a:
quickly as possible to ascertain how
many persons are ill and in need OF
nurses and other assistance.
Another committee was appointed
to canvass the business district to
prepared to go on duty at once. Al
Of the merchants and other business
men present agreed that they would
give leave Of absence, on full pay, to
any Of their employees, both men and
women who may volunteer for this
service. It was brought out in the
discussion Of the situation that men
nurses are urgently needed. for il
many cases the ladies who have been
doing practically of the volunteer
nursing, are unable to care for the
patients, many of whom are de1irious,
at times. Men nurses are needed
and any man who has the intelli-
gence to give medicine under the
physicians orders can do this work
sufficiently we'll to save lives in this
emergency.
The next most urgent need is nour-
ishment for the sick. Many house
keepers who are not in a position to
volunteer to act as nurses can render
invaluable service by undertaking to
prepare a specified amount of nour--
ishment each; day.
Another need is the transportation
service automobiles to be at the call
Of the committee to carry nurses
whenever and wherever they may be
assigned by the committee, and ais
TO collect and distribute nourishmen
under the direction Of the committee
Those who cannot serve otherwise
can place their cars and themselves
or drivers at the service of the COM
:eaittee. The transportation service
has been organized by Secretary Rear
don OF the Chamber of Commerce and
he will continue to cooperate with
the committee.
It was decided that in emergency.
cases that cannot be cared for in
their homes or boarding houses will
be taken to Camp Alice, where two
trained nurses are on duty all the
time and additional nurses can be sup
piled if the need arises. At the re-
ques of the meeting DR.. E. S. Booth
consented to take charge of the cases
sent to Camp Alice. DR.. Booth stated
that although he had been out of the
active practice of medicine for more
than fifteen years he would undertake
this emergency work and devote as
much time to it as necessary, it be-
ing understood that only such cases as
could not be cared for by the other
q tho