Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1921-06-29
RED CROSS At PUEBLO
Went to Relief First and Was Given
Complete Control by Cover.
nor of Colorado.
(By Anne M. Cheney.)

Scarcely had the wire stopped tick
ing its message of the death that ha'
ridden into Pueblo on the crest of
storm-born food, when the American
Red Cross ticked back that it wa
ready. As a matter of fact, it was no
a question of ticking" Rather it Wa
a matter of hours-long struggle owe
impossible roads, of relentless effor
to ascertain the needs and wishes o.
the PROSTATE city; of organization ant
planning.
The wild waters were still clutchinG
at the heaped wreckage that blocked
the business section of the city for
blocks upon blocks when the Pueblo
Chapter of the Red Cross gathered to-
gether its best-those who had served
faithfully in the great crisis of 1917
1913, and began serving the food suf-
ferers. Food kitchens were estab-
lished. Shelter for the homeless was
found. Quivering mothers were quiet
ed with assurances that every effort
would made to findd their children.
Strong men, with sobs stuck in their
throats. found their dear ones a: Red
Cross headquarters.
The Red Gross in the Pueblo flood
was the same Red Cross that served
SO valiantly during the World War
that made the influenza epidemic less
virulent than it might have been; that
quietly put away its uniforms and in
sigma and carried on for the ex-ser-
vice man who came back to civilian
life crippled in mind and body 1t was
the Red Cross that calmly cut the Red
tape tangle SO often netting over the
simple processes Of relief. Food, shell
ter, medical aid and information col
lected and given out on the simple, et-
fective plan that is the result of long
experience.
At this time when the first intima-
ton of disaster seeped by devious
routes into the office of the Denver
Mr.. Ernest B. Orr, of South
western Division Headquarters, was
in Denver on a mission in connection
with the ex-service men. He was fresh
from handling the tornado at Texar-
kama. He had also secured large ex-
oerience in food and disaster relief
N service at Corpus Christi. He was
placed in charge of preliminary relief
operations at Pueblo.
In the first vague desire to be of the
most possible service in the shortest
possible time, arrangements were made
or special car on the relief train
which left Denver early Saturday NOR
ling A large quantity of canned I
.oods was secured, field kitchens and
water containers were obtained from
sort Logan,-located near Denver, and t
II contingencies carefully considered.
Jpon arrival at Colorado Springs, +
owever, it was discovered that train v
beyond that point were i'm
,ossible. Tracks were utterly de- S
Bridges had melted into
he torrents the y had formerly span 6
ed so proudly. Rail connection with
ueblo was out of the question.
A survey of the situation showed
lat the only feasible way of reaching
,e helpless city was by motor car and z
uck. Governor Shoup. of Colorado, :,
ad led the way and had battered an !,
,trance less than twenty-four houi 6,
ter the food swirled furiously out OF
e hills. Therefore, supplies and re- -
f workers were transferred to ma -,
lines and the real struggle began. +,
here the highways were completely :,
ashed away, long detours were made ~
.idpes over washouts were impro-
sed from the ties of the upheaved
il beds. At one place, high trestle =
IS used as a road and automobiles, IA
by skilful drivers, used ID
. shining rails as a road. 1t took
i'll and nerve and undaunted perse- be
most of the machines ST
mt through. DC
Then the wires cleared. WI
Of people were homeless. sit
E city was without lights or water of
I in serious danger Of contagion ev'