New-York tribune., 1921-06-06
u. S. to Assist
Red Gross lin
Flood Relief
Harding to Appeal for Fund,
if Necessary; Government
Official May BE Named
to Coordinate Activity
$50, 600 Already ON Way
Nurses Being Modified for
Colorado Trip; Survivors
in Need of Field Shelte-
From The T,ibune'e Washinoton Bureau


formation here that the loss of life at
Pueblo may reach 1000, all steps pos
| sible for the relief of sufferers in the
| food district will be taken by the Red
Cross and by the government. If it
is deemed necessary to make special
appeal for funds, President Harding
will back it up and the Administration
will do all that is needful to make it
success, according to information
here tonight.
Washington was in touch TO-DAY with
the disaster in Colorado and its after
effects chiefly through the Red Cross,
which is straining every nerve to miti-
gate the horrors of the catastrophe
| w. Frank Persons, vice-chairman of
| the national headquarters of the Red
Cross, in charge of the department of
disaster relief, was busy throughout
the day and tonight, seeking by tcle-
graph and telephone to get in contact
with Pueblo.
Red Cross to Raise Money
Not only has an emergency fund of
10000 been placed at the disposal Of
the Pueblo chapter of the Red Gross.
| of which j. F. Heating is chairman,
| but whatever additional funds may be
needed will be raised by the Red Cross.
1t is recalled that at the time OF the
| Dayton flood large sums of money were
needed to meet the wants Of the dis
tressed people of the community. 1t
is probable this will prove to be the
case at Pueblo and the $4,000 already
| Ent wi hur fo ho fnlt
by much larger amounts.
Mr.. Persons said tonight that his
advices were that it was impossible
now to get nearer to Pueblo by train
than Colorado Springs. AS soon as the
first news of flood conditions in the
| Pueblo region reached here $4,000 was
! telegraphed to the Pueblo chapter.
| When word was received that the
| levees of the Arkansas River had
ters here wired $4,000 to the division
office at St. Louis, to be used as might
! be needed. james l.. Fieser is in
charge in ST. Louis.
Mr.. Persons said that in some way
which he did not understand, whether
by airplane or otherwise, Mr. Heating
had got message through to Mr..
Fieser at st. Louis to-day. This was
repeated to Mr.. Persons by telephone.
"'The message, said Mr.. Persons, "in
substance said there were easily 500
dead and perhaps 1000. The water
supply was out of commission and also
| the gas and electric light systems, and
the message added the lack of water
would soon make conditions danger
ously unsanitary. 1t said that $4,000
cash was needed for emergency pur-
poses"
"We are endeavoring to get in touch
with Mr.. Heating and assure hin, that
the $4,000 is available" said Mr.. Per-
sons. "a second $4,000, or 100000
Nin all, has been authorized"
Mr.. Heating also asks for blankets,
bedding. tents, oil stoves for tents and
other tent equipment. Five hundred
tents are needed. He also asks for
bedding for 1000 persons who are liv-
ing with friends. He said that he had
asked for complete field hospital
from Fort Logan and had called on the
adjutant general of the state for tents.
Nurses on Way to Stricken Area
"We are organizing in Denver. Kan
sas City and Omaha for the purpose
Of providing supplies" continued Mr..
Persons. eve have also asked for "a
organization at Denver, is endeavoring
to organize this force and Miss Pin
dar, chief nurse at the division head
quarters at ST. Louis. has departed to
go into Pueblo with the corps Of
nurses"
Mr.. Persons said that both from di-
vision Headquarters at St. Louis and
from the Washington office. efforts
had been made to get in touch with
Dayton flood. AS rapidly as practi-
| cable such persons will be made use
of In the present emergency. Mr..
| Fieser was stationed at Columbus at
the time of the Dayton flood and had
large part in the relief work at
that time. The Red Cross head at
Colorado Springs is Stanley Stoner,
who had charge of relief work in Paies-
tine. Edward Orr, Red Cross head ut
Denver, is also man of much expert
ence in relief work.
1t is suggested here that President
Harding, on his return to Washington,
may name an official to coordinate ali
the relief work and emergency efforts
of the government, including the Red
| Gross.
The following statement was given
out from Red Cross Headquarters to-
night:
"Authorizations for the expenditure
Of a second $4,000 out of national dis
aster relief funds was wired to Pueblo
tonight by national headquarters Of
the American Red Cross. This action
followed receipt of a telegraphic report
from the Pueblo chapter Of the Red
Cross indicating the situation in the
stricken city is growing more des-
perate hourly. The 100000 already
authorized by national officials is pure
ly emergent until the full needs are
known and are in addition to the
extensive resources of funds, supplies
and relief workers of the Southwe stern
division, which went into action as
soon as news of the catastrophe
reached the outside world.
Danger of Epidemic Seen
"The telegram from John F. Heating,
| chairman Of the Pueblo Red Cross
chapter, was as follows:
Water supply is out Of commission
and will require ten days to repair.
Gas and electric light systems are in
similar condition. Deaths will prob
ably reach 500 and may easily total
1000. Property damage is from $1O,-
100000 to S15,000,000 Absence of
water must produce very dangerous
irsanitary conditions There is press
ing an immediate need for $4,000 in
cash for disbursal by the Pueblo chap.
ter. We need 500 tents and equipm emit
| for 1,500 tents, including bedding, cots,
cooking utensils, oil stoves, etc. In
addition blankets and bedding are
needed for 1000 persons living with
friends. Unlimited number of lanterns
| and candles nae6ed Our hnsn;ta1 o.,