Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-10-16
MILLION IN RELIEF
E KIP e n d e d by Red
Cross in Fiscal Year
-Seventy-two Dis
asters Included in
Years Expenditures

NaSHINS Ton, OCt. l4-SeVenty-tWO
disasters in which GA persons were
reported killed and 521 injured,
called for emergency relief measures
and the expenditure of more than
s1,441,0 900 BY the American Red Cross
during the fiscal year ended tune 80.
According to 4 statement based Upon
the Forthcoming at1nuai report OF the
Red Cross. these disasters caused
property damage estimated At more
than 100000 and rendered more
than $4,000 persons homeless or
otherwise In need OF assistance. In
one section alone, the report states,
on the Louisiana Mississippi border.
the Red Cross fed daily for weeks
more than $4,000 flood refugees.
The greatest toll Of life was taken
by hurricane and tornado, while the
overlooking Of rivers, the breaking Of
dams and torrential rain storms
drove the greatest number of people
from their homes. Fire also played
an important part in the chain of
disasters which made insistent de-
mands for Red Cross relief workers.
The years disasters reported in
cluded 26 floods, 10 tornadoes or
storms, IS fires, epidemics, . theatre
collapses, shipwrecks, one of which
was the wreck of the U airship
Roma, a bridge collapse, mine ex-
plosion, railway collision and a
drought
OF the floods, that at San Antonio,
Texas, caused the greatest property
loss. s6,000,0O0, and the heaviest
fatalities, 100 Among the unusual
disasters was that reported from
China, where, last May, the American
Red Cross chapter at Peking went to
the relief OF non combatants wound
cd during the fighting at Chang Hsin
Tien.
Most Of them" the report dryly
added were hit by bits Of flying
pottery shot up by the contending
forces"
In Red Cross disaster records there
Will probably remain as a chapter by
itself the details of one calamity
which touched nearly every state
with a sense of horror. This was the
collapse of the roof of the Knickcr-
booker Theater in Washington, D. c.,
which resulted in almost 100 deaths
and 125 persons injured Located in
the section Of tho National Capital
containing fine homes and great
apartment houses, this motion pic
ture theatre was patronized by many
persons of prominence in the off
and civil life of the city, persons
whose connections radiated over the
entire country. The horror was in
tensified by blizzard, which, though
it retarded, did not block the Red
Cross relief efforts.
The crash and destruction by fire
of the L. s. Army dirigible Roma in
Virginia, last February, With the loss
OF score Of officers and enlisted men,
was the first disaster of its kind in
| this country to call for Red Cross
relief. The suddcnness of the acct
dent tested the readiness of the or
ganization and of the chapter at
Hampton, Va. but the response was
immediate. Not only was relief
furnished the survivors, according to
the report, but funds were provided
to bring relatives of the dead to the
scene from long distances.
In the years record of aid rendered
overseas by the American Red Cross
are two fires in the Philippine Islands,
one in Manila which destroyed 1000
homes with a loss of s1,500,000 and
5000 persons rendered homeless, the
other at Tonic which drove 5000 from
their homes. In medical relief that
was quick and effective the smallpox
epidemic at San Domingo. with a
total of $4,000 cases and 225 deaths in
n single day, tried the resources and
preparedness of the Red Cross for ac-
ton in epidemics.
hurricane in San Domingo, and
a flood in San Salvador also tried the
Red Cross resources but refugees
were effectually cared for and much
dire distress relieved.
The year has seen the further per-
lection of disaster relief administra-
tive measures in every field, 1t was
reported, and that the work may be
carried on to still greater accom-
plishments the American Red Cross
10 'Ppe"iiiS iof d WOflU-Wlue re-
ncwal of membership during the an
nual roll call which is to be conduct
Cd between Armistice Day, November
II, and Thanksgiving Day, November
80.
The geographical distribution of
the disasters in which relief was
uickly afforded by the Red Cross
shows the widespread character of
the rnlinf Innn Sn1rnr IL lie