Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-10-07
s1,af1,ts6 A YEARS
DISASTER RELIEF COST
Red Cross Aided $4,000 Vic
tins in United States-lesSes
Total S3o,e9o,o

gar Seventy-swo disasters, with hun
hreds reported killed and Injured, and
more than $4,000 either homeless or
requiring assistance, called for eIner-
gency relief measures and the ex-
penditure Of $1.44l ,4S6.36 by the
American Red Cross during the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1922, according
70 a statement based on the forth
coming annual report of the Red
Cross. The greatest toll Of life was
taken by hurricane and tornado,
while the Overlooking Of rivers, the
breaking OF dams and torrenual rains
drove the greatest number of people
from their homes. The property loss
was estimated at more than $780,
100000
The years disasters reported In
Guided twenty-Six floods, nineteen tor
nadoes, fifteen fires, four epidemics,
two theatre collapses. two shipwrecks
Zone an sirship), and bridge col
lapse. mine explosion, railway COLL
sion and q drought. OF the floods IN
the United States that at San An
tonic Texas. caused the greatest
property loss. S6O0OOO0 and the high
mark OF fatalities. 100. while the
flood in the vicinity Of Nicksburg and
Natehez, Miss, forced $1,000 persons
from their homes
A National Calamity
In the Red Cross disaster rehet
records there will probably remain
for many years one calamity which
touched nearly every state with
sense Of horror and OF loss This was
the distressing collapse OF the ROOF
OF the Knickerbocker Theatre IN
washington. D. c.. resulting in nine
ty-six deaths and 125 persons injured.
Situated in the center of the beauti-
mi Northwest residential section, this
motion picture theatre was patronized
by many persons of prominence both
in the official and civil life Of the Ma
tIonal Capital, whose family and per
sonal connections radiated out over
the entire country. The horror was
intensified by q terrific snowstorm
which though II retarded, did not
block Red Cross relief.
Airshlp Crash Finds Aid at Hand
The crash and destruction of the L.
g Army's large airshlp Roma in Nir-
ginis last February with the loss of "a
officers and men and IL Injured was
the first disaster OF its kind 20 call FOR
Red Cross relief in this country The
s,,fIdenness OF the accident tested the
nreparedness of the organization and
OF the Chapter at Hampton, Va, but
the response was immediate and reliet
furnished the survivors, also funds for
the expenses of relatives of the dead
who came from long distances to claim
their own.
In the years OverSeu record for AID
rendered by the Red Cross are two
fires In the Philippines, one in Manila
which destroyed 1000 homes. with n
loss OF $l.50OOO0 and 5000 persons
made homeless. the other at Tonic,
which drove 1900 from their dwellings.
In medical relief that was quick ana
effective the smallpox epidemic in San
Domingo. which had Il total of 22,UVO
cases with 225 deaths in single day.
tested the readiness Of the Red Cross
for action. and the same can be SAID
Of the san Domingo hurricane. which /
Killed II persons and reduced the
homes Of $50 persons to wreckage. A
food in san Salvador. with a death
toll OF 20 and 2OOO refugees, was also
efectually handled by the local Chap
ter of the American Red Cross.
Relief Machinery Perfected
The year has seen the further per-
fectlon Of disaster relief admIniStra-
tive measures in every field Of Ameri-
can Red Cross activity. and that the
work may be carried on 70 still greater
accomplishments the American Red
Cross is appealing for widespread re-
newal OF membership during the an
nual Roll Call. TO be conducted this
year from ArmlStlce Day (Noyember
lD to. and Including, Thanksgiving
Day November 30).