The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-10-25
S1,441,486 A YEARS
DISASTER RELIEF COST
Red Cross Aided 145,0OO Vic
tins in United States-Losses
Total $3O,OOO,OOO.

SeventytwO disasters. with hun.
, dreds reported killed and injured. and
more than 145,Q00 either homeless or.
requiring assistance. calle;, for emer-
gency relief measures and the ex-
penditurc OF $1,i41 ,IS636 by the
American Red Cross during the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1929, according
to 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 Ovcrtiowing Of rivers, the
breaking of dams and torrential rains
drove tile greatest number of people
from their homes. The property loss
was estimated at more than $780,
100000.
The years disasters reported in
cludcd twcnty-siX floods, nineteen tor.
nadocs, fifteen fires, four epdemics,
two theatre colapses, two shipwrecks
Gone an airsh!p). aud bridge col
lapse. mine explosion, railway COLI
sion and drought. or the floods in
the United States tipt ut San An
tonic Texas, caused the greatest
property loss, SG,OOO.OOO and the high
mark OF fatalities 100. while the
flood in the vicinity Of Vicksburg and
NatchcZ, Miss, forced $1,000 persons
from their homes.
A National Calamity
In the Rcd Cross disaster relief
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 collaps" Of the roof
OF the Knickcrbockcr Theatre in
Washington, -. c., resulting in nine
ty-siX deaths and 125 persons injured.
Situated in the center Of the bcauti-
ful 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 rndiated out over
she entire country. The horror was
intensified by terrific snOwstorm
which. though 1t retarded, did not
block Red Cross relief.
Airship Crash Finds Aid at Hand
The crash and destruction Of the u.
s. Army's large airShip Roma in Vir-
ginin last February with the loss of 81
officers and men and II injured was
the first disaster Of its kind to call for
Red Cross relief in this country. The
SuddenncSs Of the accident tested the
preparedness Of the organization and
OF the Chapter at Hampton, Va, but
the response was immediate and relief
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 oversee record for MD
rendered by the Red Cross are two
fires in the Philippines, one In Manila,
which destroyed 1000 homes, with
loss OF sl,5OO,OOO ANA 5000 persons
made homeless. the other at Tonic
which drove 5000 from their dwellings.
In medical relief that was quick and
effective the smallpox epidemic In San
Domingo, which had a total Of $4,000
cases with 225 deaths In q single day,
tested the readiness oY the Red Cross
for action, and the same can be said
Of the San Domingo hurricane, which
killed ~ persons and reduced the
homes Of 1872 persons to wreckagc. A
food in San Salvador, with n death
toll OF 30 and 1000 refugees, was also
effectually handled by the local Chap
ter Of the American Red Cross.
Relief Machinery Perfected
The year has seen the further per
fectiOn OF disaster relief adminiStra-
tive measures In every field Of Amerl-
can Red Cross activity, and that the
work may be carried on to still greater
accomplishments the American Red
Cross Is appealing for widespread re-
newal Of membership during the an
nual Roll Can, to be conducted this
year from Armstice Day November
lD to. and including, Thanksgiving
Day November BOY