The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-11-06
s1,41,4ss A YEARS
DISASTER RELIEF COST
Red Cross Aided $4,000 Vic.
tins in United S..ates-Losses
Total $30,00O,00O.

Seventy-two disasters, with hun
dreds reported killed and Injured, and
more than $4,000 either homeless or
requiring assistance, called for emer-
gency relief measures and the ex-
pendlture Of $l,44l, 4S6.36 by the
American Red Cross during the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1922 according
10 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 torrentlal rains
drove the greatest number Of people
from their homes. The property Toss
was estimated at more than $780,
100000
The years disasters reported In
Guided twenty-six floods, nineteen tor
nadoes, fifteen fires, four epidemlcs,
two theatre collapses, two shlpwrecks
Zone an alrship), and bridge col
lapse. mine explosion, railway COLI
sion, and drought. OF the floods in
the United States that at San An
tonic. Texas, caused the greatest
property loss, s6,0O0,0O0 and the high
mark OF fatalities, 100. while the
food In the vicinity Of Yicksbnrg and
Natchez, Miss, forced $1,000 persons
from their homes.
A National Calamity
In the Red Cross disaster relief
records there will probably remain
for many years one calamity which
touched nearly every state with a
sense OF horror and OF loss. This was
the distressing collapse OF the roof
OF the Knlckerbocker Theatre In
Washington. d. C., resulting In nine
ty.six deaths and 125 persons injured.
Situated In the center Of the beauti-
ful Northwest residential section, this
motion picture theatre was patronlzed
by many persons Of prominence both
in tile official and civil life of the Ma
tional Capital. whose family and per-
,onal connections radated out over
ihe entire country. The horror was
intensified by terrific snowstorm
which. though 1t retarded, did not
block Red Cross relief.
Alrship Crash Finds Aid at Hand
The crash and destruction of the q.
s. Army's large alrshlp Roma In Viz
ginla last February with the loss Of "a
officers and men and II injured was
the first disaster Of its kind TO call for
Red Cross relief in this country. The
suddenness 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 aid
rendered by the Red Cross are two
fires in the Philippines, one in Manila.
which destroyed 1000 homes, with a
loss OF ;l.500.000 and 5000 persons
made homeless. the other at Tonic,
which drove 1900 from their dwellings.
In medical relief that was quick and
effective the smallpox epidemic in San
Domingo, which had total of 22,OOO
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 49, persons to wreckase. A
food in San Salvador. with death
toll Of 80 and 2,000 refugees, was also
efrectually handled by the local Chap
ter OF the American Red Cross.
Relief Machinery Perfected
The year has seen the further per
lection Of disaster relief administers
tive measures In every field Of Amerl'
can Red Cross activity, and that the
work may be carried on to SIN greater
accomplishments the American Red
Cross is appealing for widespread re-
newal Of membership during the an
nua Roll Call. TO be conducted this
year from Armlstice Day (November
lD to. and including, Thanksgiving
Day (November 800.