The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-10-16
s1,4t,Bs A YEARS
DISASTER RELIEF COST
Red Cross Aided 145, 900 Vie
tins In United States-lesses
Total $50, Ooo, 900.

Seventy tive disasters. with hun
dreds reported killed and injured. and
more than $4,000 either homeless or
requiring assistance, called for smer-
gency relief measures and the ex-
penditure u $1.441. 1885 by the
American Red Cross during the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1e22, according
TO a statement based on the forth
coming annual report Of the Red
Gross. The greatest toll Of life was
taken By hurricane and tornado,
while the overlooking Of rivers, the
breaking Of dams and torrential 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-slx foods, nineteen tor
nadoes, fifteen fres four epidemics,
two theatre collapses, tive shipwrecks
Zone an airships and a bridge col
lapse. mine explosion, railway eelli-
don. and a drought. OF the floods In
the United States that at San An
tenie, Texas, caused the greatest
property loss $4,000, 900 and the high
mark Of fatalities, 100, while the
food In the vicinity Of vicksburg and
Natchez, Miss, forced LOCO persons
from their homes.
A National Calamity
In the Red Cross disaster relief
records there will probably remain
fer many years one calamity which
touched nearly every state with q
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-
full Northwest resi- Dental 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-
senaI connections radiated cut ever
the entire country. The horror was
Intensified by a terrific snowstorm
which, though 1t retarded, did net
block Red Cross relief.
AIrshp Crash Finds AID az Hand
The crash and destruction Of the q.
s. Army's large airship Roma In Vir-
ginia last February with the loss Of "a
officers and men and II injured was
the first disaster of its kind to call for
Red Gross 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 >wo
fires In the Philippines, one in Manila
which destroyed 1000 homes, with
loss Of 81 100000 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 1900
cases with 225 deaths In a single day,
tested the readiness of the Red Gross
for action. and the same can be said
of the San Domingo hurricane, which
killed IL persons and reduced the
homes of 1872 persons to wreckage A
food in San Salvador, nth a death
toll of 80 and 1000 refugees, was also
effectuany handled By the local Chap
ter Of the American Red Cross.
Relief Machinery Perfected
The year has seen the further per
lection o. disaster relief administra-
tive measures in every field Of Aneri-
can Red Cross activity, and that the
work may be carried on to still greater
accomplishments the American Red
Cross Ia appealing for widespread re-
newal of membership during the an
nual Roll Call, to be conducted this
year from Armistice Day (Nevember
~ to. and including, Thanksgiving
Day (November 9o).