Graham guardian., 1922-11-07
$1,A1,@6 A YEARS
DISASTER RELIEF COST
Red Cross Aided $4,000 Vic.
tins in United States-Losses
Total $3o,000,0 ,000.>

Seventy-two disasters. with hun
dreds reported killed and injured. ano
more than $4,000 either homeless or
requiring assistance. called for emer-
gency relief measures and the ex-
penditure of $1,441 ,4S6.36 by the
American Red Cross during the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1922, according
to statement based on the forth
coming annual report Of the Red
Cross. The greatest toll OF life WINS
taken by hurricane and tornado,
while the overhowing of rivers, sthe
breaking OF dams and torrential rains
drove the greatest number of people
4 from their homes. The property loss
was estimated at more than $780,
100000. F%
: The years disasters reported In
, rIuded twenty-six floods, nineteen tor
hadoes, fifteen fires, four epidemcs
Two theatre collapses, two shipwreeks
Zone an airship), and a bridge col
lapse, mine explosion, railway COLL.
sion. and drought or the floods In
the United States that at San An
tonic, Texas, caused the greatest
property loss. s6,000.000 and the high
mark Of fatalities, 100. while the
food In the vicinity Of yieksburg and
Natchez, Miss, forced $1,000 persons
from their homes.
A National Calamity
In the Red Cross disaster relies
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 Ia
washington. d. c., resulting in nine
ty-six deaths and l25 persons Injured.
Situated in the center Of the beautl
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-
sonai connections radlated out over
the entire country. The horror was
intensified by a terrific snowstorm
which. though It retarded, did not
block Red Cross relief.
Airshfp Crash Finds Aid at Hand
The crash and destruction Of the U.
8, Army's large alrship Roma In vir-
ginla last February with the loss OF 3i
officErs and men and IL injured was
the FIRST disaster OF Its kind To call for
Red Cross relief In this, country. The |
shddenness Of the accident tested the |
preparedness Of the organization and |
Of the Chapter at Hampton. Va, hut
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
loss Of s1,500OO0 and 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 total of $4,000 |
cases with 225 deaths In q single day. |
tested the readiness of the Red Cross
for action, and the same can be said
OF the San Domingo hurricane. which
killed IL persons and reduced the
homes Of 1s2 persons to wreckage A
Good In San Salvador, with a death |
toll OF so and 1000 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
fection OF disaster relief administers
tive measures IN every field OF, Ameri-
ran Red Gross activity, and that the
work may be carried on to sttll greater
the American Red
Cross is appealing for widespread re-
newal OF membership during the an
hual Roll Call, to be conducted this
rear from Armistice Day, November
III to. and including, Thanksgiving
Day November BOY.