River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1922-11-16
s1,44t,4S6 A YEARS
DISASTER RELIEF COST
Red Cross Aided $4,000 VIC
Tins in United States-LosSeS
Total S3O,000,000.

Seventy-tw0 disasters, with num-
lreds reported killed and injured, and
more than $4,000 either homeless. or
equiring assistance, called for emer-
,enoy relief measures and the ex-
,enditura of $1,441, 4S6.36 by the
american Red Cross during the fiscal
'ear ending June 30, 1922, according
statement based on the forth
oming annual report of the Red
ross. The greatest toll of life was
aiken by hurricane and tornado,
While the over1owing of rivers, the
breaking of dams and torrential rains
lrove the greatest number of people
rom their homes The property loss
was estimated at more than S3O,-
100000
The years disasters reported In
luded twenty-six floods, nineteen tor
aadoes, fifteen fires, four epidemics,
wo theatre collapses, two shipwrecks
lone an airship), and a bridge col
apse, mine explosion, railway, COLI
ZION. and a drought OF the floods In
The United States that at San. An
ionic. Texas, caused the greatest
property loss, 100000 and the high
mark of fatalities. 100. while the
food In the vicinity Of Vicksburg 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
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 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
i the entire country. The horror was
intensified by terrific snowstorm
which. though it retarded, did not
block Red Cross relief.
Airship Crash Finds Aid at Hand
The crash and destruction Of the u.
3 Army's large airship Roma In Vir-
! pinia last February with the loss OF 81
| officers and men and IL 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 $1,50OO00 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 IL persons and reduced the
homes CT 1S2 persons to wreckage. A
food in San Salvador, with death
toll of 80 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-
lection of disaster relief administra-
tive measures in every field OF Ameri-
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 Call, to be conducted this
year from Armistice Day (November
~ to. and including, Thanksgiving
Day (November 3O).