Milford chronicle., 1923-06-01
$1,441,486 A YEARS.
DISASTER RELIEF COST
Red Cross Aided $4,000 VIC
tins in United StateS-LoSSeS
Total $3O,OOO,OOO.

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-
penditure of $1,441, 4S6.36 by the
American Red Cross during the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1922, according
to a 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 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-six floods, nineteen tor
nadoes, fifteen fires, four epidemics,
two theatre cOllapses, two shipwrec5s
Gone an airship), and a bridge col
lapse, mine explosion, railway COLI
sion, and a drought. OF the floods in
the United States that at San An
tonic, Texas, caused the greatest
property loss, $6,OOO,OOO and the high
mark of fatalities, 100, while the
flood 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 a
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
the entire country. The horror was
intensified by a terrific snOwstorm
which. though it retarded, did not
block Red Cross relief.
Alrship Crash Finds Aid at Hand
The crash and destruction of the U.
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 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 $1,5OO,OOO 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 a total of $4,000
cases with 225 deaths in a single day,
tested the readiness Of the Red Cross
FOR action, and the same can be said
If the San Domingo hurricane, which
killed IL persons and reduced the
homes of 1872 persons to wreckage. A
iood in San Salvador, with a death ]
oil Of so and 1900 refugees, was also '
,ffectually handled by the local Chap
er of the American Red Cross.
Relief Machinery Perfected
The year has seen the further per-
ectiol Of disaster relief administra-
i've measures in every field Of Ameri-
an Red Cross activity, and that the
york may be carried on to still greater
accomplishments the American Red
ross is appealing for widespread re- \
ewal Of membership during the an
ual Roll Call, to be conducted this
ear from Armistlce Day (November
u to, and including, Thanksgiving
Jay (November BOZ.