Evening star., 1926-11-13
LA PLATA DAMAGE
PLACED AT $4,000
Careful Survey of Storm Area
Being Made-TotaI Relief
Fund Gifts, $500.

With The Evening Stars relief fund
FOR Southern Maryland tornado suf-
ferers passing the $4,000 mark today
and with Red Cross contributions of
$500 swelling the total a systematic
survey was under way at La Plata
and Cedarville, Md, to itemize the
damage and the needs and situation
Of distressed groups.
Experienced Red Cross workers, Op-
Grating in conjunction with the Red
Cross advisory committee of Charles
County, which has been formed from
the nucleus Of the citizens relief com
mittee headed by State Senator Wal
ter J. Mitchell. were making a thor
ough canvass of the stricken area. Re-
ports thus far indicate that the
blanket estimate of $4,000 damage
made by La Plata workers will be
borne out by the itemiZed list.
$500 Total for Two Cities.
The amount raised in Washington
and Baltimore today had exceeded a
total of $3.500. The local committee
at La Hlata was confident today that
fund contributed through Charles
County. for the relief work. This
brings the entire total thus far raised
10 beyond the $500 mark, and the
week end is expected to see more than
half Of the total fund of $4,000 need
ed, contributed. Among the contribu-
tions announced in Charles County is
one from the county Red Cross chap
tor, which emptied its treasury Of
81 400 for the relief fund.
Red Cross workers have divided the
work into two areas-La Plata and
Cedarville. At La Plata approximate
ly $4,000 is expected to be needed
for the emergency and rehabilitation
work, while the remaining $4,000 is
estimated as Cedarville's needs.
The Baltimore Red Cross chapter
today announced the gift of $500 from
its fund But for the prevalence of
charity drives in Baltimore it was
learned in that city, which now has
a community chest drive on and which
has just recently cleaned up a big
Florida relief drive. a special cam
paign for La Plata sufferers would
have been conducted.
Relief Plans Worked Out.
The relief plans now have been final
~ worked out The local committee.
headed by State Seuator Mitchell.
now functions as the Red Cross ad-
visory committee of Charles County
This committee. working with J. 3
Gwyn. from Red Cross headquarters
here will handle the permanent re
Mobilization work. the emergency re
lief work being cared for by the local
committee. The fund raised by tn"
La Plata local committee vii he used
for emergency relief work and the
balance will be placed in the fund for
permanent rehabilitation work. All
accounts will pass through the ha ndS
of r. j. Mates, local trea surer of the
Red Cross and other funds at La
Plata and the blanket estimate Of
$4,000 covers not only the emergency
relief. but also the rehabilitation
funds.
All collections for the fund will
finally find their way to the hands OF
Mr.. Mates. When certain families
are designated hv contributors for the
benefit of specific contributions. the
Red Cross authorizes the announce
ment that this amount will he directed
to the hands Of these families.
1t is expected that the rehabilita-
ton work viii be cleaned up within
10 days. Il. j. ID. Creamer, account
ant for the Red Cross. already has
checked up on certain phases of the
distribution uf the funds and other
items of administration.
All But One Child Better.
Washington hospitals this morning
reported impvON eInent in all but one
of the children injured Tuesday in
the La Plata SCholhouSe disaster.
Louis Swami. who was said to be i'm
proving yesterday is "abouC the
same" today. While he has gained
no ground in his fight for life, he has
lost none.
The other grievously hurt children.
including Maria Murphy Benjamin
Miles and Albert Hyde, spent reStful
nights at Providence and they are
stronger today. Samuel Berry, at
Children's Hospital. whose arm was
amputated and whose skull is frac
tured, was also stronger this morning
and greatly improved. Raymond /
Maddox, at Emergency, is rapidly
nearing ConVaieScenCe. as Is little
katherine Watts. colored. who Sp5 nds
most of her time fondling an infant
doll.
The release of the less seriously in
lured youngsters at Providence by
Christ maS-the personal goal Of each
OF then-SeemS assured.
u-H-N-IN fDnNIIN1,