The producers news., 1933-02-01
RED CROSS

When the war broke out the Red
Cross became active and there was no
more energetic or successful branch
of this grand organization anywhere,
than that which comprised Sheridan
County. Every Community in the
County had it's local Chapter, where
the members met and worked and do
mated, and did their uttermOst for
the Boys at the front, and the folks
at home. One of the Divisional of
ficers from Division headquarters at
Minneapolis stated, '"That the Sheri-
dan County Branch was the most ac-
tive, compared to it's population, of
any branch in the division" The
funds raised and contributed, the
dressings, bandages, pneumonia jac-
kets, etc., made and shipped, the sup
plies of various kinds procured and
distributed, were simply enormous.
This activity continued from the
very commencement of the war un-
Til after the A1mistice, and even then
the Red Cross was kept active for
considerable time, in the work which
is known as Civilian Relief and in
assisting the boys who had returned
to get satisfactorily located and read
justed to civilian conditions, assist
ing those who had been injured or
ILL., not only with local assistance, but
in calling their condition to the at
tentiOn of, and procuring adequate
relief lrom the different rehabilita-
ton boards of the Government. Dur
ing the War and in this period i'm
mediately afterwards, there were Oc-
casional calls for Civilian Relief, each
Of which was promptly investigated,
and acted upon. Immediately after
the close of the war came the Span
ish Influenza, which struck with ex-
ceptiOnal severity in this section, and
is also as nearly centerly located
as it is humanity possible to make it.
which due to the severe winter
weather, and the road conditions,
was exceptionally hard to combat.
Nurses could not be had at any price !;
trained nurses were absolutely unOb-
tainable; the County at that time
was considerably over fifty miles
across in either direction; this whole
territory had to be served by total
Of eight doctors, so it is easy to see
the difficulties under which they la
bored. The season was late fall and
early winter, roads were frequently
obstructed with snow, rough and diff
ficult to travel. During the war both
the man power and finances had been
devoted mostly to it's prosecution
and the roads permitted to become
in very poor shape. The doctors en-
dured extreme hardship, and worked
without sleep or rest, but still coulC
not attend all, or attend any as fre-
quently as they needed. The Rec
Cross took matters in charge, start
ed emergency hospitals in charge Oi
the best available managers, usually
some public spirited citizen who neg
lected his or her own home to assis
in this work, wholly without pay, anC
mostly without rest. At one time tbs
Red Cross was operating in Sheridan
County eight of these Emergency
Hospitals, without single trained
nurse available in the County, with
out medical or surgical equipment
some in school buildings, some in no
tells, some in private homes, the bes
quarters available were selected, plac
ed in charge of the best qualities
person to be found, equipped will
cots and beds, and other necessar.
supplies, and conditions kept SAM