, 1935-03-10
Especial 70 The Heraldl

ARk8&AWA ~ ~ AAGA4A4I
SAN BENTTO, March "a VAL
ley-wide organization to function
Immediately whenever a disaster is
impending or occurs was decided
upon at the Red Cross disaster in
stitute held Friday at the high
school with more than 50 workers
and officials from four counties
present.
Rev. L. A. Boone, who headed the
Harrington disaster committee when
the 1888 storm struck, made the
motion that such an organization
be formed. It Is to be composed Of
the mayor and local Red Cross
chairman in each town and three
| other citizens TO be named by them
making q committee Of five from
each community. These are to meet
in Harlingen the first week in June
TO perfect the Valley-wide organ
ization and receive training.
Either Albert 8. Evans, director
of disaster relief In the midwest
area for the Red Cross. or some
other representative Of the national
organization will be in Harrington
TO conduct the training school for
the disaster group.
1t is believed that an efficient
organization. with various duties
previously assigned, will function
better than a series OF local org
anizations because disasters r
likely TO involve most cities Of the
area.
The institute heard talks from
Evans and from Mrs. Edith Hen
Messy, field representative OF the
Red Cross. Mr.. Evans made sew
eral talks on various phases OF
disaster relief but he emphasized
relationship OF the Red Gross with
public and private agencies in dis
aster. Agencies that can prove VAL
liable in time Of disaster are the
Boy Scouts. railroads. amateur radio
operators. and others. Scouts can
be used for messengers and for 9TH
er purposes. Railroad usually viii do
everything In their power TO assist
but want TO know definitely what
they are to do. Nj. Evans said that
1t Is a wise policy TO obtain the
names Of all amateur radio opera
tors in a community. determine
whether their stations are in opera
ton and see that dry cells are
available for them II electric power
tails.
How a short wave set at the
Brownsville airport flashed a dis
aster message 70 a ship in the gulf
which In turn relayed the message
70 Mexico City from which II was
sent by telegraph to Red Gross
| headquarters IN st. Louis was told
by Evans. The st. Louis office i'm
mediately put IN a long distance call
to Evans who was in Houston with
out means OF communication with
the disaster territory. The fact that
telegraph and telephone companies
give the right-of-wav to disaster
messages helped get the message
from Brownsville to Houston by this
devious route In less than half an
hour.
The speaker discussed the CO.
operation Of the Red Cross with
relief agencies, saying that the
form OF agreement between the Red
Gross and government relief agen-
cies in the Valley became the basis
for all future agreements In dis
aster areas Substantially II was
that the relief agencies agreed 70
continue caring for those who were
on the relief rolls when the dis
aster occurred. Work relief was TO
be used for repair OF shelter for
those on relief with the Red Cross
providing the material.
DR.. w. E Spivey, head Of the Cam
eron county health unit. made a talk,
pointing out the danger from ma
laria which he said was a greater
disaster than the storm. An eplde-
mic last year took many lives and
debilitated many others who are a
constant menace to the health OF
those who escaped the first time, he
said.
Mrs. Hennessey spoke briefly,
enumerating the disaster hazards OF
this territory. Joe A. Sloan, san
Benito chapter chairman, presided
over the institute. There were W
sessions Of the institute. n In the
moning and one in the afternoon
with a luncheon at the Stonewall
jackson hotel at noon given III
| honor Of Mr. Evans and Miss Hen
Messy who we're In the Valley follow
ing the 1888 storm. The Lions club
was in charge and w. r. Brown.
president. presided. Nearly a hun
bred attended.
A bouquet was given Miss Hennes-
sey and Evans made a brief talk fol-
lowing an address by Rev. MI.
Boone.
Entertainment consisted Of songs
Of Miss Maude M. Nosler, Mrs. Ed
from the San Benito trio composed
Brady and Mrs. James d. Ward; and
the Cantoliers. composed OF Paul
w. Hornbeck, T. S. Caswell, Z. w.
Edwards and M. B. Huffman with
Mrs. CaSwell at the piano.
Members Of other service clubs as
well as Lions and delegates 10 the
institute were in attendance at the
luncheon.
Those registered for the institute
and luncheon were
Alamo: NJ. "A. Travis.
Arkansas Pass: j. r. Barry.
Brownsville: Charles Burton, Mrs.
Lula Champion. r. c. Graham, Mrs.
Joseph G. Lewis, 7. p. Sarran, w. Z,
Spivey, w. O. Washington.
Fort Brown: Major John p. Bee
son, Capt. j. c. Browne.
Harrington: K. w. Anglin, r. c. II.
Bigden. Rev. Leslie A. Boone. Mayor
Sam Bolts, Dan Bolts, <. G. Ben
nett. r. P. Bledsoe, B. p. Gamble.
Miss Paul Hill, A. H. Pulliam, DR..
r. E. Utley.
La Feria: j. d. Wemple.
Los FresnoS: Mrs. O. II. Bingley,
Mrs. George LaakSo.
Mercedes: F. r. George, Mr.. and
Mrs. John Leslie.