The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1960-09-30
RED CROSS FIRST AIDED
COASTLAND % YEARS AGO


Following the storm of March
1882, which in relation to values
of the time, was the most destru-
tive along the Dare Coast in this
century, a group of US went to
Washington and for the first time
enlisted the aid of Red Cross in
disaster relief.
After waiting through Sunday
and Monday for some word from
Hatteras Island, l got Ryan Mid
gett of Manteo to take me in his
boat to Rodanthe, and we arrived
at midnight at st. Clair Midgett's
boat stake at Waves. Midget was
a good pilot. Not a navigation aid
remained in the sounds, but he
could feel the bottom with an oar
and compute his position.
There had been many inlets cut
through the beach, in this storm,
before the day of roads, but / got
all the way to Buxton, by wading,
and riding on carts, and backs Of
strong men. Returning to Mantao,
/ presented the picture to Jesse
Baum, Chairman of the County
Board, and next day, with r. Bruce
Etheridge, the Representative and
Orville Baum of Kitty Hawk who
drove for US, we went to Washing
ton and told the story to Lindsay
Warren, our Congressman.
Mr.. Warren made an appoint
ment at once with John Barton
Payne, National head of the Amer
lean Red Cross, and was spokesman
for our party in behalf of the peo-
pie of Currituck, Dare and Hyde
who had lost so heavily. l recall
the pleasant but impressive mien
as Mr.. Payne leaned back in his
chair, and toyed with gold chain
across his middle age spread. l re-
member we'll the tenor of Mr.. War
ren's appeal. He said he came to
speak in behalf of n proud people
who had always been resourceful
and independent and never had
asked for charity, but that in this
calamity, which was during the de-
preston, many of them could not
get back on their feet without
emergency aid.
| Resulting from this visit, Mr..
Payne sent Albert J. Berries, Jr.,
one of the key workers Of Red
Cross, and we travelled all over
the area with the aid of the Coast
Guard, crossing waters when need.
ed, and even to Stumpy Point
where many homes We're damaged
Much relief was dispensed, repairs
made. nets furnished, and other
benefits given the people.
Having broken the ice, and ac,
cepted help, it has been the rule
ever since to call readily on the
Red Cross. Sometimes when the
annual roll call is made for con-
tributions to help others in need
Dare County comes up in fine style
but often we find some communi.
ties who have profited most, giving
least.
During succeeding years, have
had vacation trips interrupted by
hurricanes, as happened during
Donna. Four years ago, was re-
turning from New York in the
midst of one, and had to stay over
night near Petersburg, Va. A
another time, l was away the en-
tire time. This time, came home
two days afterwards to see if
could be of help. | was in New
York City during the blow, and the
following dav, while waiting fol
news had the opportunity to &c
all over the Omitted States" in two
hours. This was a tour of the gaint
liner about which my wife wrote
last week.
1t makes one unhappy to see
the damage that is done his neigh
bors. Ones neighbor cannot lose
without it costing others also. II
is estimated that Dare County
alone shows loss of close to three
million dollars. Consider the disap
pointment that attends many fami
lies in seeing the fruits of theil
years work swept away; in be-
ing denied vacation and many 9th
er things they had hoped to en-
JOY this fall. But their time will
now be consumed in putting thu
pieces together and getting a fresl
start next season.
This hurricane has pointed VI
the need for a re-appraisal of thu
county's tax structure. Since tn
mess of 1858, valuations have beel
unequal as between properties, ant
between areas in the county. Their
had long been a growing tendenc!
to favor certain people, chargin:
little, and not making some o
them pay, while throwing the bur
den on the nonresident propert.
owner who is voiceless at votin,