American National Red Cross; Red Cross and Red Crescent
To add to the horrors already wrought, fire broke out in a dozen places.
Those who were uninjured quickly came to the rescue, quenching the
flames and exerting themselves to relieve the unfortunate victims, who
were, in most cases, pinned down under the wreckage of their houses.
All night long these brave men and women worked, and when morning came
the few houses that remained standing were filled with the dead and
injured.
Appeals for assistance were sent out to the people of the country, but
through an improper statement of the situation, the public was misled,
and not realizing the pressing needs of the stricken community, failed
to take up the matter in a business-like manner, and the town was left
to suffer for a little of the great abundance that was around them. In
their extremity the despairing citizens appealed to the Red Cross for
aid, which responded at once.
A most deplorable situation was presented: the people were homeless and
helpless, neglected, and in a state of mind bordering on insanity.
After a somewhat hasty examination of the situation, the following
simple message was sent to both the Associated and the United Press:
The pitiless snow is falling on the heads of three thousand people
who are without homes, without food or clothing and without money.
CLARA BARTON.
With only this little word to explain the needs, our generous American
people responded promptly and liberally, as they always do when they
fully understand what is needed.
It was unnecessary to remain longer than two weeks with these people,
who, as soon as they recovered from the first shock of their great
misfortune, and when they felt that kind friends were by their side,
lending them moral and substantial support, manfully commenced to bring
order out of chaos, to rebuild their town and resume their usual
avocations. Large quantities of relief supplies of all kinds quickly
came to hand, and when we were ready to leave them, the Citizens'
Committee had in its treasury a cash balance of ninety thousand dollars.
And thus, with their blessings ringing in our ears, we left them.
We were scarcely home from Mount Vernon when the yellow fever of Florida
broke out in the summer and autumn of 1888.
YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC IN FLORIDA.
During the month of August, 1888, yellow fever broke out in
Jacksonville, and in September it was declared to be epidemic, the usual
alarm and exodus of citizens taking place. On September eighth heroic
measures to depopulate the city were taken. Every person that was still
well and could leave was requested to go; very little urging was
necessary. Camps were established outside of the city, where those who
had not the means to go further and get better quarters were enabled to
live under medical surveillance, and away from the seat of infection.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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