American National Red Cross; Red Cross and Red Crescent
Jack Snipe, a young man, almost a boy, after building 5 chimneys,
getting out over 4000 shingles and clapboards, and repairing 11 houses,
began and made 2000 feet of ditches, and we find this endorsement on his
paper. "July 27, I went over part of Jack Snipe's work to-day. He was a
hard working, conscientious man, but not very strong physically. After
his work of building and repairing as the leader of his men, he took
charge of the ditching; got sick from working in the water, and died
soon after. Mrs. Barker, one of our volunteer trained nurses, worked
faithfully during all his illness to save him, but in vain."
Ben Watkins, on Baker Place, shows 19,562 feet of ditches, 1 house
built, 2 repaired, 3 large gardens fenced, 7 wells dug. "July 24, 1894,
inspected this work, both buildings and ditches, and found the work well
done, the ditches being new and important, carrying the water from three
large ponds. One main ditch is from four to seven feet deep, equally
wide at the top. The crops are in excellent and promising condition, and
Watkins' work is more than he has claimed for it, besides being
practical and well done. The Gregorys and Browns on Baker Place have
attractive homes, neat and orderly, with appearances of thrift and
industry."
These quotations taken at random from a list of a hundred reports serve
to give an idea of the kind and quality of the work done over the entire
field, as well done in one district as another from Charleston to
Savannah, a distance of 150 miles, including a large area of the
mainland as well.
While these people are in large measure cut off from the advantages that
come from travel and contact with the outside world, they have a
peculiar style of expression, and a musical sweetness of voice that is
unusually attractive. They are of different origin and type from the
Virginia or "upland people;" many are good scholars, due largely to the
schools of Miss Batoum and Miss Murray on St. Helena, and others
established soon after the war. Nearly all read and write. Still, there
are some that retain the old-time style of expression, as in the
following: "We's de bes garden I eber seen sence I was a man grown."
"All de squash, de tomaty and de watermillion seed gone died, but de
Lo'd's will must be done."
"All de house (houses) is done ractified." "I couldn't tell a lie, for
I'z deacon in de chuch. I has to be respectable." Another says: "I'v ben
dar from de fust upstartment, and dar ain't ben de fust rag gin to dose
people."
Another: A man who had seen the Red Cross staff getting on the boat to
go to Charleston said: "I tell you, doctor, when I see Miss Barton
gettin' on the boat to go away I just _felt_ so, my eyes couldn't help
leakin' water, for you all have saved us people."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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