Читать книгу The Red Cross in Peace and War - Barton Clara - Страница 39

At this time also the Red Cross Association came actively to the front for now had the time arrived when this association, of all others, could do the most good.... Through its instrumentality much suffering and destitution has been relieved throughout the Ohio valley which it would have been almost impossible to reach but for this organization. With Miss Clara Barton at the head, and a large corps of active and intelligent assistants, the relief work performed by this association has been most thorough and efficacious. Contributions of money and clothing have been sent to all points in the inundated districts of the Ohio valley where such assistance was needed, while a thorough and careful investigation by members of the association of the flooded territory has rendered the aid most beneficial. As soon as it became apparent that the suffering from the high water would necessitate the various relief movements, Miss Barton removed her headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Cincinnati, O., where she carefully and intelligently superintended the distribution of a large amount of supplies donated from all parts of the country, consisting of money, food, clothing and fuel. As the water receded then came the time for the relief proffered by this association to be given.

After remaining several days in Cincinnati and relieving all the suffering so far as it was met with, Miss Barton, on March 3, removed her headquarters to Evansville, Ind., where arrangements were at once commenced to reach and aid the sufferers between this point and Cairo, Ill. Captain J.V. Throop kindly placed his steamer, the “Josh V. Throop,” at the disposal of the Red Cross without any expense except the actual running cost of the boat. The steamer was at once loaded with an immense quantity of boxes, barrels, bales and bundles of clothing, being donations from various private parties and relief organizations throughout the country which had been accumulating here for some time, together with a large amount of bedding and fuel, and started on its mission of mercy down the river in charge of Miss Clara Barton, Saturday, March 8, 1884.

Miss Barton was accompanied and assisted on this trip by Dr. J.B. Hubbell, of Washington, D. C, the field agent of the association; Rev. E.J. Galvin, agent of the Chicago Red Cross Association; Miss Hamilton, of St. Louis, with Mrs. De Bruler and several other Evansville ladies. Relief was given to all the sufferers needing it below Evansville and Wickliff, Ky., below Cairo. The party reached Cairo March 15, and after proceeding down the river to Wickliff, Ky., turned back, arriving at Evansville March 20. In addition to the supplies mentioned, the Rev. E.J. Galvin, of Chicago, had placed at his disposal $25,000, from which checks were drawn and left with any party needing financial assistance. Miss Barton and her corps of assistants remained in Evansville after their return until April 2, when the relief transactions throughout the Ohio valley having been practically finished, she removed her headquarters to St. Louis, Mo., where a relief boat was at once fitted out and similar assistance tendered to the sufferers in the inundated districts of the lower Mississippi. Miss Barton was further aided on this trip by Mr. John Hitz, of Washington, D.C.

On May 25th Miss Barton made a second trip down the Ohio with the steamer “Josh V. Throop” under charter with household supplies and farming implements for the recent sufferers. The boat went as far as Elizabethtown, or possibly a few miles below, and then turning back, proceeded up stream to Wheeling or Pittsburgh till the supplies were exhausted.