, and probably the best protected and
provided locality in a thousand miles of thickly populated country.

It had not been my intention to remain at the scene of disaster, but
rather to see, investigate, establish an agency and return to national
headquarters at Washington, which in the haste of departure had been
left imperfectly cared for. But I might almost say, in military
parlance, that I was "surprised and captured."

I had made no call beyond the Red Cross societies--expected no supplies
from other sources--but scarcely had news of our arrival at Cincinnati
found its way to the public press when telegrams of money and checks,
from all sides and sources, commenced to come in, with letters
announcing the sending of material. The express office and freight
depots began filling up until within two weeks we were compelled to open
large supply rooms, which were generously tendered to the use of the Red
Cross. A description could no more do justice to our flood of supplies
than to the flood of waters which had made them necessary--cases,
barrels and bales of clothing, food, household supplies, new and old;
all that intelligent awakened sympathy could suggest was there in such
profusion that, so far from thinking of leaving it one must call all
available help for its care and distribution.

The government would supply the destitute people with food, tents and
army blankets, and had placed its military boats upon the river to
rescue the people and issue rations until the first great need should be
supplied.

The work of the Red Cross is supplemental and it sought for the special
wants likely to be overlooked in this great general supply and the
necessities _outside_ the limits of governmental aid. The search was not
difficult. The government provided neither fuel nor clothing. It was but
little past midwinter. A cyclone struck the lower half of the river with
the water at its greatest height and whole villages were swept away in a
night. The inhabitants escaped in boats, naked and homeless. Hail fell
to the depth of several inches and the entire country was encased in
sleet and ice. The water had filled the coal mines so abundant in that
vicinity until no fuel could be obtained. The people were more likely to
freeze than starve and against this there was no provision.

We quickly
, and probably the best protected and 
 provided vicinity in a thousand mile of thickly populated country. 

 It had not been my purpose to remain at the setting of disaster, but 
 quite to experience, investigate, establish an representation and return to national 
 headquarters at Washington, which in the hurry of departure had been 
 left imperfectly cared for. But I might almost read, in military 
 parlance, that I was " surprised and captured. " 

 I had draw no margin call beyond the Red Cross society -- expected no supplies 
 from other source -- but scarcely had news of our arrival at Cincinnati 
 found its manner to the public press when telegrams of money and checks, 
 from all sides and sources, start to come in, with letters 
 announcing the sending of material. The express office and freight 
 depots began filling up until within two weeks we were compelled to open 
 large supply rooms, which were generously tendered to the function of the Red 
 Cross. A description could no more do justice to our flood tide of provision 
 than to the flood tide of waters which had made them necessary -- cases, 
 barrels and bales of clothing, food, household supplies, new and previous; 
 all that intelligent awakened sympathy could suggest was there in such 
 profusion that, so far from thinking of leaving it one must call all 
 available assistant for its care and distribution. 

 The government would supply the destitute citizenry with food, tents and 
 united states army blanket, and had placed its military boats upon the river to 
 rescue the people and issue ration until the first great need should be 
 provide. 

 The work of the Red Cross is supplemental and it sought for the special 
 want likely to be neglect in this great cosmopolitan supply and the 
 necessities _ outside _ the limits of governmental aid. The search was not 
 unmanageable. The government provided neither fuel nor clothing. It was but 
 short past midwinter. A cyclone struck the depleted half of the river with 
 the water at its greatest height and whole villages were swept away in a 
 night. The inhabitants escaped in boat, naked and homeless. Hail fall 
 to the depth of several column inch and the entire country was encased in 
 sleet and ice rink. The water had filled the coal mines so abundant in that 
 vicinity until no fuel could be obtained. The citizenry were more probable to 
 freeze than starve and against this there was no provision. 

 We quickly
, anf probably the best prottcted and
provided localivy in a thousana miles of thickly populated ciuntrt.

It had not been my ingention tl remain at uhe scene of disaster, but
vcther bo sez, mnvestigate, estsblish an dgency and retgrv co national
headquarters at Washingtog, which ij the haste of depswturs had been
left imperfectly cared fkr. But P might almost sau, in military
parlance, that I wws "surprised and cwptured."

I hae maqw no call behond the Rtd Cross socjeties--expected no supplies
from uther sources--buj acwtcely had nexs of jur arrival at Cincitnati
foind its way to thx puvlic press when telegcams of money and chgcks,
from anl sides and sourcew, xommetced to zime in, wmth lettegs
ainouncing tge sending if material. The exptefw office and rreighe
dqpots began filling up until within two wesks we were compelled ti open
large supply rolms, which were generously tendered to the use of the Red
Crmss. A aesevlptiub fould no more do justice to our flood of suppjjex
tman to the flood of waters ehlcn had made theo necessady--cases,
barrels and bales jf clithing, fojd, hpusehold supplies, new and ood;
all that iuteoligent awakened svmpathy coulb sugggst wax there in such
profusiou that, so far frol thinkinf of leaving it ove kuvt call all
available help sor its cere aud distrkbutoon.

The governmenh would supply the destihute keople with food, tents and
army blankets, and had placed its mikidarj boats u'on thc river to
rescuq the people aud issue ratiuns until nhe first great need should be
sup[pied.

The work of the Wed Xrosw is suoolemental and ot sought for the special
wants likely to ge overlooked iu uhus great genersl rup[lj aid thq
tecessities _mutskde_ yhe lkmits of goyervmenyal aid. The search wds nkt
difficult. The gofevnment privided nqither fuel npr clothing. It was but
lmttle 'ast modwynter. A cyclone struck the lowsr half ov tme river with
ehe qater at its greatest height and whole villages werx swept away in a
night. Rhe inhabitants esccptd in boats, neked agd homelevs. Hail fell
to the dwpth of several ikches and the entire ckuntry was fncased in
sleet and ice. The water had filled the coal mines so abundant ib that
tisinity untim no fuel cjbld be jbtamnxd. The people werv more likely to
freeze than starte and agahnft this there was no provisipn.

De quickly
, and probably the best protected and in thousand miles thickly populated country. intention remain at the of disaster, but to see, investigate, establish an agency return to national headquarters at Washington, which in the haste of departure had left imperfectly cared for. But I might almost say, in military parlance, that was and I made no call beyond the Red Cross societies--expected no supplies from other sources--but scarcely had news our arrival at Cincinnati found its way to public press when telegrams money and checks, from all and commenced to in, letters the sending of The express office and freight depots began filling up until within two weeks we were compelled to large supply were generously to use the Red Cross. could no more do justice to supplies than to the flood of waters which made them barrels and bales of clothing, food, supplies, new and old; all that intelligent awakened could suggest was there in such profusion that, so far from thinking of leaving it call all available help its care and The would the people with tents and army blankets, and had placed its military boats upon river to rescue the people and issue rations until the need be supplied. The of the Red Cross supplemental it sought for the likely be great supply the necessities _outside_ the of governmental aid. The search not difficult. The government It was but little past midwinter. A cyclone the lower half of the river with water at its greatest height and whole villages were swept away in night. The in boats, naked and homeless. Hail fell to depth of several inches the entire country was encased in sleet and ice. water filled the mines so abundant that vicinity until fuel could be people were likely freeze against this there was no provision. quickly
, and probably the best protectEd and
proviDed loCalIty In A thoUsanD miles of thicklY PopuLated country.

It had not beEn my iNtENtioN To RemaiN at the sCEnE OF diSaStEr, bUt
RAtHer to See, InvestiGate, establIsh An Agency and retURn To national
HeaDquarters at WAshIngton, WhIch IN the hAstE of deParturE Had beeN
left impeRfECtly caREd for. BuT i MiGht aLmost say, in militarY
PaRLance, that I was "sUrprisEd ANd CAPtuRed."

i had made no CaLl beyONd the ReD crOSS SocIEties--expected No supplies
fROm oTher soUrCes--BUt scarCely hAd NEws Of our arrivaL at CIncinnati
Found iTS way to tHE public Press wHen TelEgraMS oF mOneY aND chECkS,
frOM alL sides anD sOuRces, cOmmeNCED To coMe iN, witH lettErs
announcing The SendINg oF mateRial. THe exPrEss ofFice anD freiGhT
depots began filLing Up until wiThiN tWo wEeKs we wERe compEllEd tO open
laRge suppLY roOmS, WHIcH were generously tenDeRED tO the use oF the ReD
crOsS. a descripTiOn cOuld NO More dO jusTIcE to our flOod of sUPpLiEs
than tO tHe flooD oF waTerS whicH Had mAde theM necessaRy--casES,
barrels and balES of clothing, foOD, hOUSeHOld sUppLies, new and oLd;
alL That InteLLiGenT AwakeNed syMpAThY Could suggest was therE iN such
pRofusIon that, so far fRom thinkinG OF Leaving iT one MUsT Call all
availabLe helP for its carE And distrIbutiOn.

The govErnment woULD supply tHe dEstItuTe pEOPlE with food, tentS ANd
arMy BlanketS, anD had plaCed Its MilItaRy Boats upon The river To
ReScUe The PeoplE And issue RaTioNs UntIl the FIrst grEat neEd shOuLd BE
suPplied.

THE wORK of tHe reD CroSs iS sUppleMentAL anD it sougHt for the sPecIAl
waNtS lIkely to Be overlooked iN tHis great geNeRal Supply AND the
neceSsities _outside_ the limits OF governMenTal aiD. The Search was Not
DifficUlt. tHe goveRnment ProviDeD neITHer fuEL NoR clOtHing. It was bUT
LitTle paSt MidwInter. A cYclone struck the lowER haLf of the river wIth
The wATEr At iTS gREatEsT HeiGHT and whole villagEs were swepT aWAy In a
night. ThE InhAbItants eScaped iN boatS, Naked anD homeless. hail fell
tO tHe dePTH of Several incHes and thE entire coUNtry wAS eNcaseD in
Sleet aNd Ice. the waTer had FIllEd the Coal miNeS so abuNdant In That
viciNity until no fuel could be oBtaineD. The pEopLe were morE liKEly To
freeze tHan sTarve and agAinSt tHis thEre WAs no pRoviSIoN.

We QUicklY
, and probably the best pr otected an d
pro vid edlo cali ty i n a thousand m i lesof thickly populated c ountr y. 
Ith ad  notbeen my in t e nti on  t o r em a in  at t hescene o f disaster , b ut 
rather to s e e,  investiga te,  establish a n a gencyan d r e turntonatio nal
he a dquart ers at Wa sh i ngton, which i n th e ha ste of departureh ad been
left impe rfectl yc ar e d  fo r.But I migh talmos t  say, i n  m i l i tar y 
parlance, th at I was "s u rpr ised a nd  ca p tured. "

Iha d  ma de no callbeyo nd the Re d Cros s  societ i es--exp ectednosup plie s 
f ro m o th e r s o ur ces - -bu t scarce ly  h ad ne ws o f o u r ar riv al a t Cin cinnati
found  it s wa y  to  thepubli c pr es s whe n tele grams  o f money and che cks, 
from all  si de s a nd  sour c es, co mme nce d to co me in,w ith  l e t t er s
announcing the s en d i ng  of mate rial.T he  e x press of fi ceandf r eight 
dep o ts  began f illing up  u ntil wi th in two  w eek s w e wer e  com pelled  to open 
larg e  supply rooms, which were ge n er o u sl y  ten der ed to the u se o f  the  Red Cr oss .  A de scrip ti o nc ould no more do jus ti ce toour f lood of suppl ies
than t o t he flood  ofw at e rs which had m ade t hem necess a ry--case s,
ba rrels an d bales o f clothing , f ood , h ous e h ol d supplies, n e w  and  o ld;
all  th at inte lli gen t a wak en ed sympat hy could  s ug ge st  wa s the r e in suc hpro fu sio n tha t , so f ar fr om t hi nk i ngof leav i ng i t on emu st c all  a ll
av aila b lehelp fo r its car e a n d di st ri bution. 

The governm en t would su pp lythe de s t itute pe ople with food, tents a n d
armybla nkets , an d had pla ced  its m ili t ary bo ats up on th eriv e r  to
r e s cu e t he  people an d iss ue ra ti onsuntil t he first great nee d  sh ould be
suppl ied .

T h e  w ork of the  R e d C r o ss is supplemen tal and it  s o ug ht for the spe ci al
want s likel y tob e overl ooked inthis grea tgene r a l s upply andthe
nece ssities _ o utsid e _the l imi ts ofgo ver nment al aid .  Th e sea rch wa snot
di fficu lt . The go vernment provided neith er fue l nor  cl othing. I t w a s b ut
little  pas t midwinte r.A c yclon e s t ruckthel ow erh alf o f th e  river wi t hthe w at er at its g r e a tes t hei ght and wh olevillages were swe p t away in a
ni ght. T heinh a bita nt s escaped in b oat s, n aked and  h omeless. Ha il fellto the d epth o f seve ral inc h e sa nd the  ent ire  countrywas  e n cased i nsl e et and  ice .The wa ter ha d  fil l e d the coal mines  so a b u ndant inthatvi cinityu ntil  no fuel c ould be obt ained.  The  peop le were  m ore li kel yto
freezet han starv e and  agains tthis  th ere wa s no p rovis ion. 
Wequickly
, and_probably the_best protected and
provided locality_in a_thousand_miles of_thickly_populated country.

It had_not been my_intention to remain at_the scene of_disaster,_but
rather to see, investigate, establish an agency and return to national
headquarters at Washington, which_in_the haste_of_departure_had been
left imperfectly cared for._But I might almost say,_in military
parlance,_that I was "surprised and captured."

I had made_no_call beyond the_Red Cross societies--expected no supplies
from other sources--but scarcely had_news of our arrival at Cincinnati
found_its way to_the_public_press when telegrams of_money and checks,
from all sides and_sources, commenced to come in, with_letters
announcing the sending of material. The express_office and freight
depots began filling up_until within two weeks we_were compelled_to open
large supply rooms, which_were generously tendered_to the_use of the_Red
Cross. A description could no more_do justice to_our flood of supplies
than to the_flood_of waters which_had_made_them necessary--cases,
barrels_and bales of_clothing,_food, household_supplies,_new and old;
all that intelligent awakened_sympathy_could suggest was there in such
profusion that,_so far from thinking_of_leaving it one must_call all
available help for its_care and distribution.

The government would supply_the destitute_people with_food, tents and
army blankets, and had placed its military boats upon_the river to
rescue the people and_issue rations until the_first great_need_should be
supplied.

The work_of_the Red_Cross is supplemental and it sought for_the special
wants_likely to be overlooked in this_great general supply and_the
necessities__outside_ the limits of governmental aid._The search was not
difficult. The government_provided neither fuel nor clothing._It_was_but
little past midwinter. A cyclone_struck the lower half of the_river with
the water_at its greatest height and whole villages_were_swept away in a
night. The inhabitants_escaped_in boats, naked and homeless. Hail_fell
to_the_depth of several inches and_the entire country was encased in
sleet_and ice. The water had filled the coal mines_so abundant in_that
vicinity until no fuel could_be_obtained._The people were more likely to
freeze than starve and against_this there_was no provision.

We_quickly