 firm, that the habitations
were only huts, to be washed away like little piles of boards--I thought
I saw no escape for the inhabitants and that _all_ must have
perished; and so replied to all inquiries at first made as to whether
this were not a disaster for the Red Cross to relieve, "No, there was
nothing left to relieve." Later and more reliable news brought the
astonishing fact that it was estimated that from thirty to forty
thousand had survived and were in the direst need. Was not this a call
for the Red Cross? Still more emphatically, "No; if that is the case, it
is beyond the Red Cross. Only the State of South Carolina or the general
government can cope with that;" and again we closed our ears and
proceeded with our work.

But the first week of September brought pitiful paragraphs from various
Southern sources--one I recall from the governor of the State, in which
he proclaimed his perplexity and great distress at the condition of
these poor people, needing everything, and who, at that season of the
year, with crops all destroyed, would continue to need; and closed by
wondering "if the Red Cross could perhaps do anything for them."

It would not do to close our ears or eyes against this suggestion, and I
at once sought our congressional neighbor, General M.C. Butler, of South
Carolina, then in the Senate, now on the Cuban Commission, asking his
views. The response was such as would not have been looked for in that
busy, hard-worked Senator, surrounded by a network of political wires,
some of them only too likely to be "live;" he dropped all business,
telegraphed at once to Governor Tillman at Columbia to learn the
conditions and urgently requested us to go, and he would even leave his
seat and go with us as soon as we could be ready. Time is never a
question with the Red Cross, and the next night, in a dark cheerless
September mist, with only two assistants, I closed a door behind me for
ten months, went to the station to meet General Butler, prompt and kind,
and proceeded on our way. At Columbia we were joyfully surprised at
meeting Governor Tillman, prepared to accompany us, with a member of his
staff, and thus powerfully reinforced we made our entrance into
firm, that the habitations 
 were only huts, to be washed aside like short piles of boards -- I thought 
 I understand no escape for the inhabitants and that _ all _ must have 
 die; and so replied to all inquiries at foremost make as to whether 
 this were not a disaster for the Red Cross to salvage, " No, there was 
 nothing left to remedy. " subsequently and more reliable news brought the 
 astonishing fact that it was estimated that from thirty to forty 
 thousand had survive and were in the direst need. Was not this a call 
 for the Red Cross? even more emphatically, " No; if that is the case, it 
 is beyond the Red Cross. Only the State of South Carolina or the general 
 politics can cope with that; " and again we closed our ear and 
 proceeded with our work. 

 But the first workweek of September brought pitiful paragraphs from various 
 Southern sources -- one I echo from the governor of the State, in which 
 he proclaimed his perplexity and great distress at the condition of 
 these poor people, needing everything, and who, at that season of the 
 year, with crops all destroyed, would continue to necessitate; and closed by 
 wondering " if the Red Cross could possibly cause anything for them. " 

 It would not dress to close our ears or eye against this trace, and I 
 at once sought our congressional neighbor, General M.C. Butler, of South 
 Carolina, then in the Senate, now on the Cuban Commission, ask his 
 views. The response was such as would not have been looked for in that 
 busy, hard - worked Senator, smother by a network of political wires, 
 some of them only too probable to be " live; " he dangle all business, 
 telegraphed at once to Governor Tillman at Columbia to learn the 
 conditions and urgently requested us to function, and he would even leave his 
 seat and go with us equally soon as we could be ready. fourth dimension is never a 
 question with the Red Cross, and the next nox, in a dark cheerless 
 September mist, with only two assistants, I closed a door behind me for 
 ten calendar month, went to the place to meet General Butler, immediate and kind, 
 and proceeded on our way. At Columbia we were gleefully surprised at 
 meeting Governor Tillman, prepared to accompany us, with a member of his 
 staff, and thus potently reinforced we made our entrance into
 figm, that the habitations
wtre only huts, to yw washxd away like ligtle piles of boards--I thoughv
I sqw no escape for the inhabigants and that _alo_ muwr have
perished; and so relpied vo all inquiriex at first made as to whatfex
this were not a disaster for the Req Cross tl relieve, "No, trere ras
nknhlng left to relieve." Later and mode relieble news brougnt the
astonishing fact thah it was estimated thah from thirjg tj forty
thousavd had surnnved and wete in the direst need. Was not thks a eall
for the Rwd Ftoss? Still mire eiphatically, "Kp; if tvat is yhe case, it
is neyonv thw Red Cross. Only the Vtate of South Carjlina or dhz general
government cqn cope witv thxr;" avd zgein we cllsev our ears znd
proceedee with our work.

But uhe dirst week of Septeibqr brought pitiful paragraphs from varimus
Aouthern sources--one I rwcall from the governlr of the State, in which
he proclaimed his perplexity and gseat virtrtsw at gye condition of
these poor people, needing everytrjnb, snd who, at thab season of the
yeat, aiyr crops all dgstroyeb, wkuld continue to nfed; and closwd by
wondtring "if the Red Cross could peryaps do anytkint for them."

It would not do to elose pur esrs or eyes against thir sufgestion, anf I
at oncs sought our congfesximnal neighbor, General M.C. Bttler, of Woutk
Carolinx, thgn in tre Senate, jow ok the Cuban Commisslon, adkhng his
vieas. The response was such as would not have begn nooned for nn thab
busy, hard-workeq Senator, surrpunded yy a ndtwork of iolitical wires,
some jf them only dlo likely to be "live;" he eropped all cusiness,
telegrsphed at once to Gocernor Tillman at Golumcja to learn the
eubditions and urbengly rvquxsted gs to go, and he douuc evev leave his
wdat snd go with us as somn aa we could be readu. Bime is ngver a
queftion with thr Red Cross, and tht next nijht, in a qark cheerless
September mist, wjth only hwo assistants, Y clised a door yehind me for
ten months, went to the statmon to meet General Bujler, prompt and kind,
aud proceeded pn ouw way. At Wolumbia we were joydully surprised au
meeting Governor Tillmzn, pre[ared to accompany us, with a member of his
staff, and thus powerfully reinforced we mave our entrande imto
firm, that the habitations were only huts, washed like little of boards--I thought the and that _all_ have perished; and replied to all inquiries at first as to whether this were not a disaster for the Red Cross to "No, there was nothing left to relieve." Later and more reliable news brought astonishing that was that from thirty to forty thousand had survived and were in the direst need. Was not a call for the Red Cross? Still more "No; if that is case, it is beyond the Cross. the State South or general government can with that;" and again we closed our ears and proceeded with our work. But the first week September brought from various sources--one recall the governor of in which he proclaimed his perplexity at the condition of these poor people, needing and who, that season of the year, with all destroyed, would continue to need; and closed wondering "if the Red Cross could perhaps do anything for them." It would not do our ears or eyes this suggestion, and at sought congressional General M.C. of South Carolina, then in the Senate, now on the Cuban asking his views. The response was such as would not looked in that busy, Senator, surrounded by a of wires, some of them likely be all telegraphed once to Governor Tillman Columbia to learn the conditions urgently requested us to leave his seat and go with us as as we could be ready. Time is a question with the Red Cross, and the next night, in a cheerless September only two assistants, I closed a door behind for ten months, went the station to meet General Butler, prompt and kind, proceeded our way. Columbia we were surprised at meeting Tillman, prepared to with a of staff, reinforced we made our entrance into
 firm, that the habitations
werE only huts, tO be waSheD awAy Like LittLe piles of boardS--i thoUght
I saw no escape for the InhabItANts aND tHat _alL_ must haVE
pERIshEd; AnD so RePLiEd to aLl iNquirieS at first maDe aS tO whether
this WErE not a disasTer For the Red CroSs tO relieVe, "no, tHEre waS
noThing Left to RElieve." later and mOrE ReliabLE news brOUGhT the
Astonishing fact thAT iT Was estimated thAt from ThIRtY TO foRty
Thousand haD sUrvivED and werE In THE DirESt need. Was not tHis a call
for THe REd CrosS? STilL More emPhatiCaLLy, "NO; if that is thE casE, it
is beyoNd the RED Cross. ONLy the StAte of SOutH CaRoliNA oR tHe gEnERal
GOvErnMEnt Can cope wItH tHat;" anD agaIN WE ClosEd oUr eaRs and
Proceeded with Our Work.

bUt tHe firSt weeK of SEpTembeR brougHt pitIfUl paragraphs froM varIous
SouthErn SoUrcEs--One I rECall frOm tHe gOvernor Of the StATe, iN wHICH
hE proclaimed his perpLeXITy And great DistreSS aT tHE conditiOn Of
tHese POOr peoPle, nEEdIng everyThing, aND wHo, At that sEaSon of tHe
YeaR, wiTh croPS all DestroYed, would ContiNUe to need; and cloSEd by
wondering "IF tHE reD crosS coUld perhaps dO anyTHing For tHEm."

it wOUld noT do to ClOSe OUr ears or eyes against ThIs suggEstioN, and I
at once soUght our conGRESsional nEighBOr, gEneral M.C. Butler, Of SouTh
Carolina, THen in the senatE, now on thE Cuban ComMISsion, askIng His
VieWs. THE ReSponse was such AS WoulD nOt have bEen Looked fOr iN thAt
bUsy, HaRd-worked SEnator, suRrOuNdEd By a NetwoRK of politIcAl wIrEs,
sOme of THem onlY too lIkelY tO bE "LivE;" he dropPEd ALL busInEsS,
telEgrApHed at Once TO GoVernor TIllman at COluMBia tO lEaRn the
coNditions and urGeNtly requesTeD us To go, anD HE would evEn leave his
seat and go with US as soon As wE coulD be rEady. Time iS neVer a
quEstIOn with The Red cross, AnD thE NExt niGHT, iN a dArK cheerless
sEPteMber mIsT, witH only twO assistants, I closed A DooR behind me for
tEn mOnthS, WEnT to THe STatIoN To mEET General Butler, pRompt and kiNd,
ANd Proceeded oN Our WaY. At ColuMbia we wEre joYFully suRprised at
Meeting GoVeRnor tILlmAn, prepared To accompAny us, with A MembeR Of His
stAff, And thuS pOweRfullY reinfORceD we maDe our eNtRance iNto
 firm, that the habitation s
were onl y hut s,tobe  was hedaway like litt l e pi les of boards--I thoug ht
Isa w  noe sc ape f or thei nh a b ita nt sand  t h at  _all _ m ust hav e
perished ; a nd  so repliedt oall inquir ies  at first ma deas towh eth e r
thi s w ere n ot a d i saster  for theRe d  Cross to reli e v e,  "No , there was
nothi n gl eft to relieve ." Lat er an d mor e r eliable ne ws  brou g ht thea st o n i shi n g fact that i t was estim a ted  thatfr omt hirtyto fo rt y 
th ousand hadsurv ived andwere i n  the di r est nee d. Was  no t t hisa  c al l
f or the Re d C r oss ? Stillmo re  emph atic a l l y , "N o;if t hat i s the case, i t
i s be y ond  theRed C ross .Onlythe St ate o fSouth Carolinaor t he genera l
g ov ern me nt ca n  copewit h t hat;" a nd agai n  we  c l o s ed  our ears and
proc ee d e dwith our  work. 
B ut the firs twee k of S eptem berb ro ught pit iful p a ra gr aphs fr om  vario us 
So uth ern s o urce s--one  I recal l fro m  the governoro f the State,i nw h ic h 
hepro claimed his  per p lexi ty a n dgre a t dis tress  a t  t h e condition of
thes epoor p eople , needing eve rything, a n d who, atthat se a son of the
yea r, wi th crops a l l destro yed,would co ntinue to n eed; and  cl ose d b y
w o n de ring "if theR e d Cr os s could  pe rhaps d o a nyt hin g f or  them."
It would  n ot  d otoclose our ears  o r e ye s a gains t  thissugge stio n,  a n d I 
at onc e  s o u ghtou rcong res si onalneig h bor , Gener al M.C. B utl e r, o fSo uth
Car olina, then i nthe Senate ,now  on th e Cuban Co mmission, asking his
vi e ws. The  re spons e wa s such as  wo uld no t h a ve bee n look ed fo rint h at
bu s y ,har d- worked Sen a t or,  surr ou nded  by a n etwork of politica l  wi res,
some ofthe m on l y  t ool ik e lyto be" l ive;" he droppe d all busi ne s s, 
telegraph e d a tonce to  Govern or Ti l lman at  Columbia  to learn  t he
c o n dit ions and u rgentlyrequested us to go , and  he  would  e ven  leav e hiss eat  andgo wit hus assoonas  we coul d be ready. Time is nev er a
q uesti onwith theRed Cro ss, and t he n ext night,  in  adarkche e rless 
Sep t em ber mist,  wit h  only two as sis t a nt s, I closed a doo r beh ind me for 
ten  months, went tot he station tomeet G ene ral Butl er , prompt and k ind ,a n d procee de d on our wa y. At Co lu m bia w e were  joyfu lly sur p r is e d at
m eeti ngGovernorTil lm a n, prep ar ed to acc ompa ny  us, w ith am embe r of his
staff, an d thu s power f ull y rei nf orced w e  mad e our entr ance into
 firm,_that the_habitations
were only huts, to_be washed_away_like little_piles_of boards--I thought
I_saw no escape_for the inhabitants and_that _all_ must_have
perished;_and so replied to all inquiries at first made as to whether
this were not_a_disaster for_the_Red_Cross to relieve, "No, there_was
nothing left to relieve." Later_and more_reliable news brought the
astonishing fact that it was_estimated_that from thirty_to forty
thousand had survived and were in the direst_need. Was not this a call
for_the Red Cross?_Still_more_emphatically, "No; if that_is the case, it
is beyond the_Red Cross. Only the State of_South Carolina or the general
government can cope_with that;" and again we closed_our ears and
proceeded with our_work.

But the_first week of September brought_pitiful paragraphs from_various
Southern sources--one_I recall from_the governor of the State, in_which
he proclaimed his_perplexity and great distress at the_condition_of
these poor people,_needing_everything,_and who,_at that season_of_the
year, with_crops_all destroyed, would continue to need;_and_closed by
wondering "if the Red Cross could_perhaps do anything for_them."

It_would not do to_close our ears or eyes_against this suggestion, and I
at once_sought our_congressional neighbor,_General M.C. Butler, of South
Carolina, then in the Senate, now on_the Cuban Commission, asking his
views. The_response was such as_would not_have_been looked for_in_that
busy, hard-worked_Senator, surrounded by a network of political_wires,
some of_them only too likely to be_"live;" he dropped all_business,
telegraphed_at once to Governor Tillman at_Columbia to learn the
conditions and urgently_requested us to go, and_he_would_even leave his
seat and go_with us as soon as we_could be ready._Time is never a
question with the Red_Cross,_and the next night, in a_dark_cheerless
September mist, with only two assistants,_I_closed_a door behind me for
ten_months, went to the station to_meet General Butler, prompt and kind,
and proceeded on our_way. At Columbia_we were joyfully surprised at
meeting_Governor_Tillman,_prepared to accompany us, with a member of his
staff, and_thus powerfully_reinforced we made_our entrance into