Show C FOR THE JOHNSTOWN SUFFERERS and it must not be too long delayed the relief committee has issued an appeal to the country not to delay or withhold its contributions for the sufferers it declares that all the money contributed much of which is being held by the mayors of cities and others can only in a small degree mitigate the sufferings of the stricken people and that it is greatly needed and should be sent at once in order to be most available three bodies were found thi morning the weather is fine and the work is progressing satisfactorily now a stage has arrived when no women are allowed to see any of the dead recovered daily from the debris and but few men if men related to the dead ones are present when they are found or when they arrive at the morgue they are allowed to the body otherwise the boxes are not permitted to be opened it is generally admitted that there are in all probability morehead more dead in alio debris so far untouched than havo already been recovered in most cases identity from now on will be difficult and will depend in a great measure upon the perfectly organized department of recovered valuables this in charge of john penury jr and C G campbell is the continuation of the deiy valuable work started by the bey mr mun deo of braddock in the morgues there has been some delay in getting all tho articles and valuables from all tho attendants of the morgues but the collections from all sources now make up a very large sum of money with wills checks drafts watches rings and other jewelry and things keys ordinary papers and letters are not koot As much as has been found on n single body that of an iron who had it strapped about his waist where money is found on a father or mother and either survive or there are chil is given any but will be held subject to the court there are several instances wore surviving relatives could get away or bridge over the present chasm of despair if they could have some of the recovered wealth that others wore saving for them but the gentlemen invested with this trust can not undertake to distribute any such re cover ered money and heiresses in tattered frocks and shoes have to go to the commissary headquarters with their kettles to beg meals I 1 was witness to an incident that brought out not only the pathetic and intensely dramatic interest with chih this department dopart ment is invested but also a floating glimpse of the lightning play of emotion that is encountered through all the valley of the shadow of death A young woman of about 18 or 20 with a bright intelligent fuce and looking unusually refined came in with her was a pale faced youth of 16 or 17 looking like a student and wearing glasses he looked almost corpse like did at speak and sank exhausted into a chair the appearance of the girl they were evidently brother and was at variance with the place her face slightly from exposure with the searchers in the debris was hopeful almost smiling none looking at her could possibly have supposed that the twofold effort of sustaining her brother and guarding her own worst fears and sorrow could be so sustained we have been looking for mother she said in a low voice but can t rind her perhaps we can learn something hero she had a ring her wedding ring with letters in it my fathers lih can you tell me anything her voice had been very firm it was a wonderful display of fortitude over in the rings there one attendant was saying to another as he opened a trunk full of cigar boxes full of them wedding ring initials anything like it miss and ho handed it to her with that callous carelessness that seems to invariable accompany familiarity with the dead belongings of the grave attached to the ring was a little tag with the memorandum woman about 55 hair partly gray dress black that was all with a glance of the ring and its touch the girl trembled trem cled from head to foot and with a convulsive and heartrending heart rending cry as if all her long pent up grief and anxiety found escape in a that must reach to heaven she threw up her hands holding the ring and fell upon ner knees philadelphia times june 17 correspondence new york mail and express mrs hammond who was sent here by the mail and express and is working under the bed cross asks me to write you this morning of some of outwork bhe is particularly interested in the kings daughters and has done much for them and will do much more I 1 might tell you of the noble army of workers scattered from end to end of this cay of the anguish of soul and body the like of which was never known and can not be imagined from house to house from day to day I 1 have taken my weary way hoping and praying that out of the dire and awful confusion some thought and plan may be evolved by which the people might have instant and relief As a physic ia n my attention was first called to the immediate necessity of providing homes tor the numberless famili ta rendered homeless the overcrowding they being obliged in many cases to live in rooms crowded with wet bedding clothing etc forced on me the conviction that tho people must bo at least decently housed the condition of the women and children appealed to my womanly of them and I 1 folt sure unless they have household cares and homely duties they will break utterly in mind and ady ey havo nothing to do but tho unearthing of tho dead talk over and over tho awful scenes of that fatal night until their minds are 1 almost gono and abo strain on their faer system is something awful the result unless some remedy be provided would be terrible the little children are in the worst case poor little homeless things wandering in the streets playing amidst coffins and filth and sorrowful scenes until one is frantic at the thought of what it moans to themselves and their posterity homes at once not six months hence when the government will provide thorn but now today to day when I 1 can see them settled families the poor scattered remnants fathered sa together with a ray of hope and cher to make them think the life worth living now it and to many of them the most merciful thins would have ben for all to have gone and none left to bear the burden and misery of tho years to come yesterday bishop whitehead aavo to tho eed cross two large lots in the heart of the city for use at once one of his par gave me two out in a suburb now we want houses at once something to put up and establish homes mr mccreery of pittsburg tells me one hundred are coming tomorrow from chicago to the relief committee here ive no doubt each and all are taken ten times over could you in any way help ua to some et e t once this week the people among whom my work is are physicians clergymen lawyers merchants all people able and glad to pay rent until they can gather themselves together and think we must think for them YOU would be astonished could you see how eagerly any suggestion as to the future is seized and acted upon strong men seem to be utterly incapable of thinking and this awful crowding and herding is calculated to make them worse instead of better just one hour among these people and your soul would be agonized as mine is and you would bring every power of mind and body to the solution 0 how they can best be helped after unceasing visiting personal contact with at least a thousand persons I 1 am thoroughly convinced home maans health and comfort and life to this mass of grief stricken humanity I 1 think of one wee member of a family obliged to nurse the only remaining one in a room with ten other people in a like condition no comfort not even that of cleanliness no spot to be alone for even a second to gather up strength women delicately natured enduring such hardships is so sorrowful so heartrending one cannot but be saddened beyond all words A college friend of mine lost all but her sister for days she has been with sixteen people nursing back to life all that is left of a family of ten she is comforting to many I 1 have seen I 1 cannot draw too dark a picture and as each day the rain pours down and they cannot get dry I 1 wonder how they can bear it all words fail one can only work and watch and hope that help will come bufa it must be speedy or pestilence will follow as sure as the night follows the day SABAH J ELLIOTT red cross |