Chapter IV: Preface (3)

We obtained all the available shoes from the _Illinois_, 201 pairs of substantial quality. At the same time a package of tetanus antitoxin, which had been brought down from Rome by Mr. Robert Winthrop, was delivered, and on the advice of Dr. Scelba was divided between Messina and Catania.

We also on this day returned to the _Culgoa_ the three men lent to us, as we expected to part company indefinitely. These men had behaved with credit to themselves and their service were generally helpful, and had won the good will of everyone.

Friday morning we got underway at six o’clock and by 8.30 were fast to a buoy off Reggio and discharging cargo. Our best day’s work was done here—not in amount delivered, but in the steady industry of all employed. Four boats were filled with supplies and towed over to the depot steamer, and later, as no men might be available to discharge them before dark, a working party of men nurses and stewards was sent to discharge them. Meantime the lumber was got out, each slingful lashed both ends before lowering over the side; then six or eight such slingfuls were made up into a raft and towed by our steam launch to a point about one-third of a mile distant, to windward of the place on the beach where the lumber was wanted; then the tow was cast off and it drifted ashore. This was a slow process, as our steamer was small and unsuited to open water, but by steady work and no mishaps we finished and left for Messina, the ship herself towing the last raft of lumber.

PALERMO.

Arriving at Messina about 8.30, we found another telegram from the Consul at Palermo. After visiting the _Illinois_ again, we sailed for Palermo at 10.30 P. M.

We arrived at Palermo about 9.30 Saturday morning. The captain of the port sent an officer on board the _Bayern_ with the following message:

The captain of the port thanks Captain Belknap for the
sentiments of brotherhood and humanity which have brought him
here, to give aid to those who have just escaped from the
disastrous earthquake.

The American Consul, Mr. Bishop, then took the Committee, Lieutenant-Commander Belknap, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Gay, Vice-Consul Cutting, Avvocato Giordana and Mr. Flint to call upon the Prefect, with whom we found the Commissario Regio. Our remaining resources were placed at the disposal of the authorities, who accepted them with warm thanks and appreciation of our coming to Palermo with assistance. From the prefectura we were then escorted to the municipal palace by the Commissario Regio, Commandatore Avvocato Gennaro Bladier, who conducted us to his reception-room, where the necessary arrangements were made for the transfer of our remaining supplies. He took steps to have our discharging expedited so that our intended sailing that evening might not be delayed.

We delivered at Palermo 1,200 mattresses and about 7,000 rations, leaving nothing remaining on board that could be disposed of; also 20,000 lire to the Municipal Committee and 10,000 for distribution by the American Consul.

In the afternoon, the Commissario Regio came on board, to return our visit and inspect our ship, bringing the following letter, to which I replied orally, stating that I would have the honor to bring it to the attention of the American Ambassador:

Cabinet of the Commissario Regio,
City of Palermo, January 15, 1909.

In the name of the city of the Committee I have the honor to
represent, I accomplish the duty, heartfelt, of expressing to
you a great many thanks for your generous offer of 20,000 lire
and of food and mattresses, made through you by the American
Ambassador for the benefit of the unfortunate refugees.

Messina, Sicily and Italy, in this tragic hour of disaster,
feel an infinite sense of emotion before the universal
spectacle of nobility and human kindness, before the common
impulse that moves, in aid of so many sufferers from the
reckless violence of nature, the generous, munificent souls of
the world.

I beg, therefore, to ask you to be the bearer of our intense
feeling to the illustrious American Ambassador, and to the
American citizens, to whose magnanimous work will always be
united the undying gratitude of this people.

Please accept, Illustrious Sir, on this solemn occasion, the
highest expression of my consideration.

The Royal Commissioner,
BLADIER.

To Captain Reginald Rowan Belknap, Naval Attachè to the Embassy
of the United States of America.

RETURN OF THE “BAYERN.”

With regret that we might not prolong our stay, we sailed as soon as the last slingful was over the side, at 7 P. M., arriving at Civita Vecchia at 4 P. M. the next day, Sunday, January 17, after an absence of just ten days.

At Civita Vecchia we received a hearty welcome from the Sub-Prefect; Sindaco, captain of the port: Mr. Page and Mr. Pasigli, of the Committee; Mr. and Mrs. Billings, of Massachusetts, and Mr. Anniser, the Lloyd agent. There was time enough to transfer our aged charges ashore comfortably, with the expedition and baggage, to take the six o’clock train for Rome.

Drs. Egidi and Alessandrini, two Italian women and two men nurses remained on board to care for the twenty-four orphans until they were given over into other hands. Everything of our cargo, and more besides, taken from the ship, had been distributed, as originally intended.

Written instructions were given Dr. Egidi, who was left in charge of our party remaining on board, covering the delivering of children and return of the doctors and nurses to Rome. Written instructions were also given to the captain of the _Bayern_ to proceed to Genoa, and releasing the vessel there upon the delivery of the children into proper hands. Telegrams were sent to the American Consul-General and to the Quæstor at Genoa, informing of the coming of the ship with persons for them to receive. The American Ensign and the Red Cross were then hauled down, at 5.15 P. M., and I came ashore with the captain of the port.

The party were greeted at the landing by Mr. and Mrs. Griscom, accompanied by Mr. Dodge, while a large crowd of the people of Civita Vecchia were gathered outside the gates. Carriages were provided by the municipality to convey the party to the station, with free passage by rail to Rome, the Italian officials and people favoring us with every kind wish. The trip to Rome was without incident.

Tuesday afternoon, the 19th inst., Drs. Egidi and Alessandrini reported their return in person and their duty completed, bringing a receipt from the Quæstor in Genoa for the twenty-four orphans. This receipt was turned over by me to the secretary. Dr. Egidi also reported that the American Consul-General at Genoa had taken charge of the woman with three children, bound for America to join her husband. A letter concerning her case had been written the Consul-General by Mr. Cutting. The active work of the relief ship may therefore be regarded as completed.

(Photo by S. H. Chapman.)]

Before closing this report I take the opportunity as executive head of the expedition to express my appreciation of the admirable manner in which the members, individually and collectively, performed their duties. Perfect harmony prevailed throughout; there were no complaints, no questioning of orders, no difficulties of any kind. If fatigue was felt by anyone, it was not mentioned until after working hours.

DISTRIBUTION OF SUPPLIES AND MONEY BY “BAYERN.”

The American Red Cross Relief Ship _Bayern_, leaving Civita Vecchia on January 7 and returning to that port on the 17th, distributed 115,500 lire in cash, and supplies to the value of 230,000 lire.

DISTRIBUTION OF CASH.

30,000 lire to the Prefect of Catania (5,000 to be distributed at the discretion of Madame Ferri), 30,000 to the hospitals of Catania, 1,000 to the Little Sisters of the Poor of Catania, 35,000 to Syracuse, 5,000 to Acireale, 4,000 to Taormina, 6,000 to Giardini, 10,000 for distribution among small villages outside of Taormina du Giardini, towards Messina, 1,000 to Archbishop of Messina, 20,500 to Palermo.

KIND AND QUANTITY OF SUPPLIES.

2,000 metres tent canvas, 4,500 woolen blankets, 250 sheets, 1,400 metres of sheeting, 1,230 woolen shawls, 2,130 overcoats, ulsters and capes, 1,570 pairs of shoes, 2,100 suits of clothes for men and boys, 3,500 pairs of stockings, 350 skirts, 5,200 metres of dress goods and other cloth, 5,000 pieces of underwear, 700 shirts and blouses, 300 pairs pantaloons, 1,400 hats and caps, 5,000 kilograms flour, 20,000 galletti (hard biscuit), 8,000 kilograms potatoes, 6,800 kilograms macaroni, 3,180 tins of preserved meat, 60 cases of sterilized milk (50 quarts per case), 1,200 litres olive oil, 530 litres marsala, 210 litres cognac, etc., 1,350 kilograms cheese, 1,000 kilograms dried fish, 351 kilograms tobacco, 530 kilograms sausage, 1,225 kilograms of sardines, etc., 550 kilograms lard, 4,000 kilograms beans, 700 shovels, 700 picks, 300 galvanized iron buckets, 1,700 kilograms of rope, assorted size, 100 saws, 10 petroleum stoves, 50 cases petroleum, 1 ton candles, 2,000 cakes soap, cooking utensils, tableware, miscellaneous tools, matches in large quantities, 27 cases of medical supplies, 1,200 mattresses stripped from the bunks of the _Bayern_, 350 sheets and pillow cases, 230 coverlets.

At Catania lumber sufficient for the construction of 25 houses (13 × 13 feet, including flooring) was purchased, loaded on board the _Bayern_, and delivered to the Italian authorities at Reggio.

* * * * *

_Lieutenant-Commander Belknap commends in the highest terms the work done by all the members of this Red Cross Relief Expedition, including Drs. Bastinelli, Scelba, Egidi and Alessandrini, the nurses, Avvocato Girodana, Messrs. Hooper, Gay, Cutting, Flint, Captain Mitzlaff, the other officers and the crew of the Bayern and Mr. Anniser, the North German Lloyd agent at Rome, for his personal assistance. The Navigazione Generale Italiana also rendered much assistance at Civita Vecchia. To all of these the American Red Cross extends its hearty thanks and appreciation of their valuable aid in this relief expedition._—EDITOR.

OTHER MEASURES OF AMERICAN RED CROSS RELIEF

Besides the contributions to the Italian Red Cross, the sending of a Special Representative—Mr. Bayard Cutting—the providing of the Relief Ship, the maintenance of the Agricultural Orphanage Colony, the purchase of materials for some six hundred houses and the construction of these houses and those furnished by the United States Government, the American Red Cross has sent to Mr. Griscom, our Ambassador at Rome, $20,000 for Calabrian relief and $50,000 to be used at his discretion in conjunction with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Griscom says:

“After consultation, I asked him to appoint an Italian Committee to do rehabilitation work on the lines we adopted at Chelsea. He appointed his wife Chairman, and with her Countess Taverna, wife of the President of the Italian Red Cross; the Duke of Teuanova, one of the largest land owners in Sicily; the Marquis of San Fernando, one of the largest land owners in Calabria, and Mr. Teneraani, the head of the principal charities of Rome. This is a very strong Committee, and they are doing splendid work—acting rapidly and efficiently. The Committee calls itself ‘Comitato Offerto Americano,’ a ‘Committee of American Offerings.’ This Committee operates wherever they find or hear of deserving refugees, particularly professional men, and a considerable portion of this money is spent at the scene of the disaster as well as in Rome, Naples, etc.”

From the Calabrian mountain villages came urgent appeals for help, so Mr. Griscom—

“Sent Mr. Nelson Gay, who has lived in Italy for some years, to make a tour of Calabria, and he was accompanied by an officer of the General Staff. He had a wonderful trip and his report is the basis of our present operations. As he went along he telegraphed me his needs and his requisitions were filled in Rome or from France. The majority of his requests were complied with and the goods delivered to him and to the Generals indicated by him in Calabria within forty-eight hours after the receipt of his telegram. This includes the twenty-four hour railway haul, so you see we have our system of operations fairly perfected. The Director-General of Italian Railways gives our shipments the right of way over everything. After Mr. Gay had been there a few days with General Parditi at Palmi, Calabria, the General telegraphed his appreciation of what had been done there to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of War. Mr. Gay visited about forty towns in Calabria, including the highest and most inaccessible villages. To some he brought the first succor since the earthquake.

“I am now sending Mr. Winthrop Chanler, who is accompanied by four or five young Italian noblemen, to Calabria to carry out the most elaborate piece of work yet projected. We are to rebuild one whole town—Gallina. Calabria—about three hundred wooden houses, and to deliver and build three hundred other houses of lighter construction in the highest towns of the Calabrian Mountains. We work through the military authorities and at their request, but we conduct the work ourselves. In the meantime our young Italians will use our money to rehabilitate the inhabitants in their trades and professions, under Mr. Chanter’s direction. We are buying a shipload of lumber very cheaply in Naples and sending it ourselves to the spot. This is the use I am making of the last $20,000 the Red Cross has entrusted to me. From Gay’s report three hundred houses are needed, at about $100 a house, which will make $30,000. I have the recent grant of $20,000 and the unexpended balance from the Relief Ship appropriation is $17,000, making a total of $37,000. This leaves $7,000 for expenses of hospitals, etc. These operations will all be done in the name of the American Red Cross. Mr. Chanler will lay out the town, establish police and sanitary regulations and hurry the building in accordance with a plan I have outlined. I am sending down a young Italian doctor to establish a little hospital and keep the place sanitary. We work through the military authorities, who supply the carpenters and laborers except when we employ people for the sake of giving them work. The rehabilitation is to go on while the houses go up and the young Italians, with Mr. Chanler, are especially to do this work. They are to search out the most deserving merchants and give them a start. I sincerely hope this project of mine will appeal to the Red Cross as it does to the Italian people. If a small part of my expectations are realized the money will be well spent. I may say here that the people in the earthquake zone have now plenty to eat and are clothed so that the greatest remaining need is shelter. They are dying from cold and its consequences—pneumonia, bronchitis, consumption, etc. The wood we are sending from America is a drop in a bucket. Mr. Gay reports that the military estimates of 600,000 homeless people are not exaggerated. It would take $12,000,000 to provide them with cheapest temporary houses, and the Italians have not this amount to dispose of. In the meantime people are living in half-ruined homes in imminent peril of being killed by any little earthquake, and the earth continues to quake frequently. Our new work begins in two days and will take a month or two.”

This letter was written February 21st. In referring to the Orphanage Colony, Mr. Griscom says:

“Yesterday the Queen sent for me a second time to reiterate her thanks.”

She expressed her deep interest in the American Red Cross and desired to learn more about the Society.

In a previous letter Mr. Griscom, whose splendid work has done so much to render Red Cross contributions of use, says in conclusion:

“I may say personally, I have had the most valuable and interesting experience of my lifetime; and when I return to the United States I will become one of the most loyal supporters in the Red Cross work in America.”

ITALIAN RELIEF NOTES

MISS DAVIS AT SYRACUSE.

All reports and private letters received by the American Red Cross from the scene of disaster speak in the very highest terms of the work done at Syracuse by Miss Katherine B. Davis, who happened to be in Sicily at the time of the earthquake. Speaking of her work in private letters, Miss Davis says:

“Of course, you know what the papers have told of the terrible disaster to the towns along the Straits of Messina. I was at Girgenti the morning of the shock. It was strong enough to wake me, but it was not till thirty hours later that I, with the English ladies with whom I was traveling, heard of the disaster. A priest with the Red Cross badge got into a compartment on the train and told us.

“Yesterday and today a Russian and an English warship have brought here six hundred of the wounded and more are expected tomorrow. It is like what it must be after a battle. Many of them are horribly mutilated. There are no hospital accommodations, and you cannot buy a ready-made garment in the town. There is only one trained nurse in town—an English girl, who escaped in her night dress from Messina. She is a heroine and is working day and night assisting with the amputations. I am afraid she will break down. I was with an English woman last night who had to have both legs amputated at one o’clock this morning. Her husband, two children, a brother and a sister were killed. But I cannot stop to write you tonight of the many pathetic cases I have seen. We have four thousand refugees, one thousand of whom are seriously wounded. The German Red Cross, of Berlin, and the Italian, from Brescia, got here on Monday of this week, the 11th. They have taken over the barracks hospital, the worst of all, and such a transformation! They are doing fine work, with splendid fellows in charge. It was unspeakably horrible until they came. After the first few days in the hospitals I found I could do better work in helping the refugees to help themselves, and soon started the women from Messina to making clothing.

“Fortunately, there is a sewing machine agency here, and the Mayor of the town is of the right sort. He placed a room in the Municipio at my disposal, and an alderman—or whatever corresponds to alderman—who speaks some English, selected the women for me, and I pay them a franc and a half a day. We now have sixty-eight employed, in three different places. No ready-made garments could be purchased in the town, and the need for clothing was extreme. I soon used up my own money and what I could collect from people at the hotel, but, fortunately, Bayard Cutting, Jr., came on Wednesday, and liked the work so much that he gave me $600 from the relief funds to pay wages, and has had me appointed the Red Cross representative here.

“I have persuaded the Mayor to start relief work for the men, road building or what not, he to furnish the tools and oversight, and we (the American Red Cross) will pay the wages. We begin tomorrow. In short, I am organizing all I can on the good Charity Organization Society plan of making the able-bodied needy work for what they get.

“My personal impression of the situation is that the worst is yet to come, when the temporary relief ceases.

“I shall never forget the horrors I have seen and heard, and I was not at Messina!”

DR. METCALF AT MESSINA.

Dr. Francis Metcalf, formerly of the United States Army, who, during the Spanish War was a surgeon on the U. S. A. Hospital Ship _Relief_, in a personal letter written January 15th from Capii to Surgeon-General Torney, U. S. A., says:

“Of course, I volunteered immediately to go to Reggio and Messina and stated my former service on the _Relief_. I was accepted and was the only American there, excepting a couple of correspondents and the vice-consul. To avoid red tape and the questioning of orders I stuck the old insignia (the Red Cross) on a riding suit. Technically I suppose that violated the proprieties, but it wasn’t much of a time for technicalities and it avoided a lot of palaver. At any rate, I didn’t discredit the corps of which you are the head.

“Unfortunately, I was not able to do as much as I should have liked to do. I did accomplish a little, though, more especially in the embarcation of the wounded. They were all being carried up the longest and narrowest sidestairs I have ever seen alongside a ship, sometimes head first, more often with the head down and banged and jostled unmercifully. They were lying alongside for hours, seasick and unhappy, until I tried the old _Relief_ trick. I enlisted the aid of the ships’ officers and used a boat fall, clearing out the small boats in short order and sending the patients up without suffering until I had every gangway crowded. Nothing you have read in the papers nor experienced in San Francisco can give you an adequate idea of the situation down there. It was just one infernal smash and not less than a hundred thousand dead at Messina alone. The wounded were in horrible condition, as gangrene was almost universal.”

MISS BROCKIUS AT TAORMINA.

Miss Brockius, in a letter to a friend in this country, writes:

“If I wrote for hours I could not tell you of the horrors we have seen in the last three days. During the first the long trains came in perhaps every hour with the wounded and the dying, huddled together with the refugees, all with that frightened look of horror in their faces. When they thought the people were dying they would be taken off at our station and we had arranged the waiting room into a place to receive them. When the tables were all full they would have to go on the floor—poor, poor people, sometimes you could hardly see for the blood that they were human beings, and they were mangled beyond words. Some had both legs and both arms broken, and many had not eaten for days, and their thirst was terrible.

“We worked over one poor thing for hours, for the doctor said she had no bones broken, and she seemed very young and strong, but she must have been injured internally, for she died without becoming conscious. One man was taken off here who had been in the ruins for four days, of course with nothing to eat. He had to be fed at first with a drop of milk at a time, and in several hours he was able to walk to the carriage. One young fellow’s eyes were glassy with hunger, and after we had given him some hot broth we could see that awful look go away, but, poor thing, he had lost his memory entirely, and did not even know where he had been.

“It is so hard for us, not knowing much of the language, to tell what they want. A poor dying soldier was begging me to let him kiss something that was around his neck in a bag, and I couldn’t understand until a priest told me what he wanted.

“Many were in open coal cars and, as it has rained almost constantly since the catastrophe, the suffering must have been frightful.

“One man who went to Messina to help dig out the people told us it was much worse than a field of battle, for there were so many children lying there injured.”

APPRECIATION OF ITALIAN OFFICIALS.

Premier Giolitti, in speaking of the American people’s generosity, said:

“What the United States has done on this occasion is magnificent, and shall not be forgotten. The United States stands first, outdistancing all others in sympathy and generosity.

“Our gratitude is so great that we cannot find words in which to express it. Besides, appreciation on our part is heightened by the fact that so many of our compatriots have found hospitality in America.

“With us it is traditional to consider Americans, who visit Italy in such great numbers, as our best friends, since we love their country and their race, because of its liberal organization and its progressive principles.”

Signor Tittoni, the foreign minister, said: “Never before on any occasion has occurred such a demonstration of sympathy as that of America. It includes all classes and conditions from the President to the humblest citizen. Nothing could more tightly bind together the two countries or render their friendship closer.”

SOLIDARITY OF RED CROSS SOCIETIES.

In a letter of February 2nd to the Central Committee of the American Red Cross from M. Ador, Vice-President of the International Red Cross Committee of Geneva, he says:

“The large contributions received by you for the victims of the earthquake in Sicily and Calabria are a splendid testimony of your benevolent activity and the solidarity which unites our Societies of the Red Cross in times of peace as in times of war.”

THE POPE’S BLESSING AND THANKS.

The following is a copy of a newspaper clipping relative to the disbanding of the American Relief Committee, at a meeting of which Mr. Samuel L. Parrish stated that the Pope had bestowed his blessing upon the American Society:

RELIEF COMMITTEE DISBANDS.

At 4 o’clock this afternoon there was a strong shock at Reggio.
Shocks are still occurring at Reggio and Messina.

The American relief committee, which was organized for the
purpose of directing the American charities in connection with
the earthquake sufferers, has been dissolved. The Italian
authorities have now everything well in hand.

In cash alone the relief committee on the steamer _Bayern_
distributed $30,000. The vast supply of provisions on board the
steamer proved all too small for the innumerable calls made
upon the relief party’s resources, but the distribution was
made as widespread as possible.

During the sitting of the committee today Samuel L. Parrish
informed the other members that he had been received in private
audience by the Pope, who said that he admired especially the
exemplary generosity of the American Red Cross, and wished to
have these sentiments conveyed to that noble institution.

Mr. Parrish also said that, wishing to satisfy the desire of
the Pope, he had written President-elect Taft, the President
of the American Red Cross Society, reporting the result of the
audience, and adding:

“The Pope gave his blessing to the American Red Cross,
expressing his gratitude and high appreciation of the work of
that association.”

Mr. Parrish’s letter to the President follows:

ROME, January 15, 1909.
Hotel d’Europe.

HONORABLE WILLIAM H. TAFT, President Red Cross, Washington, D.
C.

My Dear Mr. Taft:

I was this morning received in audience by the Pope, to whom
my sponsor, Monsignor Ugolini, explained in succinct form the
generous activity of the American Red Cross in connection with
the sufferers in the recent earthquake in Calabria and Sicily.
The Pope then gave his blessing to the American Red Cross, and
while expressing his gratitude and high appreciation of the
work of the Association, desired that his benediction might be
known to its members. In seeking to fulfill this request, I
know of no better method than to thus simply state the fact to
you.

Yours sincerely,

(Signed) SAMUEL L. PARRISH.

AMERICAN RED CROSS RECEIPTS BY STATES

FOR ITALIAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF TO MARCH 13, 1909, WITH PER CAPITA CONTRIBUTIONS ACCORDING TO CENSUS OF 1909.

Attention is particularly invited to the remarkably generous contribution of California.

Mills
per capita
New York $316,836.57 43.53
California 200,996.82 135.34
Illinois 97,475.04 20.21
Missouri 40,809.42 13.13
Connecticut 39,459.66 43.43
Massachusetts 37,061.45 13.21
New Jersey 31,417.38 16.67
Wisconsin 26,934.83 13.01
Rhode Island 24,048.65 56.11
Pennsylvania 19,416.51 3.08
District of Columbia 16,538.90 59.33
Maryland 16,496.16 13.88
Ohio 14,343.97 3.45
Washington 13,734.76 26.50
Michigan 12,450.49 5.10
Iowa 10,749.98 4.81
Indiana 9,285.00 3.68
Utah 6,506.00 23.50
Virginia 5,892.95 3.17
Maine 4,269.75 6.14
New Hampshire 4,054.84 9.85
Alabama 3,907.77 2.13
South Carolina 3,902.32 2.91
Texas 2,109.68 .69
Nebraska 2,002.30 1.87
Nevada 1,955.92 46.20
Louisiana 1,864.00 1.34
Montana 1,781.71 7.32
Minnesota 1,777.16 1.01
Kansas 1,652.00 1.12
West Virginia 1,222.59 1.27
Vermont 1,153.90 3.35
North Carolina 1,148.35 .60
Delaware 1,076.00 5.82
Arizona 794.27 6.46
South Dakota 778.82 1.93
Colorado 653.95 1.21
Kentucky 407.90 .18
Tennessee 395.57 .19
Oregon 381.67 .92
New Mexico 309.75 1.58
Oklahoma 238.00 .59
Florida 222.48 .42
Georgia 205.86 .09
Mississippi 123.36 .07
Arkansas 83.04 .06
North Dakota 77.00 .24
Idaho 19.73 .12
Wyoming 16.26 .17
Porto Rico 5.00
“Anonymous,” not credited to States 11.25
Quebec 10.00
Mexico 5.00
British Columbia 1.00
Nova Scotia 1.00
“Christian Herald,” New York 55,000.00
------------- ------
Total $1,034,073.74

HOW NEW YORK RAISED FUNDS FOR ITALY

The experience of the New York State Branch in raising relief funds for a considerable number of disasters shows that several simple but indispensable things must be done in order to ensure adequate contributions—adequate, that is to say, to the emergency needs, and, as it will no doubt interest many Red Cross members to know what these things are and how they have been done, a brief description of the last appeal is offered.

When on the morning of December 29th last word came to the State Headquarters in New York City from Mr. Magee, the national secretary, authorizing and directing an appeal to the public for funds wherewith to meet the needs of stricken Sicily and Calabria, the secretary of the State Branch, Mrs. William K. Draper, and the state field agent were with the office secretary. For such an emergency there is a recognized program of work. The first thing to be done, of course, was to publish the appeal. At once, within an hour, notices were sent to all of the local newspapers. This notice stated that the American Red Cross had appealed to the people of the United States in behalf of the earthquake sufferers; that all funds sent to the State Treasurer, Mr. Jacob H. Schiff, at the State Headquarters would be forwarded with the utmost expedition through the federal state department to the Italian Red Cross, and that all persons sending their contributions in this way would have the fullest assurance that the money would reach the desired destination, and would learn later from official Red Cross reports how it was spent. Subsequently three ladies, members of the State Branch, visited all of the newspaper offices in the city and enlisted the co-operation of the editors in keeping before the public the function and record of the Red Cross, and the name and address of its local treasurer. It was realized that in order to get the best results the name and address ought to be printed every day by the papers in a conspicuous position. Unless this were done day after day, many persons inclined to give would forget this detail and let the occasion pass.

The chairman of the state executive committee, Mr. Cleveland H. Dodge, had meantime been notified. He satisfied himself by personal inquiry that all necessary measures were being taken to give publicity to the appeal and handle the contributions when received. The State Branch has twenty subdivisions, and these in case of similar disasters have been informed by letter, the small saving of time generally not justifying the expense of telegraphing. In this important instance, however, the chairman directed that the subdivisions should be notified by telegraph. Within an hour or two, therefore, every subdivision secretary in the state was advised of the appeal, and the morning papers in each locality published it, together with the name and address of the local treasurer, and a statement that the Red Cross, as the official emergency relief organization, was the proper channel for the transmission of funds to Italy. These telegraphic messages were followed by letters of formal direction.

The Branch’s responsibilities were not discharged by these efforts. We all know that a large portion of the public does not realize the significance of the Red Cross, even in time of the most important functions. Confused by the many claims on its attention, this portion of the people hesitates as to the advisable course to take and ends by waiting for fuller information. It was, therefore, of the greatest assistance to the cause of practical relief that the President of the United States, in his proclamation of the disaster, should point out the Red Cross as the proper depository for popular contributions. When Governors and Mayors do the same the representation is impressive and convincing. One of the earliest acts of the Secretary of the State Branch, therefore, was to write to Governor Hughes to request him to follow the example of the President and direct the public to the Red Cross, though naming the Treasurer of the State Red Cross. Communication with the Governor’s secretary by long-distance wire followed. The Governor readily appreciated the wisdom of the proposal and issued the following proclamation:

“TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK:

“The calamity which has visited Southern Italy and Sicily
must not only excite our deep sympathy with those so suddenly
stricken, but our desire to aid in the relief of their pressing
necessities. To this we are prompted by humane impulse and by
our friendly interest in the people so largely represented
among our citizens.

“I recommend that contributions be made through the New York
State Branch of the American National Red Cross, which is in
communication with the Italian Red Cross and has undertaken to
receive and forward funds offered for relief.

“It may be hoped that the generosity of our people, which has
had such beneficent illustration in the past, may again have
abundant expression.

“Given under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at the
Capitol in the city of Albany this thirtieth day of December,
in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eight.

“(Signed) CHARLES E. HUGHES.

“By the Governor:
“ROBERT H. FULLER,
“Secretary to the Governor.”

“The New York State Branch of the American National Red
Cross has offices at 500 Fifth avenue, New York City, and
contributions may be made to its Treasurer, Mr. Jacob H.
Schiff, there or at the address of Kuhn, Loeb & Company, 52
William street, New York City.”

Mayor McClellan, of New York City, when similarly approached issued an announcement, stating that the City Hall Fund then being raised would be turned over to the Red Cross for record and transmission and this was done.

Desirable as it is that all relief funds, however raised, should at least be passed through the Red Cross in order to receive public and uniform accounting and speedy transmission, the fact, nevertheless, is that not a few associations and individuals desire to raise funds and themselves forward them. On this account the Italians of New York City naturally enough organized their own relief committee, with the Italian Consul-General, Raybaudi Massiglia, and the American delegate of the Italian Red Cross, Mr. Lionello Perera, represented on it. The New York State Branch of the American Red Cross at once placed itself in communication with this committee. Colonel Sanger, the President of the New York State Branch, also at a later day paid a personal call. The funds collected by this organization, however, were sent directly to Italy to the Italian Red Cross, and not through the American Red Cross. Another committee, called the American-Italian relief committee, was organized and is still engaged in raising funds by the sale of memorial cards. It forwards the funds direct to the Italian Red Cross.

Many benefit performances were given in opera houses, theatres and public halls. To the managers of these performances and to the promoters of every relief fund being raised in the city, as fast as announcement of it was made the secretary wrote, asking that the funds collected be sent through the Red Cross as the recognized channel for relief. In some cases personal interviews were had with managers by the Red Cross held agent. The desire in doing this was not, of course, to limit the generosity or to discourage the independent collection of funds, but, as stated, to procure a public, uniform and central accounting. Many societies acceded to the suggestion of the Red Cross and funds collected by churches, Sunday schools, associations, women’s clubs, schools, etc., were sent to Italy via American Red Cross. Several bankers, who cabled contributions direct through their own Italian correspondents, were subsequently impressed with the wisdom of the Red Cross arrangements, and may be depended upon to make future remittances through it.

The first relief contributions began to come within twelve hours after the issue of the appeal, and provision had to be made for the large amount expected. The Christmas stamp campaign was just ended; only the accounting remained to be done, and four salaried helpers were engaged upon this when the Italian relief contributions began to pour in. Two of these helpers were retained to assist in handling the heavy mail. In addition two accounting clerks were furnished for a few days by members of the executive committee, and greatly assisted in putting the accounts in order. All contributions were receipted for as fast as received and were also recorded in special books. A list of all the contributions was sent daily to all of the newspapers for publication. The papers were also supplied daily with interesting details of donations as reported by visitors or in letters received.

Frequent demands were made to have the Red Cross take even a more active part in raising funds than it had assumed. Several proposals to issue relief stamps in imitation of the Christmas stamps were not adopted for the reason that public interest in the Italian disaster was felt to be already so high that no devices to stimulate it further were deemed practicable or necessary. Contributions were being received many times the amount which any stamp issues could possibly produce. Several offers were made to turn over theatres and public halls for the purpose of arranging benefit performances. But these, too, had to be refused since, of course, such work is outside of the function of the Red Cross.

The public was so profoundly moved by the press’ circumstantial accounts of the disaster and the appeal for immediate relief that it responded almost instantaneously. Within twelve hours of the publication of the first appeal the mail brought the first contributions. The first day yielded $1,115, the second day $63,917.50. The total to date is $317,378.94.

In this amount were the contributions received by the different subdivisions of the State. The amounts began to fall off after the first week, but continued in considerable sums for a long time and are still coming in. The appeal was withdrawn on February 4.

AMOUNTS COLLECTED BY SUBDIVISIONS.

Albany County Subdivision $ 4,500.00
Broome County 204.27
Chautauqua 301.36
Dutchess County 616.55
Glen Cove 165.25
New York County 255,701.04
Rensselaer Co. 2,952.19
Schenectady Co. 1,794.62
Ulster County 963.97
Brooklyn 9,278.70
Buffalo 1,947.74
Columbia County 311.00
Far Rockaway 10.00
Islip Township 140.00
Oneida County 1,323.30
Rochester 8,434.49
Syracuse 1,482.32
Westchester County 257.68

ORIGIN OF THE CHRISTMAS STAMP

“What was the origin of the Christmas Stamp?” was a question asked of Red Cross officials scores—doubtless hundreds—of times during the holiday season. This much we knew: On a letter received two years ago from Denmark Mr. Jacob Riis discovered a new and unknown stamp which aroused his curiosity. Inquiries brought its story, which he told a few months later in “The Outlook.” Miss Emily P. Bissell, the able and energetic secretary of the Delaware Red Cross Branch, read the story, and to the Annual Meeting of the Red Cross in 1907 brought a design for our first Christmas Stamp for the benefit of the anti-tuberculosis work, asking permission that the Delaware Branch might experiment with it, and so it had its birth in America. So successful proved the little stamp this past year, it became a national stamp. The story of its sale and success is told elsewhere. But what about its origin? Was it first thought of in Denmark? No one seemed to know. Then came the Tuberculosis Congress, and with it a report on Swedish tuberculosis work. What a surprise it was to find in this interesting pamphlet the origin of the “Charity Stamp,” as it is called, and still more of a surprise—a welcome surprise—to discover that its invention is due to our own “Sanitary Commission”—that precursor of the Red Cross. The Swedish report says: “The honor of having invented the Charity Stamp must be given to America—that land of inventions.” In the year 1862 the first Charity Stamps were sold at a great charity festival in Boston. These stamps, which were called “Sanitary Fair Stamps,” were sold to benefit the wounded in the war then proceeding between the Northern and Southern States. The idea was not adopted in Europe until thirty years later, when in 1892 Portugal produced the first Charity Stamps (private stamps for the Red Cross Society). Since then almost every country in Europe has used them and several hundred different types have been called into existence. Some of those used in Sweden are reproduced in this article. Learning this much from the Swedish report, Red Cross Headquarters began an investigation of its own, and through the librarian of the Boston Public Library was put into communication with Mr. A. W. Batchelder, and through his courtesy received three of the original stamps and a copy of the “American Journal of Philately” January, 1889, which contains an interesting article on “Stamps of the United States Sanitary Fairs,” by J. W. Scott. This article, much of which we quote, is illustrated by a number of these Sanitary Fair Stamps. Thanks to the kindness of Mr. Joseph S. Rich, of New York, who loaned to the Red Cross his collection of these stamps, and to the Surgeon-General’s office, of the United States Army, which photographed them, we were able to reproduce illustrations of many of these stamps.

The following is taken from the American Journal of Philately, January, 1889:

“In conversing with non-philatelic friends we are frequently taunted with the assertion that stamp collecting teaches nothing, commemorates no important events, and, in fact, has none of those claims to recognition which are conceded to the older science of numismatics.

“I wish to call your attention to a neglected series of United States stamps, a collection which will fully vindicate the assertion that stamps do commemorate national events, and in that respect are not one whit behind their venerable competitors, coins. The stamp before us has for its principal design the American Eagle, the bird of all others selected by our forefathers to represent the country. It is a little unfortunate that their knowledge of ornithology did not equal their love of freedom. However, he is now firmly established as the national emblem, and we must take him with all his faults and invest him with sufficient virtues for his honorable position. The bird as represented clasps three arrows in his right and an olive branch in his left claw; above is inscribed ‘Brooklyn Sanitary’ and below ‘Fair Postage.’ Unfortunately, the value is not given, but, perhaps, this was intentional. The stamp is produced by lithography, and printed in green on white paper.

“The stamp itself speaks volumes, and cannot fail to recall the time when our country was torn by internecine strife. Three years of war had filled our homes with mourning, our hospitals with maimed and crippled soldiers, and exhausted the resources of the national Government to relieve their sufferings. It was then that the ladies of the North organized fairs in the different cities to raise money to supply the wounded with comfort and delicacies; to send the convalescent to their homes, and to care for the widows and orphans of the slain.

“The stamp was used in the fair held in the Academy of Music, in Montague Street, Brooklyn, in 1864. But the spacious building was not large enough to contain all the offerings of the people or the attractions provided to tempt the dollars from the pockets of the thousands who filled the various rooms, so a light wooden bridge was erected across the street to a building on the opposite side. One of the most interesting features of the fair was the model post-office, equipped with all the paraphernalia which appertains to that useful institution. Here you could post a letter to any part of the world, provided you placed the necessary number of Uncle Sam’s stamps on it, and one of the fair’s labels to take it to the general post-office. This was not all. If you inquired of the innocent young lady at the window if there was a letter for you, you would certainly get one, for one of the clever lady assistants would write a little note while you waited, rather than have you disappointed, and even if there should be considerable postage due on it, for you certainly would not refuse it on that account, for it might be from your ‘Long Lost Brother,’ or some fair one who had promised to be a sister to you.’ The Brooklyn Fair netted over $400,000.00 for the benefit of the cause. Thus we find the Sanitary Fair Stamps were a source of innocent amusement to the young people, while they turned in considerable cash for the benefit of our wounded heroes, and left behind fragments of history to be gathered up by the Bancrofts of the future, to say nothing of the pleasure they have afforded to a generation of stamp collectors.

“Of the second Brooklyn Fair I have been unable to obtain any particulars other than that afforded by the stamp. The design consists of a foundry cut of an eagle, with ‘Post’ above and ‘Office’ below, which is enclosed in a rectangular frame inscribed, ‘Young Ladies of Brooklyn Bazaar’: a figure five being in each corner. The stamp is typographed in black on buff paper.

“Our next stamp is from New York, and is beautiful in design and elaborate in detail. In the center we have the American Eagle with outstretched neck and upraised wings; he is standing on the United States shield, with flags and stars in the background and national motto above; the inscription is artistically entwined around and reads: ‘Great Central Fair Postage Stamp, U. S. Sanitary Commission,’ with value above and below. The stamps are perforated and of three denominations—10 cents, blue; 20 cents, green; 30 cents, black. They were engraved on steel by the American Bank Note Co. This fair was held in Union Square, New York City, where buildings were erected for the purpose. It was opened from the latter part of April to the end of June, and was presided over by the leaders in society, wealth and beauty of the metropolis. It netted the enormous sum of $1,200,000.

“The next fair I call your attention to was held in the city of Albany. Unfortunately, I have no particulars concerning it except such as relate to the stamps. The first, of elegant design and workmanship, was prepared by Gavit, the well-known engraver of that city, but as the time drew near it was found impossible to have a supply printed in time; the plate was accordingly laid aside and never used. The design is copied from the one-cent blue carriers’ stamp, the well-known eagle on a branch to the left, with ‘Bazaar Post Office’ above, ‘Ten Cents’ below, the whole enclosed in a neat frame. I have seen impressions in scarlet, blue and black on yellow surface paper. The stamp actually used was much smaller, and produced by lithography by the same firm. The design is an eagle on a rock, with ‘Bazaar Post Office’ above and ‘Ten Cents’ below, enclosed in frame of single lines. It was printed in both red and black, and used during the fair. I may add, that, as far as I know, this is the only stamp of the series that has been counterfeited; the false stamp can easily be recognized by the absence of shading around the eagle.

“Our next stamp takes us to Boston, where the most successful fair in the Eastern States was held. It is interesting to note that, while all the stamps issued in New York State took an eagle for the device, those used in New England States were adorned with figures of soldiers or sailors. The stamp before us represents a sailor with a wooden leg, holding the American flag in his right hand; the vignette is crossed by the legend, ‘National Sailors’ Fair,’ on label above ‘Ten’ below ‘Cents.’ They are produced by lithography, printed in light green and cut out by an oval punch with scalloped edges. The fair was held in January, 1864, and realized $147,000 for the cause.

“The next stamp on our list comes from Springfield, Mass., and I have no information other than that supplied by the label itself. The design represents an officer bowing to two ladies, probably welcoming them to the fair, the figure 10, in rather large figures, being between them; in the center above is the inscription, ‘Soldiers’ Fair,’ below, ‘Springfield, Mass.’; figure 10 in the left upper corner, ‘Chubbuck’ in small letters in the lower right corner. It is evidently printed from a wood block in brownish mauve ink in various shades. Not the least interesting part of this stamp is the engraver’s name in the corner, ‘Chubbuck,’ the celebrated engraver of the Brattleboro stamp.

“The last of the series is a remembrance of Stamford, Conn. It represents a soldier on guard, with the name of the town, ‘Stamford,’ in straight line at top; on arched ribbon, ‘Soldiers’ Fair’; below, in straight line, ‘Fifteen Cents.’ It is printed from a wood block in brown ink on white paper. There were many other fairs held throughout the length and breadth of the loyal States, but although I gave special attention to the subject at the time, the above described are all that I have been able to discover. The success of the post-offices at the soldiers’ fairs induced other charitable institutions to adopt like means of raising money, among which may be named the Children’s Aid Society, the Orthodox Jewish Fair, etc., etc., but as they lack the national element, I do not think them worthy of collection; but the series I have described, which is composed of thirteen stamps, all told, and considering the small number, the interest attached to them and the great events they commemorate is well worthy an honored place in the collections of American philatelists.”

So from their origin the Red Cross seems to have a special right to these stamps. Their success will be apt to cause various organizations to desire to copy this idea. This will lead to an unfortunate result. Such repetitions will tire the public and the multiplicity of the stamps will create a lack of interest and destroy their usefulness not only for these other charities, but for the purpose for which they were revived in this country—the anti-tuberculosis work of the American Red Cross. It is to be hoped that our unfortunate American habit of “running a good thing into the ground” will not lead in this case to the destruction of the usefulness of the Red Cross Christmas Stamp by the overproduction of these charity stamps.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER,
WOULD YOU NOT LIKE
TO JOIN?

A CARTOON APPEARING IN THE PHILADELPHIA “LEDGER,” LAST NOVEMBER.]

FUNDS RAISED THROUGH SALE OF RED CROSS CHRISTMAS STAMPS, 1908 AND OBJECTS TO WHICH THEY WILL BE APPLIED

The following is a brief statement of the results of last year’s stamp sale, showing in general terms the manner in which the money raised will be applied. The total fund secured so far as reports at hand show was $138,244.51.

CALIFORNIA—

California Red Cross Branch and its Subdivisions $4,530.49
To be applied to Sanatoria, educational work, Day Camps,
District Visiting Nurses, etc.

COLORADO—

Associated Charities of Colorado Springs $684.62
To be applied to establishing free sanatorium for
Tuberculosis patients.

CONNECTICUT—

Connecticut Red Cross Branch $5,677.18
To be applied to the establishment of Day Camps and for
individual cases of tuberculosis among the poor.

DELAWARE—

Delaware Red Cross Branch $1,152.17
To be applied to purchasing site for dispensary and
salaries of two nurses.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA—

District of Columbia Branch $2,906.06
To be applied to maintenance of Day Camp.

FLORIDA—

General Federation of Women’s Clubs, Jacksonville $1,397.23
To be applied to an anti-tuberculosis campaign.

GEORGIA—

Atlanta Committee on Tuberculosis $1,500.00
To be applied to salary of local efficient secretary and
educational work of anti-tuberculosis society.

Augusta Committee on Tuberculosis $90.76
To be applied to day camp for Richmond County.

ILLINOIS—

Chicago Tuberculosis Institute $7,417.51
To be applied towards support of dispensary department
consisting of seven tuberculosis clinics and small
appropriations towards sanatorium patients’ milk and
egg fund, etc.

INDIANA—

Indiana Red Cross Branch $3,831.58
To be applied to the aid of two specific cases of
tuberculosis and balance will probably be expended
in aiding existing anti-tuberculosis organizations.

IOWA—

Burlington Red Cross Division $237.00
To be applied to Iowa tuberculosis fund.

KANSAS—

Kansas Red Cross Branch $154.46
To be applied to educational work.

KENTUCKY—

Kentucky Anti-Tuberculosis Organization, Louisville $2,300.00
To be applied to educational work in Louisville and
general promotion and organization throughout the State.

MAINE—

Maine Red Cross Branch $2,500.00
To be applied to Day Camps, tuberculosis classes,
educational work, State Sanitarium.

MARYLAND—

Maryland Association for the Prevention and Relief of
Tuberculosis $5,201.24
To be applied in educational work and in the support
of four special tuberculosis nurses and the special
tuberculosis dispensary maintained by the Association.

MASSACHUSETTS—