Make Red Cross appeal for San Francisco. Name local Treasurer.
CHAS. L. MAGEE, Secretary.
On Thursday, April 19th, no word having been received from any of the officers of the California Branch, the Hon. William H. Taft, President of the Red Cross, appointed as special Red Cross Agent, Dr. Edward T. Devine of New York, who had had experience in such relief work at Johnstown and Baltimore. Dr. Devine being instructed to proceed immediately to San Francisco, started Thursday afternoon. General Funston, Judge Morrow and Mayor Schmitz were sent telegraphic notice of his appointment.
Judge Morrow reported by letter later that directly after the disaster he sent several dispatches to the National Red Cross, none of which were ever received.
A large number of telegrams were received at Red Cross Headquarters asking to whom car-loads of provisions donated for San Francisco were to be consigned. Before Dr. Devine had started instructions were returned to ship such supplies to General Funston. As soon as Dr. Devine had started all further contributions of supplies of which the Red Cross was notified were consigned to him as Special Red Cross Agent. A report of these contributions will be given in a later Bulletin when a fall report of contributions of money, food, clothing and other supplies received by the Red Cross will be made.
April 25th, Dr. Devine telegraphed to the Red Cross that a consolidation of the Finance Committee with the California Red Cross Branch had been effected, which was entirely satisfactory to Judge Morrow, President of the Branch. The new committee was called the “Finance Committee of Relief and Red Cross,” Mr. James D. Phelan being chairman. There was great local desire to have this consolidation recognized. An immediate reply was sent as follows:
Dr. Edward T. Devine, Red Cross Agent, San Francisco, Cal.:
Executive Committee gladly recognizes Committee of Relief and Red Cross. Will forward funds to credit of James D. Phelan. Law requires Red Cross accounts to be audited by the War Department. Please keep accounts so that this may be done.
ROBERT M. O’REILLY,
Chairman Red Cross Central Committee.
On April 23d, the following telegram was sent to the Secretaries of the Red Cross Branches: