The Americans in London sent through the Honorable Whitelaw Reid, the American Ambassador, $20,000.00 for the California Fund.
The New York County Sub-division opened two clothing depots where contributions of clothing were received, assorted, repacked and shipped, sending 181 cases to San Francisco. During the first three weeks every night a list of supplies that day shipped or en route was sent to Dr. Devine. Service was also systematically arranged in telegraphing inquiries for missing relatives and friends and forwarding the information when received. The business public evinced the greatest interest and most practical coöperation in the relief work by furnishing free service and by lending or giving ample equipment to carry on the work.
The work of the State Branch has so increased as to render it necessary to move into a larger office—Room No. 507—in the same building, No. 500 Fifth Avenue, New York City.
PENNSYLVANIA BRANCH HEADQUARTERS.
Philadelphia, Independence Hall Building, June 14, 1906.
We awoke the day after the earthquake horrified to read in the morning papers that California had been devastated and San Francisco was in flames. It needed no second reading to know that a call for help would soon reach us, so our officers and executive committee reported to our State Headquarters where soon the expected telegram from Washington was received. It was a brief message instructing us to issue an appeal and appoint local treasurers.
Our official printer, who, by special arrangement, is obligated to take our copy and run on our emergency work night and day, was in a few hours delivering to headquarters the necessary printed matter.
“The Society for Organizing Charities,” represented by Miss Richmond and Mr. Esterbrook, volunteered to do the addressing of our appeals and at an hour’s notice had more than a score of their splendid young lady volunteers addressing and mailing our Red Cross appeal, using their Charity list of fifteen thousand selected names.
By a wise arrangement our Secretary is authorized to make emergency expenditures subject to reimbursement at later meeting of the Executive Committee, so the postage alone of some $300 was made instantly available from his personal funds.