It is impossible in so brief a report to mention the many incidents of our “California Earthquake and San Francisco Fire Appeal” as we called it. The pathetic letters, the sad plight of the refugees who came to us for succor and employment, of our inquiries for the dead and missing, of the free telegraphic bureau and of the letters written by the many who called to ask a seemingly hopeless question. Nor must we overlook thanking Dr. Devine for his quick and always satisfactory replies to our inquiries. The marvel of it all is that it was possible to so quickly bring the relief work to such a state of high potential efficiency, conclusive and splendid record of the success of the National Red Cross and its responsible State Branches. In a later report we will send you a list of the Pennsylvania State towns with their financial statements of subscriptions sent through these Headquarters. We wish now to thank the citizens of the entire State and particularly of those cities that responded so promptly and so liberally.
“Who gives quickly gives twice.”
Very respectfully yours,
JOSEPH ALLISON STEINMETZ.
Secretary for Pennsylvania.
The National Secretary received the following letter from Miss Emily P. Bissell, Secretary of the Delaware Branch, who is making a tour of Europe:
Rome, May 27, 1906.
Mr. Charles L. Magee, Secretary the American National Red Cross, Washington, D. C.
My Dear Mr. Magee:
I am sorry to say that I could not find out anything much about Red Cross relief work in Naples. When I landed there on May 8th, the eruption of Vesuvius was a thing of the past. The streets were all cleaned up, the roads open, and the people who had at first crowded into the city from the destroyed towns had all been sent back or away. I went to the Red Cross rooms, and was shown the garments for distribution, which a committee of ladies had been attending to. That was the only sign of activity there, and only one man, and he not an official, but a subordinate, was in the rooms. He told me all the relief work now carried on was in the towns themselves—Bosco Tre Case and Ottajano. So I started off for them next day.