As soon as the extent of the disaster reached me, I immediately notified the authorities at Washington and at once came a reply order, by wire, to issue an appeal for help. This appeal was promptly issued as directed, and contributions began to come in. With that noble spirit so characteristic of the present management of the Red Cross, recognizing the fact that instant assistance was needed, a message flashed by wire from Washington, to draw upon the National body for three hundred dollars, reached us, at the right time, and was used with marked effect. Following this quickly came a check from Honorable William H. Taft for one hundred dollars, forwarded to him from a prominent lady in New York, to be devoted to this purpose. On September 11th another Red Cross check for three hundred dollars was sent, and on October 17th still another for one hundred dollars. These added to a check for fifty dollars from Honorable Robert C. Ogden, of New York, made eight hundred and fifty dollars contributed from sources outside the State. Within the State $675.41 are credited, and of this $260.00 were the gift of our colored fellow-citizens. The total amount, therefore, which our Treasurer, John B. Reeves, has had in bank for this fund, as shown by his books, is $1,525.41, reduced by payments to different committees to $1,067.41. Credit must also be given to those who have sent in large donations of wearing apparel, bed clothing, etc. These have been carefully packed by active lady friends and shipped by Mr. W. E. Renneker, agent of the Atlantic Coast Line, free of cost for distribution among the most needy sufferers.
Another act of your body which has won our encomium was to furnish, at our request, an expert to visit the devastated sections and report thereon. The lot most fortunately fell on Miss Janet E. Kemp, a lady of culture, refinement and business experience. Her report will best tell you of the pathetic scenes and incidents that she encountered on her journey of investigation. Her visit partook of the nature of an angel of mercy, and I was blessed in having such an assistant in the time of peril.
The following graphic sketch taken from The News and Courier, of Charleston, and The State, of Columbia, two leading and most influential newspapers, giving an account of the conditions in the Congaree and Wateree districts, may prove interesting to your readers:
THE CONGAREE AND WATEREE SECTION.
“After spending Sunday and Monday,” says The News and Courier, in its issue of September 23rd, “in Columbia, whither he had gone to institute, as closely as possible, an investigation into the condition of the flood sufferers, together with making provision to supply their present necessities, as well as to plan for their relief during the winter months, Mr. A. C. Kaufman, President of the South Carolina Branch, Red Cross, returned to Charleston yesterday. ‘I had an opportunity,’ he said to a reporter last night, ‘during my visit to consult with white and colored men from the afflicted section of the Congaree and Wateree Valley, both as to the extent of their losses and the extremity of their condition. Theirs was, indeed, a harrowing story, enough to make the heart bleed. Some of the sufferers are unable from childhood, age or infirmity to labor in any shape or manner. The only kind of work most of those, able to do anything, can do is to pick cotton in the fields. In remuneration for this labor they receive 50 cents a hundred pounds for the cotton which they gather. This will enable them to eke out existence until the middle of November, and then will gaunt poverty haunt them, labor of all kinds, to which they are adapted, being then at an end. Then will come to them starvation and death unless the humane people of South Carolina place in the hands of the Red Cross, working in co-operation with the local committee of Richland County, the means to save their lives.
“‘A committee composed of three citizens of Columbia of the highest character in connection with sub-committees, to be selected by them, have agreed to handle the matter.
“‘The following article from The State, of Columbia, will give a fuller idea of the business-like manner in which the Red Cross and the committee propose to handle the situation:’”
The State, of Tuesday, says:
Col. A. C. Kaufman, of Charleston, the representative of the Red Cross Society in this section, came to Columbia Saturday night and spent Sunday and yesterday in the city, going over the ground in connection with the Richland flood sufferers.
As a direct result of this visit, a central committee has been formed in Columbia, its members taking part upon the special request and designation of Colonel Kaufman. This committee contains but three members—Captain William E. Gonzales, Editor of The State, Chairman; Mr. W. A. Clark, President of the Carolina National Bank, Treasurer, and Mayor William S. Reamer, of Columbia.