Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 September 1878 — A CRY FOR HELP. [ARTICLE]

A CRY FOR HELP.

An Appeal in Behalf of the Yellow-Fever Sufferer* of the South. To the Chamber* of Commerce and the Charitable of the Chief Citi s of the Union: The cry of anguish from the stricken cities and people of the South has been answered by a noble burst of charity from the people and cities of the country. Contributions, great and small, have been extended to the sufferers. The Secretary of War has generously extended the aid of the Government to the ponr and needy of the pest-rlilileu cities, but, great as has been the charity, the necessity is yet greater, and the sums subscribed are yet inadequate to tbe wants of the suffering. In New Orleans, Vicksburg and Memphis, as well as in the smaller towns of Holly Springs, Grenada, Port Gibson, Canton, Greenville, Brownville, Baton Rouge and Delhi all business is suspended. It is estimated that, in the suspension of business on the Mississippi river south of Memphis, over fifty steamboats are tied up, and their crews discharged. ’Longshoremen, and gangs of stevedores, and other laborers who were engaged in the receiving and discharging of freight, are without employment. Four great lines of railroad are paralyzed, and their employes are idle. Nearly every place of business in the cities and towns where fever prevails is closed, and the employes discharged. These employes are poor, and depend on their labor for support. It is estimated that of these unemployed men there are in New Orleans 15,000, Memphis, 8,000; Vicksburg, 2,000, and in smaller towns, 2,000, making a total of 37,000 discharged workingmen, most ’ of whom are heads of families, and represent a total population of not less than 108,000 in actual and desolate want. These people have no means to get away from the pest-ridden cities. For them there is no labor, no wages, no bread, nothing but death or starvation, and this condition must last at least for fifty days, for there will be no stay of the pestilence, no resumption of business, until frost. Averaging the support of each individual at 20 cents per day, which is 10 cents less than the cost of army rations, for fifty days, the support of the suffering and destitute will cost $1,080,000, and this for subsistence alone. Nothing for medicines, clothing, proper sustenance for the sick, and burial of the dead has been taken into account in this calculation. It has occurred to the undersigned that a comprehensive system of relief should be at once inaugurated to avoid the appalling distress which will sicken and shock humanity when to the awful destraction of the plague are added the horrors of famine. We suggest that in each of the great cities of the Union a central depot for the reception of supplies be at once opened where the contributions of provisions, tea, coffee, wines, medicines and clothing may be sent. The lines of transportation over both land and water have volunteered to transport supplies to the stricken cities free of charge. Let New Orleans, which is most accessible by sea and land, and which has more facilities for trans-

portation, be constituted the central depot for the reception of supplies, which can oe forwarded to the Howard and Peabody Associations of that city as fast as collected. Let Vicksburg, Memphis and smaller towns that are affected send to New Orleans their agents to aid in receiving, distributing and forwarding pro rata supplies to the respective towns and cities for which they are destined. We appeal to the Chambers of Commerce of the great cities to inaugurate this movement forthwith. We appeal to the charitable and good. We appeal to the ministers of God for their influence, and that of their congregations. Even the smallest donations of provisions, money or medicines, will be acceptable. The characters of the noble gentlemen who compose the Howard Association, and the Peabody Association, and the Young Men’s Christian Association are guarantees that all charities will be properly ana honestly applied. In the name of a common country and a kindred humanity we invoke for our stricken, dying, and starving people the charity of those whose homes and loved ones are secure from the pestilence that walketh in darkness and the destruction that waste th at noonday. E. John Ennis, Louisiana. R. L. Gibson, Louisiana. John T. Moro an, Alabama. Wm. H. McOardee, Mississippi. Chbus Bussey, President New Orleans Chamber of Commerce.