Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1880 — An Appeal for Aid. [ARTICLE]

An Appeal for Aid.

Br. Lorn*, April ft. The Merchants' Exchange Relief Committee here received so many reports of the terrible destruction and distress occasioned by the recent tornadoes in this State, and have official advices from so many relief committees and prominent gentlemen in the devsstated district of the argent need of assistance for the sufferers, that they will issue the following to-morrow morning, and ask place for it in the Associated Press report: Vo the Charitably-Disposed People of the United States: Xhe recent oyeionee which p—ed ere* the western part of the State of Missouri have brought dearth and rain to hundred* es families, laid waste many thriving towns and villages, and scattered te the wind houses. Mock and Implements of hundreds of farmers. Kecent advices received by this Committee show tbe destruction to be mow fearful than pen can picture. Mark K. Nipber, Professor of Physics, Washington University, this olty, and a Shsler Smith, Civil Engineer, was have Just returned from an exploring tour which covered the entire line of the two tornadoes lb Southwestern Missouri, in a report to this Committee, say that the half has not been told. The James Elver storm began about thirty-five miles west of Springfield, and gradually Increased In size and power until it attained a width at 2,000 feet. Pur a distance of forty-sir miles it cat an unbroken swatk from 1,500 to 2,000 feet wide. Men, women and children were killed or crippled; horses, cattle, sheep and bogs were In a similar condition. Dwellings, fences and outhouses were not only leveled, but blown away. Plowa, wagons, reapers and otner farming Implements were reduced to scrap-iron aodkin-aling-woqd, and In many oases fields with growing crops so covered with forest debris, or with mad or sand, that much additional labor will be required to save what has been planted. No bouses or barns are left standing in tbe track of tbe storms, and farmers are entirely without houses or Implements with which to carry on their farms. Simitar reports come from many other sources, ant) the demands upon the people for assistance are very urgent. St. Louis is doing all in ber power for the relief of these unfortunate diatiiota; but the call is great, and cannot be supplied In an adequate manner by tbe citizens of this State alone. This Committee, therefore, in behalf of the sufferers, appeals to the people of this country everywhere to come forward and assist In relieving the great distress of tbe Southwest. Tbe appeals from the feverstricken cities of the South during the l.ist two summers were not more urgent than this. This Committee will furnish information to any parties having funds to forward to points needing assistance, and will receive and disburse any money or supplies sent here for this purpose. E. O. Stan .mid, ‘ Alxx. H. Smith, 5 D. P. Rowland, Samuel Cupples, Martin Collins, Merchant's Exchange Relief Committee.