Part 12

Next day I went in again for my lunch, when Colonel Lewis brought to me a little, thin, white-haired mulatto man of seventy-three years, but still able to take charge of and direct the help at the tables, saying, "This, Miss Barton, is Uncle Amos, whom I promised yesterday to introduce to you when you came again. Uncle Amos is my most true and faithful man." I reached out for the withered, hard, dark bony hand he gave me as he said: "Yes, Miss Barton, I wants to see and speak to you, to tell you in de name of our people how grateful dey is for what your society has done for dem. Dat is never forgot. You come to us when we had nothing. You saved what was never saved befo' in a flood, our cattle, so dey could go on and help derselves to raise something to eat. Dey has all heard of it; all talk about it in de churches and de meetings. Our people is singular in some tings; dey never forgets a kindness. Dey hab notions. Dey hab a way of nailing up a hoss-shoe ober de do' for luck. I want to tell you dat in a thousand little cabins all up and down dis river dey has put up a little Red Cross ober de do' and every night before dey goes to bed dey names your name and prays God to bless you and de Red Cross dat He sent to dem in time of trouble and distress." Uncle Amos looked straight in my face the while. Colonel Lewis wiped his eyes, and I got away as fast as I could.

It would scarcely be faithful to the subject of this relief if some mention were not made of the third trip, namely, that of the voyage up the Ohio after the fall of the waters and the attempted return of the people to their former homes.

From an editorial of the Evansville _Journal_, May 28, 1884, headed "Good By Red Cross," we make an extract or two which has reference to the voyage and its purposes:

The Red Cross, having concluded its labors on the Ohio River below this point, will start to-day for the upper Ohio and go as far as Pittsburg, relieving the meritorious cases on the way.... The "Josh V. Throop," which has been rechartered for this trip, was loaded last Saturday. A part of the load was distributed between this point and Cave-in-Rock, and the room made vacant by the lower river distribution was filled with additional stores yesterday which will be distributed up the river. The load consists of what the people in the overflowed country will want and most need. There is clothing in immense quantities, over a hundred plows, large quantities of rakes, hoes, scythes, spades, shovels, groceries, flour, meat, meal, corn, bedsteads, chairs, buckets, tubs, tables, queensware, tinware, pots, kettles, skillets, etc.

This trip was arranged in general at Cincinnati, when Miss Barton first came West. At that time her policy took definite shape and it has never changed. She saw that the government was providing for all the immediate necessities of the sufferers and looked forward to the time when the unfortunate people would come almost hopelessly back to ruined homes--come back to find houses, furniture, tools, food, everything gone--and although aid would have been extended during the calamity by the government and benevolent institutions, the ruined people would have but a poor chance to proceed in the business of life. This was the anticipated opportunity of the Red Cross; this was the time Miss Barton foresaw would be pregnant with possibilities for doing large good, and the event has fully justified her prophetic view of the situation. The load now on the "Throop" will not only provide for the house, it will do much for the farm.

It would be difficult to imagine a voyage more replete with live interest than this beautiful May passage from Evansville to Pittsburg.

The banks were dotted with the marks of torn and washed-out homes; and occasionally one found the family, from father and mother to the wee little ones, gathered about the bare spot that once was home, trying in vain to find enough of the buried timbers to recommence a framework for another house, if ever they could build it, with all the hunger and need for daily food staring them in the face.

Picture, if possible, this scene: A strange ship, with two flags, steaming up the river; it halts, turns from its course, and draws up to the nearest landing. Some persons disembark and speak a few minutes with the family; then a half dozen strong mechanics man a small boat laden with all material for constructing a one-room house, take it to the spot and commence putting it up. Directly here is a structure with floor, roof, doors, windows and walls; the boat returns for furniture. Within three hours the strange ship sails away leaving a bewildered family in a new and clean house, with a bed, bedding, table, chairs, clothing, dishes, candles, a well-made little cooking stove, with blazing fire, with all the common quota of cooking utensils, meat, meal, groceries, a plow, rake, axe, hoe, shovel, spade, hammer, hatchet and nails, etc. We ask few questions, they none; but often it proves that the little, bare, boyhood feet of that desolated father had once skipped through the dewy grass of the green hills of New England, the brave old parent of States, where great riches are slow to come, and famishing hunger never enters.

Again, referring to the Evansville _Journal_ of May 28 we find the following:

A band of little folks in Chicago, called the "Busy Bees," were organized in a plan to extend succor to the suffering and collected a large box of goods which they sent to Miss Barton, with the request that it might be put where it would do the most good. She was some time in finding a place where she could put it with the greatest satisfaction to the givers and the donees. She found the opportunity she had been looking for yesterday. On her last voyage a gentleman at Cave-in-Rock told her that a poor, but worthy, family was in that vicinity, and on becoming acquainted with the family Miss Barton gave them some supplies and left fifteen dollars with the gentleman aforesaid, to either give to the family or spend for them as he might think best. He concluded that it would be judiciously expended by the people for whom it was intended and accordingly turned it over to them. The woman of the family came some days afterward to the gentleman, bringing with her another woman who was very destitute, and said: "This is my neighbor, and I have come to ask you if you think Miss Barton would care if I divided my fifteen dollars with her." "Most certainly not," was the reply; and then, out of her penury did this poor woman give. She retained ten dollars and gave five. Yesterday Miss Barton divided the contents of the store the "Busy Bees" had gathered among these two families, consisting of eight and five persons respectively. When she was delivering the goods to the poor woman who had generously shared with her neighbor, Miss Barton gave her back her five dollars, and said: "You have read where it is said, _He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord_, and He has sent it back already."

On February 11, 1884, Congress, in response to appeals from Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, appropriated $300,000 for the relief of the people who had lost their homes and other property by the Ohio River floods. On February 15, the first appropriation having been considered hardly sufficient to meet the demands, $200,000 more were appropriated for the same purpose, making $500,000 in all to be expended under the direction of the War Department. A boat load of supplies was sent down the river from Pittsburg; two boats left Cincinnati, one going up the river and the other down; one boat went down the river from Louisville and a fifth boat was sent down the river from Evansville. Afterward some additional boats were sent out from other places. Between February 15 and March 15, 536,000 rations were distributed by the government at a cost of $350,000. The remaining $150,000 were transferred to the Mississippi flood relief.

In the official report of the relief furnished to the Ohio River flood sufferers, written by R.P.M. Ames, Assistant Surgeon U.S. Marine Hospital Service, Evansville, Ind., he speaks as follows of the part taken by the Red Cross in this work:

At this time also the Red Cross Association came actively to the front for now had the time arrived when this association, of all others, could do the most good.... Through its instrumentality much suffering and destitution has been relieved throughout the Ohio valley which it would have been almost impossible to reach but for this organization. With Miss Clara Barton at the head, and a large corps of active and intelligent assistants, the relief work performed by this association has been most thorough and efficacious. Contributions of money and clothing have been sent to all points in the inundated districts of the Ohio valley where such assistance was needed, while a thorough and careful investigation by members of the association of the flooded territory has rendered the aid most beneficial. As soon as it became apparent that the suffering from the high water would necessitate the various relief movements, Miss Barton removed her headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Cincinnati, O., where she carefully and intelligently superintended the distribution of a large amount of supplies donated from all parts of the country, consisting of money, food, clothing and fuel. As the water receded then came the time for the relief proffered by this association to be given.

After remaining several days in Cincinnati and relieving all the suffering so far as it was met with, Miss Barton, on March 3, removed her headquarters to Evansville, Ind., where arrangements were at once commenced to reach and aid the sufferers between this point and Cairo, Ill. Captain J.V. Throop kindly placed his steamer, the "Josh V. Throop," at the disposal of the Red Cross without any expense except the actual running cost of the boat. The steamer was at once loaded with an immense quantity of boxes, barrels, bales and bundles of clothing, being donations from various private parties and relief organizations throughout the country which had been accumulating here for some time, together with a large amount of bedding and fuel, and started on its mission of mercy down the river in charge of Miss Clara Barton, Saturday, March 8, 1884.

Miss Barton was accompanied and assisted on this trip by Dr. J.B. Hubbell, of Washington, D. C, the field agent of the association; Rev. E.J. Galvin, agent of the Chicago Red Cross Association; Miss Hamilton, of St. Louis, with Mrs. De Bruler and several other Evansville ladies. Relief was given to all the sufferers needing it below Evansville and Wickliff, Ky., below Cairo. The party reached Cairo March 15, and after proceeding down the river to Wickliff, Ky., turned back, arriving at Evansville March 20. In addition to the supplies mentioned, the Rev. E.J. Galvin, of Chicago, had placed at his disposal $25,000, from which checks were drawn and left with any party needing financial assistance. Miss Barton and her corps of assistants remained in Evansville after their return until April 2, when the relief transactions throughout the Ohio valley having been practically finished, she removed her headquarters to St. Louis, Mo., where a relief boat was at once fitted out and similar assistance tendered to the sufferers in the inundated districts of the lower Mississippi. Miss Barton was further aided on this trip by Mr. John Hitz, of Washington, D.C.

On May 25th Miss Barton made a second trip down the Ohio with the steamer "Josh V. Throop" under charter with household supplies and farming implements for the recent sufferers. The boat went as far as Elizabethtown, or possibly a few miles below, and then turning back, proceeded up stream to Wheeling or Pittsburgh till the supplies were exhausted.

"THE LITTLE SIX."

It is possible that some readers may recall the story of the "Little Six," which was locally published at the time, but which I venture to reproduce, as an extract from the Erie _Dispatch_, of Monday March 24, 1884:

_Dispatch_ readers doubtless recollect its account some weeks ago of the manner in which six children of Waterford gave a public entertainment for the benefit of the Ohio flood sufferers; how they themselves suggested it; how their efforts were crowned with success; and how they brought the entire proceeds, $51.25, raised by their unpaid efforts, to the editor of the _Dispatch_ with the request that the latter forward it "where it would do the most good." The _Dispatch_ complied by forwarding it to Miss Clara Barton, president of the American Red Cross Association. The following letter tells the story of the disposition of the money. The names of the noble little band, of which any town in the nation ought to be proud of, are: Reed White, Florence Howe, Lloyd Barton, Joe Farrar, Mary Barton, Bertie Ensworth. The oldest is twelve years of age.

* * * * *

MISS BARTON'S LETTER

A TOUCHING INCIDENT VERY TOUCHINGLY RELATED.

RED CROSS RELIEF STEAMER, "JOSH V. THROOP," OFF SHAWNEETOWN, ILLINOIS, OHIO RIVER, _March 18, 1884_, MR. M.E. CAMP, Editor of the Erie _Dispatch_:

At length, I have the happiness to inform you that I have placed the contribution of the brave Little Six to my own satisfaction, and, as I believe, to the satisfaction of the little donors and the friends interested in them as well. Your letter inclosing the touching article describing their pretty thought and act, and the check for the sum donated by them to the sufferers from the floods, came during the early days of hurry and confused activity. The entire matter was too beautiful and withal unique, to meet only a common fate in its results. I could not, for a moment, think to mingle the gift of the little dramatists with the common fund for general distribution, and sought through all these weeks for a fitting disposition to make of it, where it would all go in some special manner to relieve some special necessity. I wanted it to benefit some children who had "wept on the banks" of the river which in its madness had devoured their home. I watched carefully all the way down on this trip, and tried, last Sunday, at Smithland on our return to make a little "foundation" for a children's help and instruction at that town which had suffered so terribly; but I could not satisfy myself, and after telling the pretty story to the best people of the town assembled on our boat, I still declined to leave the appropriation, waiting in confidence for the real opportunity to present and which we have met in the last hour. As we neared that picturesque spot on the Illinois side of the Ohio, known as "Cave-in-Rock," we were hailed by a woman and her young daughter. The boat "rounded to" and made the landing and they came on board--a tall, thin worn woman in a tattered suit, with a good, but inexpressibly sad face, who wished to tell us that a package which we had left for her at the town on our way down had never reached her. She was a widow--Mrs. Plew--whose husband, a good river pilot, had died from overwork on a hard trip to New Orleans in the floods of the Mississippi two years before, leaving her with six children dependent upon her, the eldest a lad in his "teens," the youngest a little baby girl. They owned their home, just on the brink of the river, a little "farm" of two or three acres, two horses, three cows, thirty hogs and a half hundred fowls, and in spite of the bereavement they had gone on bravely, winning the esteem and commendation of all who knew them for thrift and honest endeavor. Last year the floods came heavily upon them, driving them from their home, and the two horses were lost. Next the cholera came among the hogs and all but three died. Still they worked on and held the home. This spring came the third flood. The water climbed up the bank, crept in at the door and filled the lower story of the house. They had nowhere to remove their household goods, and stored them in the garret carefully packed and went out to find a shelter in an old log house near by, used for a corn crib. Day by day they watched the house, hailed passing boats for the news of the rise and fall of the water above, always trusting the house would stand--"and it would," the mother said "(for it was a good, strong house), but for the storm." The wind came and the terrible gale that swept the valley like a tornado, with the water at its height, leveling whole towns, descended and beat upon that house and it fell. In the morning there was no house there and the waves in their fury rushed madly on. Then these little children "stood and wept on the banks of the river," and the desolation and fear in the careful mother's heart, none but herself and her God can know.

They lived in the corn-crib, and it was from it they came to hail us as we passed to-day. Something had been told us of them on our downward trip, and a package had been left them at "Cave-in-Rock," which they had not received. We went over shoe-tops in mud to their rude home, to find it one room of logs, an old stone chimney, with a cheerful fire of drift-wood and a clean hearth, two wrecks of beds, a table, and two chairs, which some kind neighbor had loaned. The Government boats had left them rations. There was an air of thrift, even in their desolation, a plank walk was laid about the door, the floor was cleanly swept, and the twenty-five surviving hens, for an equal number was lost in the storm, clucked and craiked comfortably about the door, and there were two and a half dozen fresh eggs to sell us at a higher rate than paid in town. We stood, as we had done so many scores of times during the last few weeks, and looked this pitiful scene in the face. There was misfortune, poverty, sorrow, want, loneliness, dread of future, but fortitude, courage, integrity and honest thrift.

"Would she like to return to the childhood home in Indiana?" we asked the mother, for we would help them go.

"No," she said tenderly. "My husband lived and died here. He was buried here, and I would not like to go away and leave him alone. It won't be very long, and it is a comfort to the children to be able to visit his grave. No, I reckon we will stay here, and out of the wreck of the old house which sticks up out of the mud, we will put another little hut, higher up in the bank out of the way of the floods, and if it is only a hut, it will be a home for us and we will get into it."

There were no dry eyes, but very still hearts, while we listened to this sorrowful but brave little speech, made with a voice full of tears.

Our thoughtful field agent, Dr. Hubbell, was the first to speak.

"Here are six children," he said with an inquiring glance at me.

No response was needed. The thing was done. We told the mother the story of the "Little Six" of Waterford, and asked her if that money with enough more to make up one hundred dollars would help her to get up her house? It was her turn to be speechless. At length with a struggling, choking voice she managed to say--"God knows how much it would be to me. Yes, with my good boys I can do it, and do it well."

We put in her hands a check for this sum, and directed from the boat clean boxes of clothing and bedding, to help restore the household, when the house shall have been completed.

Before we left her, we asked if she would name her house when it would be done. She thought a second and caught the idea.

"Yes," she replied quickly, with a really winsome smile on that worn and weary face, "yes, I shall name it 'The Little Six.'"

And so, dear Mr. Camp, will you kindly tell those brave little philanthropic dramatists, that they are to have a house down on the banks of the great rolling river, and that one day, I think, will come a letter to tell them that another six children are nightly praying God to bless them for the home that will shelter them from the floods and the storms.

Sincerely and cordially yours,

CLARA BARTON.

In reply the following letters were received:

WATERFORD, PA., _March 25, 1884_.

M.E. CAMP, Editor of Erie _Dispatch_:

DEAR SIR: The "Little Six" met yesterday and wrote the accompanying letter, which they would like to have you forward to Miss Clara Barton. They wish me to thank you for sending them copies of your paper containing Miss Barton's beautiful letter to them. If you or Miss Barton ever had any doubts in regard to a child's appreciation of favors shown, I wish you could have seen those bright, happy faces as they gave three cheers for "ye editor" and three times three for Miss Clara Barton and the "Home of the Little Six" on the banks of the Ohio.

MRS. LOYD BENSON, Committee.

WATERFORD, _March 24, 1884_.

DEAR MISS BARTON:

We read your nice letter in the _Dispatch_, and we would like very much to see that house called "The Little Six," and we are so glad we little six helped six other little children, and we thank you for going to so much trouble in putting our money just where we would have put it ourselves.

Sometime again when you want money to help you in your good work, call on the "Little Six."

JOE FARRAR, twelve years old. FLORENCE HOWE, eleven years old. MARY BARTON, eleven years old. REED WHITE, eleven years old. BERTIE ENSWORTH, ten years old. LLOYD BARTON, seven years old.

It could not fail to have been a satisfaction to me to know that I had done my work as they would have "done it themselves."

As long as we remained on the river this family was occasionally visited by our boat. On one occasion a strong flagstaff twenty feet in length was taken and firmly set upon the bank near where they would place their house. Its well-lettered cross board at the top showed "Little Six Red Cross Landing," and this point has remained a landing on the Ohio River probably unto this day.