The story of Johnstown : its early settlement, rise ... - JohnstownCafe

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at the I-^thnuis of Panama, the Canadian sinall-pcix epidemic and tiie yellowjack
scourL;e in tlie Sontli. Left a widow at seventeen, she ha.s cared fi.T herself
L-\er since. In her work at Johnstown she climbed the mountains, walked
from district to district, ferreted out needy cases ;ind reported them to the
nnarterniaster. She made application t.-r a lior:,e. and then readied vul farther
into the couutr\-. Tiny infants were Mrs. Jerome's speiial care. She saw that
the proper wardrobes were snpplied and the needs uf the mothers brou;;ht to
tlie attention of the relief committees. Heaven aloni' knov s how^ ninth L'ood
she did in a mission of charity and love that conld be performed onl\- by the
best of created beinL;s.
On WednesdaveNenin'..;, five days after the flood, the tlaR of the Red Cross
floated over the Society's camp near the Poplar street liridge. Everybody
recognized the welcome signal and knew its meaning. Miss Clara Barton, the
Florence Xmhtingaie of .\merica.
liad come from Washington, with
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menibers of the Execiiti\e Commit- /f
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tee, on a mission of mercy. She
was tlie originator of the Ked Cross,
which liad its inception in Switz- (,
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erland. Althougli an .\mericaii by S
birth, Miss Barton was long the chief
nurse of a European army. In that J^
position she saw tiie need of edii- r'jjy
cated nurses who should minister to
friend and foe alike. Her idea was |
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the members of which would hold themsehes in re.idiness. not eiily to contri-
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incorporated in the Society of the ;g^^ j,^ '[^^ff^ '
Red Cross of Gene\a. a charter for ^-'r^^- %\ -^B^
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which was granted by the Swiss '\
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r\.epublic. The object was to form ^^.^^^3l->--^
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an organization of nurses who
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would be admitted into tlie lines of
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any camp, anv battle-field, where
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tlie\' ccuild aid the sick and w tjunded
of eitlier side. So successful was it from the first that, during the I'ranco-
Prussian war. a soldier of either nationality wearing the sign of the Red Cross
upon liis arm was permitted access to all camps. .Vt tlie close of the I'ranco-
Prussian war Miss Barton desired to established a branch of the Ived Cross in
her nati\-e land. Securincr the ri-ht from the President of Switzerland to remove
her field of operations to .\nierica. she importuned Congre-s to L;rant a
charter. Success finally crowned her ettorts. and she set to work to organize
the Red Cross of America. What was most necessarx was an organization