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

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worth i)f tinware. 555:1 wnrtli of hardware. S40J worth of woodrnware. ami
Sio.ooo in casli at one time. Dr. hllliott, a lad) ph\sirl;in from l'liilad.el|ihia.
workiii.i; in ronnection with the Re-d Cros^, accomplisln-d as much a-- any one
indi\iilual m the relief (jf the- dibtressi'il. Heedle^^s of their own eonditiou.
the nnrses lion-^ed and cared for the honieles-- ,ind the iiijnred. .Vt Johnstown
the \ivi\ (."ross Society improx'iscMl hospitals npon the hill-snles. in tlie \alle\s
andwhere\er most needed. There they mm istered to mind as well as
liod\-, and by their i^entle care saved the reason of man\- nnfortnnates who
wonlcl otherwise ha\e ended lite behind the bars of a maddionse. Writing; of
them from ]ohnstown. a close olisc-rver saici :
".MI li.iil to Clarn Barton and her valiant band! They are to-day to the rtooded and
fever-stricken cities of .Vmerica what the s^ood Sanuiritan of olden times was to the waylaid
traveler .\nd their v.-ork will live in history loni; after they themselves have fallen to sleep in
the \\indo\\ less palaces of peace
The first relief orLjanization to arrive, the Red Cross was also the last to
leave Johnstown. When thes,- zealous ^\•ork(.rs took their departure earl\- in
October. the_\- handed oN'er thousands of dollars' worth of furniture, kitchen
utensils, stoves, bedding', clothin.;. and three lar;;e buildin:;s to a C(.>mmittee of
latiies. Of Miss Barton it is needless to speak at lenL,'th. Ik r name' is known
anil revered in e\'ery nation uncJer tlie sun. She is tin.' onl\- .Vnierican entitled
to wear the Iron Cross of Prussia, bestowed upon her for Iter services in the
camp and field. She is the dau^dtter (.if a Massachusetts soldier who foutrht
with .\ntlu:)ny Wayne. DuriuL; the war, undismaxed b\- the roar of cannon
and the clasli of steel, \\ith herijic liraxery she de\-oted herself to the care of
the wounded who could not be remoxed to hospitals. At the close of the war
site visited .\ndersonville. identified thousands of cjraves and put a memorial
over each. Incessant labors undermined her health and she went to Switzerland
in iSbg. While she was livmi; in Gene\'a. the CouL^ress of civilized
powers was held in that city to de\ise means for initii^atim^f the sufferings of
the sick antj wounded and the innocent non-combatants in all wars. Of this
Congress Miss Barton, from her o^reat experience on the battle-field and in hospitals,
was an honored member. The outcome was the formation of the Red
Cross Societx'. an orL;anization which keeps itself prepared to succor the sufferers
not only trom war. but froin pestilence. Hood, famine and all
other ;.;reat
disasters. Of the .\merican branch of this Red Cross Societ\- Miss I;arton
very naturally became the head, as slu^ still continues to be.
Miss Barton is of the middle lieiLjht and a t\;ie of the keen, steadf.ast.
powerful Xew-Ennland wijman. 'A'lth hue olixx- C(jmple\ion, \-ery L>ri;_;"ht black
eyes and a liii;til_\- expressive lace. She is gifted with great strength ot niind
and character, uncommon persona! courage ami rc-mrU'Kaole persistence. I'ull
of a nolile enthusiasm fcir noble work, she is also possessed of mar\elous tact.
political skill and business abilit;.'. She has a tine presence and such elo-