Clinton County Republican-News June 2, 1927 REPORT BATH RELIEF WORK 100 Attend Meeting Held in Village Thursday; Lansing Man Sums Up Results Four Bath disaster victims are reported as still being in a critical condition this (Thursday) morning. They are: Mrs. Joseph Perrone, 33, fractured skul1 and sight of one eye gone; Beatrice Gibbs, 10, both legs and one arm broken; Anna Braska, 9, fractured jaw and compound fracture of left leg; and Ida DeLau, crushed spine. It has been found necessary to make but one amputation thus far - Josephine England losing a foot. More than 100 people attended the meeting at Bath last Thursday afternoon to hear the reports of the several committees in charge of the relief work. Among those present were the officers and directors of the Clinton and Ingham Red Cross chapters, physicians and ministers who assisted, several chairmen from outside county chapters, and many residents of Bath, Lansing and St. Johns. In opening the meeting Chairman C. S. Clark, Sr., of the Clinton chapter, who presided, explained the purpose of the gathering and then called upon Rev. Edwin Bishop, chairman of the Ingham County Red Cross chapter, who read a report showing how the relief workers had been organized and what they accomplished. This report is printed in detail below. Reports of other committees were given by the following: Wm. M. Smith, case committee; Mrs. C. S. Clark, Sr., food committee; Miss Kate LeVanseler, linen committee; and Rev. Coleman, Dewitt, ministerial committee. Drs. Sbaw, and Bartholomew of Lansing reported physicians would make no charge for their services in the disaster. Miss Morse explained the part the National Red Cross played in the relief work. The meeting was closed with a prayer by Rev. Scott McDonald of Bath. Following is Rev. Bishop's report: _____________ Report of Edwin W. Bishop, Chairman of the Inghamn County Red Cross Chapter, on the Bath Disaster. To the Boards of Directors of Clinton and Ingham Counties' Chapters of the Red Cross, to the citizens of the township of Bath, and to the public in general: Upon request I have prepared an outline report of the history of the last few days concerning what will probably be known as the Bath disaster. In accepting this appointment I have only acted as the mouthpiece of all the agencies which had been busy in extending relief in this disaster. I shall ask your indulgence for any error of statement that may occur, and especially for any omission, since such may easily be found in a statement necessarily prepared so quickly as this has been, and I ask your co-operation in rectifying either any error or omission or essential fact before the report finds resting place in the archives. Before getting at the kernel of the matter I would like to draw attention to two or three preliminary considerations. First of all, with the exception of the trained workers we were all civilians engaged in our own particular work or professions. I think I am safe in saying that not one of us thus engaged in civil life had been face to face with such a disaster as this where we had certain duties to perform. We were therefore unprepared in disaster technique but we were willing to learn, we had the advice of trained executives and we tried to do our duty as we saw it day by day. If there has been remissness anywhere it has been due to lack of knowledge and experience rather than to willful intention. Secondly, and closely following this first preliminary consideration is an explanation which we desire to make to the Boards of Directors of the two County Red Cross Chapters. When the news of disaster came to St. Johns and Lansing the organizations of the Red Cross began to function according to schedule. A meeting of the boards was thought of earlier, but there were two very good reasons for it not assembling until now, namely, our trained workers have been too busy in the work of relief to have been spared for a board meeting, and it seemed wise that the executives themselves should not be interrupted in the work that naturally fell to them. Now that the pressure for immediate relief work is over and a breathing space has been granted, we have at this first opportunity called all the directors of both boards together that you might be the first to be acquainted with what has already been undertaken and accomplished and that your advice might be given on further procedure. This is an explanation due you and we trust that it will be a reasonable one in the light of the history of the past few days. The third and last preliminary consideration, is a tribute to the splendid co-operation which has been extended by the individual citizens of Bath, by all the County and state authorities, and by the Social Service agencies in our own counties and nearby cities. One of our visiting trained workers has stated that she has never witnessed co-operating agencies work together any more smoothly than in this disaster. We are indeed glad that this has been so. Our members will be cheered with the thought of the successful team work without which these records could not have been thus written. More specific acknowledgments will be given later. In coming now to the picture itself, I must make it an etching with bold outlines rather than a steel engraving overloaded with details. I can only jump from high spot to high spot and I shall purposely omit any descriptions of the causes or of the disaster itself, concentrating only upon relief adopted and undertaken, as this is the message with which this body is chiefly concerned. The Story On Wednesday morning, May 18, at about 9:45 the first explosion occurred in the consolidated school house at Bath and naturally the first measures of relief were taken by those in the immediate vicinity. Villagers gathered immediately and began to give all the aid within their power. County and state authorities were quickly notified. St. Johns and Lansing got the news. Word was received at the Social Service Bureau in Lansing which immediately communicated with the Ingham County Red Cross office across the hall. Judge C. B. Collingwood, chairman of the disaster committee, was notified by Mrs. Leona Weldon who was secretary in charge of the Lansing office during the absence of Miss Lucile Fulke who was attending a national convention at Des Moines, Iowa. The chairman of the Ingham County Red Cross Chapter was in Rochester, near Detroit, addressing a state conference meeting. Much credit should be given to Mrs. Weldon, who though unexperienced with such a disaster, effectively set the organization at its task. Dr. Milton Shaw of Lansing, was the first physician outside of Bath township to appear on the scene of the disaster, quickly followed by the firemen and the police of Lansing. To them were also soon added the state police and all these bodies immediately began to render efficient service. A corps of doctors and nurses representing hospitals of Lansing and St. Johns and neighboring vicinage came quickly to the scene and began their work of mercy. A corner of the school yard was used for first aid and the quickly arriving ambualances transported those more severely injured to the hospitals. The dead were reverently laid in a row by themselves and were removed upon identification to homes or undertaking establishments, Mrs. Leota Abrams of the Social Services Bureau of Lansing, was a tower of strength here. A morgue was opened in the town hall in Bath. By one o'clock most of the severely injured had been successfully transported to the hospitals. Rescue work continued through the afternoon, aided by the wrecking crews of the Reniger and Christman Construction Companies and The Reo and Olds Motor Companies of Lansing. A cordon was thrown around the building and grounds that rescue work might not be hampered. The state police controlled the continually increasing traffic. By the aid of electric lights, rescue work was carried on into the night until it was certain that no bodies were left in the ruins. The first day of the tragedy was over and the reparitive constructive forces of society had demonstrated their need and effectiveness. The Red Cross headquarters in Lansing was kept open until 11:30 that night, answering telephone calls, checking up lists of dead and injured, dispensing information and planning for the next day. Fortunately for us all, Miss Elba Morse, national representative of the Red Cross, was at Stanton in Montcalm county where she heard of the disaster. Miss Morse with Miss Mary Keaveny, Red Cross nurse of Montcalm Chapter, immediately drove to Lansing, reaching there in the night. On Thursday morning they were on the ground with the Red Cross Chapter executives of Clinton and Ingham counties and with Miss Charlotte Lockhart of the Social Service Bureau of Lansing. Through the courtesy of Dr. and Mrs. J. A. Crum of Bath a Red Cross field headquarters was opened in a front room in their home, a telephone was installed, a typewriter secured, and from that time until the present this room has been a clearing house for all of the relief agencies. Dr. and Mrs. Crum have also most generously put at the disposal of several committees some other rooms in their home. And these headquarters have been busy scenes of activity with many volunteer helpers from St. Johns, Lansing and the vicinage, as well as the executive secretaries and the nurses loaned by the adjoining counties ably assisting. The relief work soon naturally divided itself into different committees which functioned in case investigation, in hospital visitation, in home nursing, in food and bedding and in arrangements for funerals. A committee of ministers called upon homes where death had entered and advised and comforted the sorrowing. Where the family had no choice of an officiating clergyman, the committee offered their serylces. On the afternoon of the disaster, Governor Green and Mrs. Green visited the scene as did Mayor and Mrs. Troyer of Lansing and Mayor Schoenhals of St. Johns who generously made offers of assistance. Executive action was taken on Thursday afternoon in the governor's proclamation to the citizens of Michigan to rally with voluntary contributions for immediate relief and for permanent rehabilitation and which appointed a committee to take charge of raising these funds. At a meeting that afternoon in the governor's office with the governor and representatives of the Clinton and Ingham county chapters of the Red Cross it was understood that the immediate relief funds, as is customary in such cases should be distributed under the advice of the Red Cross, while any funds for permanent property rehabilitation should be in control of the governor's committee. A disaster case committee to consider the expenditure of such relief as the governor's committee could offer was appointed by a general council which was called in the Red Cross headquarters on Thursday afternoon, comprised of all the agencies that were on the ground. This disaster case committee has held four meetings, having completed its recommendations which will be spoken of later by Mr. William Smith of St. Johns, the chairman. May it be said, however, in this connection that the Red Cross, which is a national organization and which has accumulated through long experiences in disaster a rational body of procedure, exists only to give such personal and property relief as is needful for human life and safety. The principle underlying Red Cross relief is need - not loss. The Red Cross, prohibited by its own constitution from becoming an insurance company, cannot reimburse victims of disaster, much as its heart and wishes might be so prompted, with blanket rehabilitation. The Red Cross exists to minister to need - not loss. The actual need of the individual or the family, rather than the amount of the loss, is the sole basis of its functioning. That this must be so from the nature of the case and that this provision is a wise one will be apparent to every thoughtful mind. This statement is plainly made and results should be estimated by this nationally adopted principle by all who are locally interested. The Red Cross, ably assisted by other social service organizations, both locally and farther afield, especially by the Social Service Bureau of Lansing, which has been untiring in its efforts of co-operation, have thrown themselves whole heartedly into this work of immediate relief according to need which will not entirely cease at this meeting as Miss Morse, the national field worker, will in her turn tell you. And if there be any questions arising in this community, as frequently arises in other communities, that some of the money collected has gone for salaries and equipment, may the Red Cross and these other social agencies concerned rather proudly say that the resources of these organizations with their trained workers and voluntary workers have been willingly and freely given to this stricken community without a dollar of compensation going to any of us for expenditure of time and effort involved. Where the personal or family need continues, that need will be met up to the limit of the resources at our command. But beyond that need, property rehabilitation will rest under the control of the governor's committee and such resources as it may have at its command. Acknowledgements In reviewing and tabulating acknowledgments of assistance during the past few days time and space will permit me only to make brief mention of organizations. The names of the individuals will be found in other more particular records. Among the organizations that should be mentioned as having co-operated in our work of the last week are the following: The Rotary Club and American Legion of St. Johns, The Board of Supervisors of Clinton county, Clinton County Chapter of Red Cross, Social Service Bureau of Lansing, Salvation Army of Lansing, St. Lawrence, Sparraw and Lange Hospitals of Lansing, hospital of St. Johns, Red Cross Chapters of St. Johns, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Pontiac, Clare and Lansing, Medical Associations of Clinton and Ingham counties, the state police, the police and fire departments of Lansing, the governor's committee, ministers' funeral committee, Michigan Children's Aid Society, undertakers' ambulances, Service Battery of 119th Artillery, army cots and blankets, Reniger and Christman Construction Companies, Reo and Olds Motor Car Companies, Boy Scouts. Conclusion We have herewith presented the account of our stewardship thus far. If the combined agencies represented in this report have given, they have also received. It has been an educational experience in humanitarianism. We have all been learners. We have broadened our sympathies and increased our contacts. Like ships that pass in the night we shall probably never be thrown together again in like circumstances but as we have passed we have tried to give a cheery hail. The tumult and the shouting dies. The captains and the kings depart; Still stands thine ancient sacrifice, [A] humble and contrite heart: Lord God of hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget, lest we forget. May this township having passed through its Gethsemane, and having been crucified on Calvary, come into a bright resurrection. Respectfully submitted, Edwin W. Bishop, Chairman Ingham County Chapter of Red Cross _________________ Summary Bath Disaster Total No. dead_______________________________44 No. injured taken to hospitals_______________44 No. slightly injured given A.T.S.____________36 No. injured who have not received A.T.S._____ 7 No. injured taken to Sparrow hospital________30 No. deaths, Sparrow hospital_________________ 2 No. patients discharged, Sparrow_____________ 8 No. injured taken to St. Lawrence hospital___13 No. discharged St. Lawrence hospital_________ 4 No. taken to Lange Sanitarium________________ 1