Southern Refugee Relief Association ORGANIZED FEB. 9, 1880, For the Purpose of Relieving the Great Want Growing out of the Negro Exodus, Chicago, January 22nd, 1881 An Appeal for Help in Behalf of the Colored Refuges in Kansas One year ago this month we published a statement from Mrs. Elizabeth L. Comstock of Topeka, setting forth the destitution of the Refugees in Kansas, asking for your contribution of money, clothing and bedding. The response was generous. We received several carloads of goods, and forwarded them to Topeka, met the demand, and saved much suffering. Then we reported 20,000 arrivals in the new State. To-day comes a similar appeal from Mrs. Comstock, saying the number has increased to over 60,000, and still they come. Our supplies are very short, extreme cold weather and exposure have induced much sickness, multitudes are suffering for fuel and shelter and the necessaries of life, and again we ask your contribution. Below we give extracts from letters received from our agents in Kansas, whom the Association depends upon to distribute supplies, thinking this may be the best form of appeal we can use: "Our people (refugees) here number from 700 to 800, principally Texans, poor, simple, field hands, the poorest of the exodites, those who came overland with Texas teams, trusting hearts, no money, large families, and devout Christians, about nine-tenths of them requiring aid. Fifty sick. During the cold weather many were frost-bitten, some disabled. Coughs, pneumonia, ague, are the common sickness. This cold weather the people suffer much. I am out of funds, and twenty-five dollars behind. Two poor creatures from Texas just called on me for a
bed-quilt to cover them to-night, and a dress each, mothers; I had none to give them. What we need most is medicine for the sick and help for the aged widows, then warm bedding and clothing. Oswego, Dec. 23, '80. W. S. Newlon." "It has been a very cold winter so far, and severe on our poor folks. Quite a number have just come from Texas. I wish I had some funds to relieve them. Great need of lumber for shelter. Parsons, Kas. Milton W. Reynolds, Pres't Labette Co. F. R. A." Lucrecia Fulton, one of our ablest workers in North Topeka, reports, under date of Dec. 30th, 38 widows with families of children in great destitution. Five of them with crippled sons; three with idiotic daughters, the result of southern cruelty and oppression. Daniel Votaw, Independence, Kas., Dec. 25, 1880: "2,500 refugees in our part of the work, 1,500 of whom need assistance, so many came too late to make crops this year. Many of them are sick. They sleep so cold at night it is killing them. Fifty of them are not able to leave their rooms or tents." I. M. Pickering, of Columbus, tells us, Dec. 29, 1880, that 500 in Chotopa and Oswego will perish, if not largely and speedily helped. J. W. Wilson writes from Atchison, Kas., Dec. 18, 1880: "There are eight families here greatly needing help. They require clothing, bedding, fuel and provisions. I shall be very glad if the Relief Society will do something for them." Dec. 31: In Oswego there are 900 refugees, 700 of them requiring aid. $200 per month required to give them the needful
care, medicines, shelter and fuel. Much sickness, many little children and aged people. Baxter Springs, 1,000 refugees; 300 the age for going to school. Not much sickness. No color prejudice. School needed. Population of whites, 1,500. Too poor to sustain a school. Bedding, warm clothing, bed ticks, shoes, greatly needed. Chetopa, 1,000 refugees; much sickness. Pneumonia, colds, &c., result of exposure. School greatly needed. Children's clothing, nourishing food for sick and aged. This village is the most direct point they reach in Kansas by railroad from Texas. Dr. Newlon, Oswego, Kas., writes Dec. 30: "Relieving 200 a week. Our clothing all gone. Weather terribly cold. They still come. Send some bedding and clothing as soon as possible." Daniel Votaw: "150 came last week, in great destitution. Many barefoot except rags wrapped and tied around their feet. We saw many new arrivals in Coffeyville whose condition beggars description. There was not a whole garment among them. Some had their tattered pants, coats, and shoes tied on with strings and strips of muslin. D. Votaw's field includes Independence, Coffeyville, Sedan and Cherryvale. Great distress and destitution in all these places." A. B. Whiting, Topeka, Kas., says, Dec. 31: "The very old and physical helpless, the widows with large families of young children, the lame, halt and blind among our exodites, can be counted by hundreds. These are, and such as these always will be, objects of charity, and many children are needing clothing to fit them for school." Wilmer Walten, our agent at Parsons, Kas., writes under date 12, 22, 80: "I was very thankful to hear that we are soon to receive supplies, for indeed we greatly need them. Bed ticks, bedding, shawls or scarfs for women, underwear for both sexes. Young and old in great need of shoes and socks or stockings.
Weather extremely cold; much suffering for want of fuel and shelter." A Letter from Mrs. Elizabeth L. Comstock. We hope that our kind friends who have so liberally aided us during the past year will feel satisfied that their money and time has been well spent, as they hear the results of their kindness. Not a single colored tramp was seen last winter in Kansas, not one refugee has been arrested for stealing. Very little profanity has been heard among them. Of those for whom occupation and homes have been found in other States, we hear very good reports. They are spoken of as honest, sober, industrious and Christian people. We can bear testimony to their being more Christlike in disposition than any other race we have had anything to do with. Meek, patient, gentle, long-suffering and forgiving, our race owes a heavy debt to theirs. By their long years of unrequited toil, we and our fathers have been enriched, as we purchased the products of their labor at less price than we could have done had they been freemen. Our comforts, our luxuries, our wealth, have been drained from their life-blood; our pleasant houses, our wellsupplied tables, our wardrobes, all plead for those who have contributed so largely to our national prosperity. Shall we treat these feeble, helpless children of God as they have been treated in the South, or shall we receive them as brethren and sisters created by our Father's hand, for whom our Savior has died? Send us warm bedding, send us clothing, send us shoes, bed ticks; provide shelter for the homeless wanderers, food for the hungry, help for the helpless to help themselves, and, in a coming day may we every one hear the blessed words: "I was hungry and ye fed me, naked and ye clothed me, a stranger and ye took me in!" Elizabeth L. Comstock While we invite you contributions again for our less fortunate countrymen, we urge again that, in sending, you be careful and follow this direction. Direct them to "H. N. Rust & Co., Central Warehouse, Chicago."
Mark each Package "RELIEF GOODS," also mark on each package the sender's name and address. Only in this way can we know from whom the goods come, and acknowledge the receipt of them. We are constantly in receipt of packages without the shipper's name, and as frequently the shipper wonders that we do not acknowledge the receipt of the goods. Be careful and do this and we will be prompt to acknowledge the same. Send cash contribution to Wm. Penn Nixon, Inter-Ocean. The principal Railroads coming into Chicago have generously brought relief goods free, and will continue so to do. The Express Companies also bring small parcels free, which courtesy is duly appreciated by their patrons along the different routes, and by all friends of the cause. Respectfully yours, Horatio N. Rust, Secretary Southern Refugee Association. END OF TEXT Flyer for the Southern Refugee Relief Association, 1880. Reprinted by permission of Kansas State Historical Society, kansasmemory.org. In the public domain.