Galveston, Texas became the epitome of Barton's career as her last major relief mission and her last trip to the fields. In making the journey, Barton traveled 1500 miles by train, organized supplies and used the strawberry plant to rebuild the town economy. I consider the effort the epitome of her career because it culminated all the work she had done in founding the American Red Cross and helping people worldwide. While it was just another relief mission to her, the wide-scaled effort brought together the families she created for herself in Johnstown, Sea Islands, and across the country banded together to send supplies and aid to Galveston. Below is a more detailed account of her efforts in Galveston and the relief aid that poured in from the country.
Assessing the Damage and Providing Relief
A hurricane and tidal wave struck Galveston, Texas on September 8, 1900. The World newspaper, published out of New York, covered each aspect of the relief efforts starting with the 10 September 1900 headline that read, “Half of Galveston, Destroyed by Hurricane—inland towns in ruins. 3,000 dead.” [1] The American public rose to the occasion of helping their fellow countrymen. Days passed and the headlines continued to depict an awful picture with captivating headlines like, “Texas Horror more appalling every hour; World will send relief train Wednesday. Loss of Life estimated 3000 to 10000. Property loss Estimated: $40,000,000 to $50,000,000.” [2] For an island city, prosperous in its own right, the catastrophic storm destroyed more than property and lives, it destroyed the spirit of the town. As Americans pitched in to help, Barton headed south.
The newspaper continued to carry front page headlines and a series of articles welcoming Clara Barton to the relief efforts; once again, standing up for the victims of natural disaster and assuming the maternal role in order to get them back on their feet. As reported, “Miss Barton will have charge of relieving victims of the hurricane with supplies carried by World Relief Trains.” [3] At the age of 78, Barton once again ventured to aid in relief efforts, her eighteenth to date. [4] Her reputation and caring spirit, as well as her good deeds encouraged the nation to allow her to help out.
The World on 14 September 1900 described Barton on the train headed to Galveston with an estimated arrival on Saturday. The caption below one of the headlines stated that Miss Barton was “prepared to make most notable relief campaign of her life” in this effort. [5] America had not seen devastation from a natural disaster to this extent, especially since the storm came without initial warning to the people of Galveston. After the storm hit Galveston, The World spread the news to encourage help and aid, and Clara Barton assumed the role of organizer once again. She formed the relief effort for all those left homeless and sick. Reading the headlines of The World, Barton’s journey to Galveston was major news, possibly bigger than the storm itself. The news that Clara Barton was going to Galveston made the story of Galveston and the need of the people much stronger. Americans confidently sent aid because they read that Barton was in charge, and knew that she would take extra care to make sure the packages were given to people who really needed them. Meanwhile, Barton praised The World for making the public aware of the story and sending aid so relief could be started immediately. She planned for “the work of the Red Cross at Galveston … to bring into the chaos now reigning some sort of order and discipline,” [6] the way a mother may straighten up a disorderly house. In her mission statement to the people, Barton stated, “What is needed now is relief work. The terrible evils that have occurred should be remedied, and time should not be wasted anticipating new tragedies.” [7] The country had confidence in Barton; she would help the victims of the hurricane like she helped the victims of flooding, famine, typhoid, and so many other disasters. The public figure she created for herself strove for excellence and respect.
Donations came from across the country, including areas where Clara Barton had previously visited with relief missions. The people of Johnstown, Pennsylvania took a quick collection to raise $67 for the efforts as reported by The World knowing what it was like to have the town ruined and to be dependent on the generosity of others to help rebuild. [8] Galvestonians and Johnstownians became brothers, suffering similar tragedies and held together by a common spirit, the spirit and determination of Clara Barton. The same kind-heartedness went for the people of the Sea Islands; “when our negro protégés of the Sea Islands heard of the disaster that had fallen upon Galveston, they at one gathered for aid and sent their contributions.” [9] Their rationale was simple, “‘’Cause dey suffers like we did, and de Red Cross is dar,’ they said.” [10] The sense of community that allowed people to send supplies and donations across the country to people they had never met came from a common bond; it was a sharing between brothers and sisters who were connected by their American blood and their American mother, Clara Barton.
After assessing the damage and preparing her relief strategy, Barton laid out the steps that would rebuild the Galveston family.
- Emergency Relief Stage
- Providing food, clothing, and shelter
- Rehabilitation
- “Each family’s particular needs were ascertained in order to reestablish a home and work for the future.” [11]
- established supply warehouses and aid headquarters
Barton’s procedures show her maternal thinking, caring for the problem at hand and making the injury better first, then rejuvenating the spirits and solving the larger problem at hand.
[1] “Half of Galveston, Destroyed by Hurricane—inland towns in ruins. 3,000 dead,” The World, September 10, 1900.
[2] “Texas Horror more appalling every hour; world will send relief train Wednesday. Loss of Life estimated 3000 to 10000. Property loss Estimated: $40,000,000 to $50,000,000,” The World, September 11, 1900.
[3] “Miss Barton will have charge of relieving victims of the hurricane with supplies carried by World Relief Trains,” The World, September 13, 1900.
[4] “Red Cross Leader Begins Noble Task,” The World, September 13, 1900.
[5] “Miss Barton to be in Galveston Saturday,” The World, September 14, 1900.
[6] Clara Barton, “The World has Started Right,” The World, September 15, 1900.
[7] Ibid.
[8] “Relief from Johnstown,” The World, September 12, 1900.
[9] Barton, Red Cross, 63.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Patricia Bellis Bixel and Elizabeth Hayes Turner, Galveston and the 1900 Storm ( Austin: University of Texas Press, 2000), 62.
Barton's Galveston story continues here: Rebuilding the Economy
