Newspaper Items for Wyandotte County, Kansas

WYANDOTTE COUNTY, KANSAS

Newspaper Items

Negro Refugers At Wyandott.

Sickness and Destitution Among Them - Unsuccessful Appeal to the Secretary of War for Rations

ST. LOUIS, April 16 - A Kansas City dispatch says a large number of colored Southern refugees, having been landed by steamboats at Wyandott, in an entirely destitute condition, during the past few days, and are occupying the churches and public halls of that place. Many are sick from exposure, and are dying. Mayor Shelley, of Kansas City, today telegraphed the Secretary of War for an order for the issue of rations from Forth Leavenworth to feed them. Secretary McCreery replied he had no authority to do so; that Congress was in session, and applications should be made to that body. A committee has been appointed at Wyandotte to look after the sufferers. They issued the following today:

"To the Generous Citizens of the United States:

"The undersigned, an executive committee of the citizens of the Relief Committee of Wyandotte, Kas., make an earnest appeal for immediate financial aid to assist the sick, suffering, and destitute colored refugees that destiny has sudenly thrown on the citizens of Wyandotte. Seventeen hundred entirely destitute are already here, and thousands more in the same destitute condition are on the way. In the midst of this general suffering and great need for immediate aid, we send this Macedonian cry for immediate assistance. Send all contributions to Northrup

(Signed) Geo. H. Milten, G. W. Bishop, V. J. Lane, Executive Committee"

Source: Cincinnati Daily Gazette - Ohio, April 17, 1879, submitted by Sharon Wick)