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Dr. Copp, - (2)

medical treatment, food, clothing, fuel, bedding and shelter, and where to report their missing, etc. In the case of those who were not able to leave th eir homes, details of their conditions were brought back and reported to us. The facts reported were dealt with by Departments quickly organized to tabulate the different needs and send the information to the Committee in charge of each. These emmergency workers were not only investigating, but giving relief as well, the teams conveying them often taking a supply of food and clothing. Our Headuarters was a room with out windows and for a while without a phone and always overcrowded with those seeking relief as well as those offering their services. [marginal note reads: [60?] school [7?] teachers came in a body & like others were sent out on district.]

By this time a few of our Members were able to come to our assistance. Personal property bags for Overseas which were on hand at our Red Cross Room were converted into First Aid bags with the most necessary materials and as a blizzard was raging oil cloth covers were provided. Neither cars, automobiles nor teams could make any headway for a while but our noble women braved the elements and relieved the suffering of the injured reporting to our Offices the cases demanding medical attention (which facts are now on file.) Since then our members have been steadily at work on the District as well as in the Hospitals. The severe weather, (and terrible storms have been raging for the last week) and the conditions of the roads have not hindred our work, but have made it very difficult.

I desire to mention the Salvation Army who came to me Saturday morning and offered their assistance, prominent Officers from several Canadian cities who proved to be experts in their work. I asked them to place the voluntary workers who were not Members of the Brigade and to better systematize my efforts for the investigation. I can never repay them, they were all invaluable. Ensign Ham of Moncton, directed the Coal Department, and Major Crichton assisted by Brigadier Bettridge of Toronto, Major Barr of St. John, N.B., and Staff Captain Byers of Halifax, directed the Investigation and other work of the volunteers, and Captain B. Lane has been and still is of the greatest assistance in my Office. [margin note in pen: Miss Wisdom & Mrs Freeman were asked by me to take charge of food [illegible, paper torn]] In a few days when the organizations were running nicely and assistance arriving from outside I asked to be relieved of all work excepting that of Superintendent of our Division, as I had been placed on the Medical Committee.

It was about this time that our contradictory telegrams began, but you will perhaps excuse me when I tell you that neither Miss Hunter nor mayself had had any sleep for four nights. Our Members could not be distinguished from volunteers who had no training and the Matrons were requesting that our Members be uniformed at once. The outside uniforms I considered necessary on account of the difficulty in transportation during the terrible weather and transportation could be more easily arranged when the women were in uniform. I admit that I did not realize the enormous order I was placing, but trust that if it has already left, that the powers that be here in H alifax (Finance Committee) will pay the bill, or that you will accept the return of unused equipment. On taking a