Clinton County Republican-News May 26, 1927 St. Johns People Head Bath Relief; Visit Stricken Families, Give Food And Linen; Estimate $8,000 Is Immediate Need Relief work, started at Bath directly after the explosion, is continuing steadily. By the morning after the tragedy all the bodies of the little victims had been claimed by the parents and relatives and nearly all of the seriously wounded were being cared for in Lansing hospitals. There still remained a multitude of tasks. All the stricken families must be visited. There were a score or more children in the homes who had minor injuries that must be dressed and treated to prevent lockjaw or blood-poisoning. All possible aid must be given to grief-stricken families. St. Johns people have taken a leading part in this work. Miss Elba Morse, national Red Cross field representative was directing Mississippi flood relief subscription work in Montcalm county when the Bath disaster occurred. She was sent there immediately and a Red Cross headquarters was set up in the home of Dr. J.A. Crum and wife, next door to the Crum drug store. With the aid of C.S. Clark, Sr., chairman of the county Red Cross chapter and other local advisors, she appointed committee heads to carry on the relief. Wm. M. Smith, who had been among the first of the St. Johns people to render his aid after the explosion, was named head of the case committee. Bath was formerly his home and he is widely acquainted in the community. He drove over the whole countryside visiting and helping to comfort every stricken family. He found out where there were injured in the homes and listed the people who needed financial aid. Within a day or two he prepared a rough map of the district so that nurses and doctors could easily find the homes where they were needed. "Mr. Smith has accomplished a great task", says Chairman Clark, "and one that no one else could have done as well." Women of St. Johns generously donated food to many of the Bath families during the time of the funerals. They also gave linen and bed clothing to those who had stripped their homes of these materials to provide bandages for the injured. The linen and food committees were head[ed] by Miss Kate LeVanseler and Mrs. Edna Mummery. Rev. W. C. Coleman of Dewitt was chairman of the ministerial committee which arranged for the funerals. A few were held Friday, 18 on Saturday and the remainder Sunday. Rev. Bishop of Lansing, and George G. Hunter of St. Johns, members of the case committee, left their work at Bath Monday to make a check-up of the patients in the Lansing hospitals. At that time there were 11 in St. Lawrence and 20 in Sparrow. Five of them were reported in a dangerous condition. One was Mrs. Joe Perrone, Bath woman who was seriously injured by the explosion that wrecked Kehoe's car and killed E.E. Huyck, Glenn Smith, Nelson McFerran and Kehoe. Mrs. Perrone was walking by the car on her way to the school and was carrying her baby in her arms. She sustained a fractured skull but the baby was uninjured. Mr. Perrone is a World War veteran and the family is well thought of in Bath. Of the other four critically injured - two are now reported as out of danger, but Donald Huffman, 9, son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Huffman, and Beatrice Gibbs, 10, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Gibbs, are still in a serious condition. Red Cross nurses came from Clare and Montcalm counties, Jackson and other places to help during the first few days. There were also Mrs. Leonhardt, formerly Miss Grace Clemens of St. Johns, Miss Whitlock, county nurse and some nurses from Lansing, all working under the direction of Miss Morse. Several St. Johns doctors made a number of trips to Bath and donated their services. At present there are several social workers, called from Michigan cities by Miss Morse, who will remain at Bath for the balance of this week together with one or two nurses. Also Chairman Clark and several members of the various committees. The case committee reports that 18 families, having lost 22 children, will need financial aid in paying funeral expenses. Hospital bills will total approximately $2,000. It is estimated that about $7,000 or $8,000 will be needed to help pay the funeral and hospital expenses. Sheriff B. J. Fox and a number of his deputies have been in Bath daily since the disaster. Together with the state police they have given every possible aid to the relief workers. Following are committees who have had charge of the relief work: Case committee - Wm. M. Smith, chairman; Rev. Bishop of Lansing (head of the Ingham county Red Cross Chapter); Mrs. L.A. Warner of Bath, Geo. G. Hunter and Miss Charlotte Lockhart, Lansing social service worker. Ministerial Committee - Rev. W.C. Coleman of Dewitt, chairman, and Rev. Wiedenhammer of Ingham County. Linen committee - Miss Kate LeVanseler, chairman; Mrs. C. S. Clark, Sr., Mrs. Palmer of Owosso and Mrs. Horace Hall of Bath,. Food committee - Mrs. Edna Mummery, chairman, and Mrs. C. S. Clark, Sr. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOLD RITES FOR BATH TEACHER Many Friends Attend Funeral Services For Mrs. Roscoe Harte Blanch Elizabeth, the youngest daughter of Martin and Annadella Beuhler, was born Feb. 24, 1897 in Victor township. She was graduated from the tenth grade at Dewitt. Later she was graduated from the Lansing high school. The following year she was graduated from the Clinton County Normal. June 4, 1919, she was united in marriage to Roscoe Harte of Bath. The first year of their married life was spent on his father's farm, later moving to their own farm west of Bath. A year ago they moved to their present home in Bath. She was a conscientious worker in school, church and social activities, and for the past 11 years has been a teacher in the rural school of Clinton County. She was severely injured in the terrible explosion of the Bath school. She passed away at the Sparrow hospital May 19, 1927. Besides her husband, she leaves her father and mother, one sister, Mrs. Stella Schoals, one niece, one nephew, an aged grandmother, several aunts and uncles, many cousins and a host of dear friends. "In this calm time when outward things and inward thoughts, Filled with assurance of immortality, With tranquility and submissive hearts We leave her with God. Beautiful Spirit, your crown now won." The funeral was held at her late home in Bath. Rev. Coleman of Dewitt officiated and Mrs. Mabel Hunter sang. Many people followed her remains to its [sic] final resting place, the Wilsey Cemetery. Six old classmates acted as pall bearers. CARD OF THANKS. We wish to thank our neighbors and friends for their kind expressions of sympathy during our bereavement; also the comforting words of Rev. Coleman, the beautiful singing, the many beautiful flowers, and the many acts of kindness shown by our neighbors and friends. - Roscoe Harte, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Beuhler and Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Schoals and family. - Adv.