In the official report of the relief furnished to the Ohio River flood sufferers, written by R.P.M. Ames, Assistant Surgeon U.S. Marine Hospital Service, Evansville, Ind., he speaks as follows of the part taken by the Red Cross in this work:
At this time also the Red Cross Association came actively to the front for now had the time arrived when this association, of all others, could do the most good.... Through its instrumentality much suffering and destitution has been relieved throughout the Ohio valley which it would have been almost impossible to reach but for this organization. With Miss Clara Barton at the head, and a large corps of active and intelligent assistants, the relief work performed by this association has been most thorough and efficacious. Contributions of money and clothing have been sent to all points in the inundated districts of the Ohio valley where such assistance was needed, while a thorough and careful investigation by members of the association of the flooded territory has rendered the aid most beneficial. As soon as it became apparent that the suffering from the high water would necessitate the various relief movements, Miss Barton removed her headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Cincinnati, O., where she carefully and intelligently superintended the distribution of a large amount of supplies donated from all parts of the country, consisting of money, food, clothing and fuel. As the water receded then came the time for the relief proffered by this association to be given.
After remaining several days in Cincinnati and relieving all the suffering so far as it was met with, Miss Barton, on March 3, removed her headquarters to Evansville, Ind., where arrangements were at once commenced to reach and aid the sufferers between this point and Cairo, Ill. Captain J.V. Throop kindly placed his steamer, the "Josh V. Throop," at the disposal of the Red Cross without any expense except the actual running cost of the boat. The steamer was at once loaded with an immense quantity of boxes, barrels, bales and bundles of clothing, being donations from various private parties and relief organizations throughout the country which had been accumulating here for some time, together with a large amount of bedding and fuel, and started on its mission of mercy down the river in charge of Miss Clara Barton, Saturday, March 8, 1884.