Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-08-14
DAILY VlRGINlAN.


From the Chicago Press, August 4.
A Prospect of Famine at Salt Lake Possible
Dispersion of tho Mormons
The several accounts which have publish
ed Of the ravages Of grasshoppers and criekets
in Salil4akeNalley point to the strong probability
of famine among the saints during tho coming
winter. Surprising those accounts, 10 be correct,
Il very large proportion of all kinds OF crops will
be cut Off and not near enough of anything left
10 feed the inhabitants.
Ii has been stated that San Barnardino IA
Mormon settlement eight hundred miles from Salt
Lake City, was the nearest point at which sup
ply could be obtained but hope Of assistance
from that quarter cannot now be entertained
We see by letter in the Mormon from San Bar
nardino. under date Of 2sih of May that the wheat
crop there had been materially injured by rust
aud smut, and that there would not probably be
more than sufficient TO supply the wants of the
settlement.
This Is not the first instance in which the Nor
mons have had their crops destroyed by these all
dcvonrng inseets.--1'he crops put into the
ground in the Salt Lake Valley by advanced par.
ties Mt the time Of their forced exodus from this
State. and upon which the main body in the rear
relied for subsistence during the following win
ter. were assailed by the eriokets.--great gogglo
eyed. crooklegged bottle bodied monsters eat
ing the green fields to The ground and leaving
track behind them M blank as if wasted by fire.
eriekets were diseoveredb by the little white gols
which breed among the islands Of the lakean they
made such eIleotual nterpostion that the Nor
mons afterwards spoke Of as special providence
hy which. like the Jews of old. they were saved
from starvation. From that time until now. they
have not been troubled seriously by grasshoppers
or criokeis, and they were eongratolaiing them
selves npon unexumpled abundance, when the
insect host came aud swept their crops and hopes
away together.
Tho observations of Col. Fremont in the Salt
Lake Valley in 1871, Indicate that these criekets
aud grasshoppors are likely TO prove II chronic
plague TO the Mormons. lie states that from time
inmemoral the native Indians have been accus-
TONED to regard them as part of their Subsistence
They make cakes Of grasshoppers nnd criekets.
They drive them into trenches with hot fro at
The bottom, whore there wings and legs arc burn
ed off and they are roasted after the fashion Of
tho loousts of Africa,
These American insects thus bear the same rc-
lation, and serve the same purposes to the wild
native tribes, MS tho ocnsis of the desert Of Aain
aud Africa in their respective localities Thoy
are bar to tho cultivation of the soil they exist
whore there IL no soil for cultivation, and where
animal life is limited to insects and reptiles, and
they are all eaten from necessity. The Utah grass
hopper il tho African locust of n smaller size,
and the Digger Indian is but lower type of the
desert Arab
In viaw of the above fhets. il Is not impossible
that these insects may prove providentlal agen-
ey for the dispersion OF the Mormons aud possi'
bly, the breaking up of the corrupt hierarchy which
now sets heaven ut defiance q outrages the high
est sentiments of Chrstendom. II their crops
ARE so badly cut off m the published accounts
would indioaie. they must either disperse before
winter, or starve when winter comes.