Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1855-08-14
a Pmapeot Of Fam1ne al salt Lalke.
cFrom the Chicleo Press Of August The 4th.l

I CET0u Inc CblC1So OF august
TIE several accounts which We have publish
ed of tie ravageS of graSshopperS and cTickets in
Salt Lake valley point to the strong probability of
famine among the saints during the winter. Sup
posing these accounts 10 be correct, a very large
lpoporton OF all kinds Of crops will be cut off,
and not near enough of any thing left to feed the
inhabitants.
I 1t has been sad that San Barnatd1no, Mormon
settlement eight hundred miles from Salt Lake
cltY, was the nearest point at witch supply
could be obtained; but hope Of assistance from
that quarter cannot now be entertained. We see
| by letteI in the Mormon from San Barnardino,
under date of the 2Sth of May, that the wheat
crop there had been materially injured by rust and
smut, and thai there would not probably be more
than sufficient TO supply the wants Of the settle
ment.
This is not the FIRST instance in which the Nor
nous haye had their crops destroyed by these all
devouring insects. The crops put into the ground
IN the Salt Lake valley by advanced parties atthe
time of their forced exodus from this State aud
upon which the main body in the FEAR relied for
subsistence during the following winter, were as
sailed by the cricketS-great goggle.eYed, crook
legged, bottle-bod,ed Notwithstanding Tue green
fields to the ground, and leaving track behind
them US blank as il wasted by FIRE.
But Just when the SAINTS we1e in despair these
cTickeIS were diScoVeTed by the little whit gulS
which breed among the islands OF the lake, and
they such ettectuai war upon them that tue crops
we've SaSeus MS OuluIai luleIpOSlItOu lHc MOI-
mons allerwarls spoke Of as special providence,
by which, like the Jews Of old, they were saved
from st; rVallon. From that time until now they
have not been troubled seriously bygraSShOPpers
or cricketS, and they were coneTatUlating them
selves upon uHexamped abundance when tile in
sect cauie aud swept their crops and hopes away
tog, ther.
The observations of Col. Fremont in the Salt
Lake valley IN 1874 indicate thai these crickrts
aud graSShoppers are likely 10 prove chronic
plague 10 the Mormons. He states that from time
lnmemoriaI the native Indians have been accuS
toned to regard them part OF their subsistence.
They made cakes OF graSShopIerS aud cuckelS.-
They drive them mo trenches with hot fire at
the bottom, wheIe their wings and legs arS burnt
oil. and they roasted after the fashion Os the
ocustS Of Africa.
These American insects thus hear the SAME re-
atiOn and serve the SAME purposes tI the wild
tive tribes as the lUGuStS OF the desert Of Asia and
Africa in their respective localities. They are
bar TO the cultivation Of the soil; they exist where
there is no soil for cultivation, and where animal
lite is limited 10 insects and reptiles; and they are
all eaten frIm necessity. The Utah graSShopper
is the African locust OF smaller size, aud the Dig
ger Indian is but lower type OF the desert Arab.
In view OF the above facts, it Is not impossible
that these insects may prove ProvidentiaI agency
for the dispersion OF the MornonS, and possibly
the breaking up of the corrupt hierarchy which
now sets Heaven at defiance and outrageS the
highest moral and religious sentiments OF ChriSen-
dom. If their CROPS are so badly cut off as The
published accounts would Indicate they must
either dispense before winter OF Sarve when winter
comes.