Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-03-01

team When about half way across the In
dian reservation, she was overtaken by vio-
lent snow storm, and must have persisted had
she not been overtaken by some persons with
teams, going TO Atchison for a similar pur-
pose. She went with them. obtained all she
wanted, and returned few days since, 70 the
great relief Of her husband and family. A
man living on the Republican Fork. one
hundred and thirty miles wes' of Atchison,
who had a wife and three children, went TO
his nearest neighbor's, eight miles distant, TO
obtain provisions. lie got a small supply and
returned but learned for the first time chat
famine was in the land His noighbor, not
hearing anything more from the man, went to
his house. where, to his great surprise, he
found the whole family dead, evidently starv-
ed to death, not morsel Of anything to eat
IN the house. This neighbor, in relating the
circumstance to my son says. he saw il with
his own eyes" Upwards Of fifty teams are
being loaded daily at Atchson. and yet the
people arc not half supplied. We have, at
least, htteen thousand families who have, on
an average, twenty acres under cultivation, at
the lowest estimate, and the present heavy
snow bids fair to make the coming season a
fruitful one, but where shall we obtain seed !.
Supposing we put ten acres in corn, five in
wheat five in potatoes vegetables &c. OF
corn 10 would require upwards Of 100000
bushels; and Of wheat the same amouut,--in
all 100000 bushels, the freight on which
would be $50 900, exclusive OF potatoes &c.
Our stock will get their own support after the
first of April; but the people must depend
upon supplies from abroad for seven long
months. or until the first of September. Out
OF this 100000 persons we will suppose that
10000 are full grown persons and that so 600
are children, equal only to 2j,00O full grown
persons in the consumption of food This
would make $1,000 full grown consumers,
which, at ten cents per day, for two hundred
days would be seven thousand five hundred
dollars per day, or one million. ivo hundred
thousand dollars for the next TWO hundred
days, or until the goth of August next. This
estimate does not include freight on seeds
&c which would not fall short Of forty
thousand dollars more. Thousands will also
need clothing, which cannot be estimated
My son just returned from the Indian Res
eryation, and told me that there is also great
destitution amung the several tribes of lndi-
ans throughout the Territory, and unless the
government viii render them some substantial
od, great many of them must die from star
Fatlon. Ihe hlckapoos have made good pro-
gress in conforming to the customs Of the
Whites as a general thing they have dis
carded their original traits of character, hab-
ITS &c, and are making an effort to gain their
subsistence by cultivating farms and raising
stock. In consequence Of the past unprece-
dented drouth, they, as well as the Whites,
are in a condition that cannot fail to excite
the sympathies Of every one who has the least
feeling for the poor Indian. Nearly all the
families in the tribe are entirely out of every
thing in the shape of provisions, and are sub
slsting entirely on rabbits. They are out of
corn and in consequence of the great depth
of snow and the excessive cold weather, their
hogs and ponies are fast dying Of starvation.
Should the people of your town and vicin-
ny iecl disposed to contribute something to
the Kansas Relief Fund in money or clothing
it will be received with grateful hearts by this
poor people. Yours. Truly,
j. +. BADGER.