Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-02-06
rho Kansas sunorers.
ToRrY TnousAXD DEsTIrUTE PERSON

FORTY THOUSAND DESTITUTE PERSONS.
The following affecting narrative of the
sutfsrings of the people of Kansas, has
been communicated to the N. Y.}7Tmes for
publications: s
ATCHlsoN, Wednesday, Jan. %, '6l.
Ar. J. E. Williams, 2Feasurer.
MX DEAR SIM cannot sOna the 90
-'-.~>a Ss''"S.--..t. .-;slSAl L assuming you
that our work has but just commenced :;
forty days ago we had, as we believed,
10000 to supply, more or less, with food
or clothing; that number has now increus-
ed to 10000; hundreds of families that
thought they had NsupPly, have been di-
Viding with .theirpOOr neighbors until they
too arc destitute; and this winter is un.
par0lleled; if all tue snow that has fallen
in Kansas for the six years / have been
here cOnld be piled together, it would not
equal the snow now upon the ground.
For ten days past the suffering has been
immense teamsters have been twelve
days IN reaching here, and ut last reached
my: Office exhausted, worn out, man and
beast unable to return for days. One part
Of my hotel have been obliged to open 8
hospital, and DR.. Grant Tone of nv
cIerk9 give almost constant needed at
| tendAnce-from six to ten frozen feet to
!
men have tried to breast these severe
storms, to get bread for the furnishing
families, even when they themselves have
had to come here almost. naked and quite
hungEy; yet they are nncomplainiGg.-
! The full loads that am now able to give
them, with the warm clothing for them
selves aud the dear ones left behind, seem
to them a full compensation E6rtheir trials
and sutterings, don't remember to have
heard complaining word in ten days. =,
One woman Inst week left five chill
dren at home with two days provis-
ions and sick husband. and walked
here thirty miles in one day. from Holtin,
Jackson; County, aud said she must
have food she was strong German
woman; and by the aid of an interpreter /
learned the depth Of her sorrow. Chow
lOnged to reach the ear of some of the
rich, generous aud true GerIhans in New
York. know they would sustain us
while NO feed their countrSmen These
persons are among our best citizens, and
have nObly identified themselves with MS
here in all the struggles of the past They
arc Americans, tOO-not from necessity,
but what is far better, from choice; not
because their fathers aud mothers arranged
to have them born here, but because they
desire free home, upon the free prairies
OF tue W est ana now, here with them
selves aud their little ones, they iOyfully
yield to the mOlding influence Of Ameri-
eau civilization. They too must be sus.
tanned, like the sturdy and beautiful shade
trees OF my native New England home.
They must be held aud supported, or the
winds OF Winter and breath of adversity
will PROSTATE them before they, become
rooted.
But need mot say moro to you. God
knows that there are Thousands Of grateful
hearts here who bless you as they do the
"Great Father of Spirits in thefr morn-
Ing and evening prayers, Our way some.
time seems dark but 0mnipoteneC r6igns,
he makes no mistakes, and is not disap-
pointed. III have read Alright, the carly
settlers Of Plymouth found one half their
number dead the frst Winter. They soon
had Rlirouth, too, that withered many of
their hopes; still were they pr0Spered, and
become people, aye,a power inlthis land,
and they and their principles and descende
ants have gone everywhere TO bless man
kind. Naywe not dtshonOr taeml l am,
earnestly and cordially yours,
~. S. C. PoNERoY.