The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-09-24
VIRGINIA NEWS.

correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.
iFaii-Storm---Needo of the People who
were Sufferers by the same In Por.
tions of Caroline. Essex, and King
and Queen, counties.
Some time early in the month OF hiiET,sss
| most destructive hail-storm-the seyerest
ever witnessed by the oldest inhabitant-
nassed ..,nUugn the lower end of Caroline
and through portion of King and Queen
and Essex counties, along the line sepa-
rating the same, completely destroying the
crops Of farmers, their vegetables, and in
some instances their poultry and hogs.
Whilst the writer was sufferer (but very
slightly by this fearful storm, he learned
from reliable sources that the hail was from
the size of a partridge egg to almost or
quite the size Of goose eggs, and that ice
houses might have been filled with the hail
in many places. Such was the terrible desc
lation and utter destruction of all that the
people in the line of this storm had to rely
on as support for another year that, ut a
public meeting Of the people, held at New
town late in the month of Angus, -consist-
ing Of citizens sufferers by the storm, and
others from Caroline and King and Queen
Queen counties-it was resolved that Pc
tition, signed by the sufferers, should be
sent to General Candy, begging that they
should be relieved from their State taxes,
and another, to their respective county
courts, that they be relieved from their
county levy.
But as this relief, even if granted, would
be very inadequate to meet the pressing
wants of this people for another year, being
deprived Of support for both themselves
and stock, the same public meeting APP
pointed the undersigned to write commu-
nication to the press. and thus call the at
tention of the more fortunate farmers along
the Rappahanuock and Mattaponi rivers
who escaped the storm, and in a great mea-
sure the drought, to the suffering which will
be occasioned by this storm, if not relieved,
in the hope that their sympathes and char
ity may be aroused, and that they will this
fal! take steps in their respective ncighbor-
hoods, by public meeting or otherwise,
through subscriptions in kind, or, if they
think best, otherwise, to be distributed in
such way as most certainly will aid the really
needy. I wopid suggest that if such SUBJ
scriptions in kind were deposited with the
merchant of each neighborhood, and he
furnished with list of names to be sup
piled per cdplt0 with so much, his bencvo-
ience would, it is not doubted, induce him
to make the distribution as directed with
pleasure.
The merchants being provided with gra-
narics, and always present, it is believed
that this method may be practically carried
out, whilst it may insure the getting those
things for the support Of these people
which, from their great scarcity, it may be
very difficult to procure.
1t may be, however, that in the estima-
ton of some, providing for this people
would be best managed by the county
courts and perhaps it may; but, i'll what
ever way done, it is most highly proper that
efficient aid should be rendered to those
needy sufferers.
Hoping that this communication will
| meet with your favor, and the favor espe.
cially of those for whom it was written, the
writer signs himself,
Respectfully, yours,
B. +. DREW.
Nerto,cn, King and Queen county, Augus
| Is, 1869.