The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-12-04
sTARvATIoN IN IOWA.
A narrowing Story of Privation and So
ferfng.


ferfng.
4 citizen Of iowa has written 70 the
Des Moines Register from Jefferson,
that State, under date of November
17th, sad story of hardships and suf-
ferings of many of the settlers in the
Northwestern portion of that state.
He says; 81 have just had 8 long in,
tervieW with a former soldier comrade
now a homesteader in Osceola county,
and from him learn something con-
corning the present and future wants
of the hundreds of good people maxi
ing themselves homes in that and 9TH
er counties. 1t will be remeIn bered
that in 1872 good crops were raised in
that section, aud that all had plenty
and to spare. In the spring of 1873,
every preparation was made for d
crop of small grain, andit prospered
exceedingly until about the first Of
June, when the grasshoppers came,
and the fields of waving grain were
made desolate-en tirely running the
crop. "A great many hom estead ders at
once left, realizing the ceInfng of the
present condition of matters. s. But
hundreds of families, had not the
means at command to pay their ex-
pepses OF. travel, and hence, were COM
PEELED to stay IA little corn .Wts
saved in. some ssectionss but of very,
inferior quality. Plenty of hay was
made of the best grade, so the stock
will at least have that much for sup
port. But as to the people. My, in-TT
formant makes this statement: .Nearr--A
ly all the people are peor-7verY poor
and great majority are ex-soldiers
of the Union, with young families 70
support. When the grasshoppers took
the crops we did the best we could
for the coming winter. We went to
the lakes and caught barrels of fish,
but we did not have the means to
properly care for them; so they spoil
ed. Stock was sacrificed to the sharks
that infest our section at next to moth
ing of price, and many of us have
thus eaten up and worn ont the horses
and work cattle that had been our
main stay. We could buy no fuel,
and when left, twisted hay and reed
grass was all the fuel nIne-tenths of
the people were. burning, Much sick
ness prevails, brought on by. long abb
stinence from wholesome and nutri-
tious food. One family L know of
has the father down with the rheunla-
tism; three out of six children were
mother was about worn down herself.
Corn-meal, grated from frost-bitten
nubbins, was the only food in the
honse, if the sod and board shanty
may be called such. The people bear
with each other, and mutually extend
aid as much as possible. One young
man from Jasper. county, who hap
pens to be good shot, has VaIiantIy
taken upon himself the task of keep
ing all the invalid families supplied
with meat, wild game, and the day /
left brought some geese and ducks to,
the family | have mentioned. But
that will soon end, with cold weather.
You want to know what they need i?
They need every thing fuel, clothing
and provisions. The women and
children are suffering greatly already
for the want of clothing. / know Of
several women who died soon after
giving birth to children, because they
could not have even the common lux
ury of cup of tea, or any thing nu-
tritious to aid them in gaining
strength, coupled with the want of
proper bed-covering. The most of
the counties can extend no aid, for the
reason that thieves have been rum
ming affairs, and have stolen all, just,
as they did some years ago in Clay
county. Many families will leave on
foot, having sold their cattle or horses
to keep them alive. Some general
way of relieving those who must re-
main must be put in operation right
away, else the first snap of real cold
weather will send many good man or
woman or child to death-frozen, be-
cause they will be SO weak and ENACT
ated that they cannot stand the rigors
of winter, even in its weakest appear
ance." The person who makes this
statement know to be relirble. 1t
win be seen from this. then, that aid
cannot be sent too soon, and that q
general plan of relief must not be de-
layed longer than necessary. :.