Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-10
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FAMINE IN IOWA.

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The announcement that there is fam.
inc in part of the State of Iowa, andthat
the inhabitants are dying of starvation.is
nearly as startling as anything could Be;
but there is too convincing evidence that
the report is true. Osceola county is on
the northern border of Iowa, and near the
western boundary. There to-day the
sparse population of farmers families are
perishing for want OF food, clothing and
fuel. While almost every other section of
this great grain producing State has been
favored with abundant harvest, this region
has suffered blight. One year ago the
crops were abundant, and the joyful farm
ers prepared for q season of plenty and
prosperity this year. An extraordinary
large area Of ground was sown to small
grain, bat a backward spring and the ray
ages of the grasshopper pest destroyed
nearly the whole of it. A little corn was
saved in some localities, but it was of in
ferior quality. 1t is reported that all who
could left in the summer, anticipating the
condition that has now come. But hum
dreds of persons who had invested every
dollar they could command in seed-time
had not means to remove their families,
and were obliged to remain and meet the
worse fate. A majority of the settlers are
ex-Union soldiers who have pre-empted
government land, and were making for
themselves homes. One of this class tells
the following story: s. s6s4a
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
spoiled. Stock was sacrificed to the
sharks that invest our section. at the next
to nothing Of price, and many of US have
thus eaten up and worn out the horses and
work-cattle that had been our mainstaff.
We could buy no fuel, and when | left
twisted hay and rank reed-grass were the
only fuel nine-tenths of the people were
using. Much sickness prevails, brought
on by a long abstinence from wholesome
and nutritious food. One family ! know
of has the father down with the rheuma-
tism, three out of six children were down
with the measles, while the mother was
about worn down herself. Corn meal,
grated from frost bitten nubbins, was the
only food in the house, 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 happens to be
good shot, has valiantly taken upon him.
self the task of keeping all 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? They
need everything-fuel, clothing and pro.
visions. The women and children are
suffering greatly already for want of cloth.
ing. know of several women who died
soon after giving birth to children because
they could not have even the common lux
ury OF a cup of tea or anything nutritious
to aid them in regaining their strength,
coupled with the want of proper bed COW
ering. The most of the counties can ex-
tend no aid for the reason that thieves
have been running 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 reliev-
ing those who remain must be put In op-
GRAFTON right away, else the first snap of
cold weather will send many good man,
woman, or child to death-frozen, because
they will be so weak and emaciated that
they cannot stand the rigors OF winter,
even in its weakest appearance" a2a@u