The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-12-02
STARVATION IN IOWA,
L Narrowing Story OF Privatl0n
and SuGerlng.

DSo NplhCS AkCSiotCi aloh oCnCioOuS
that State, under date Of November
l7'h. sad story of the hardships and
suftrings OF many OF the settlers in
the Northwestern portion Of that Stale.
He says: Il have just bad long inter
view with former soldier comrsde,
now a homes.eader in Oseeola County,
and from him learn something concern
ing the present and future wants OF the
hundreds Of good people making them
selves homes in that and other counties
1t will be remembered that in 1872 good
crops were raised in that section, and
that all had plenty and to spare In
the spring Of 1873 every preparation
was made for great crop of small
grain, and it prnspered exceedingly un-
til about the lst Of June, when the
grasshoppers came, and the fields Of
waving grain were made desolate-en
tireIy running the crop. A great many
homestesders at once left, realizing the
coming Of the present condition of
matters But hundreds of families had
rot the means at command to pay their
expenses of travela and hence we're com
PEELED to stay. A little corn was saved
in some sections, but Of very inferior
quality Plenty of hay was made Of
the best grade, so the stock will at least
lave that mnch for support. But as to
the people. My informant makes this
statement: "Nearly every man is poor
very poor, aud great majority are
ex x.soldiers of the Union, with young
families to support. When the grass
hoppers 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
infest 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 main
stay We could buy no fuel, and when
l left twisted hav and rank reed grass
was tn. only fuel nine-tenths of the
people were using Much sickness pre-
walls, brought on by long abstinence
from wholesome and nutritious food
One family l know OF has the father
down with the rheumatism; 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 peo-
| pie bear with each other, and mutually
extend aid as much as possible. One
young man from Jasper County, who
happens 10 lie good shot, has vsliantly
taken upon himself the task Of keeping
all invalid families supplied with meat,
wild game, and the day l left brought
some geese and ducks to the family l
have mentioned But that will soon
end, with cold weather You want to
know what they need2 They need ev,
cry thing-fuel, clothing and provis-
lions. The women and children are
suffering greatly already tor the want
of clothing. know of several women
who died soon after giving birth to
children because they could not hare
even the common luxury Of cup OF
tea, or any thing nutritious to aid them
in regaining 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
running affairs, snd have stolen all, Just
IS 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 va,
of relieving those who. must remair
must be put in operation right away
else the first snap of real cold weather
will senl many good msn or woman
or child 10 death-frosen. because they
will be 50 weak auG emaciated that they
can not stand the rigors Of winter, ever
in its weakest appearance" The per.
son who makes this statement ! know
to be reliable. It will be seen from
this, then, that aid cannot he sent too
soon, and that general plan OF relic
must not be delayed longer than neces
aArV