The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-10-30
THE NEBRASKA SUF
FERERS.
A Sad Story Of Privation and suare
ing.


A Sad Story Of Privation and sufrs
ing.
In his official report on the con-
dition of the plague and famine
stricken people Of Western Nebras-
ka General Brisbin gives a graphic
account Of.the suferings of those
for whom he is asking aid. We make
few extracts.
Stopping at the cabins by the
roadside to see for myself how the
families were living, l met among
others Mrs. Russell and her daughter.
They live on a creek seven miles
from Arrappahoe, in Gosper county.
Nebraska. Their hsbitatisn is =
dug out,sRd when l entered the cab
in, the ladies of the family had just
finished their dinner, which consist
ed Of two small pieces of bread and
water melon. / talked with them
some time and asked them many
questions:
General Brisbin-Whst have you
got here to eat.
Mrs. Russel-Very little sir.
General B.-Tell me all about itf
Mrs. Russell have only 3 pint
of -four In the house.
General B.-Have you no meat
sugar, coffee, rice, hominy or bresdi
Mrs. Russel-None, sir,
General B.-Have you any mon
sy?
Mrs. Russell-None, sir.
Miss Russell-Mother and / have
lived on $50 since April last.
General alB.-HoW old Gre you, Miss
Russell2
Miss Russell-Nineteen, sir.
General B.-What can you dor
Mrs. RUSSELL wish she could
get work.
General B.-What can you, do
Miss Russell2
Miss Russell.-I am 4 very good
seamstress
General B.-Can you read and
write.
Miss Russell--Oh, yes, l am =
pretty fair scholar, I think.
Mrs. RusseilAShe is a good dress
maker, and worked for many families
in the East.
General B.-CaR you get work?
Miss Russen-No, sir; I have
tried, but no one has any dresses to
make out here this year. That is
the trouble.
General B.-Mrs. Russell, are there
any poor families near your
Mrs. Russell-Yes, sir; our neigh
Dor across the creek, Mrs. Beck, an
educated lady, is as bad of as our
selves.
Miss. Russel-Lst me run over
and tell her to come over.
General BIS it far.
Miss Russell-Only a little dis
tance, and she will be here in q min
ute.
General B-Mrs. Russell, have you
any shoes2
Mrs. Russell-No, sir; but l have
an old pair of slippers
General B.-You have seen better
days, madame, I should thinki
Mrs. Russell-Indeed I have, sir
and never knew what hard tineI
were until now.
! Mrs. Russell-Has the aid society
clothing to distribute?
General B.-Yss; what do yoU
need?
Mrs. Russell-A great many
things, sir, but it is humiliating tc
ask for them.
General B.-Never mind; We arC
not going to let you starve or freeze
Mrs. Russell, because you live out
here on the frontier, and have beer
unfortunate.
Mrs. Russell (erying)-I am SURF
lit is very good of the kind people il
the East to think ofus, and We shall
never forget them for it.
General B.-Mrs. Beck, will yol
please tell me when you came here
what condition your family is il
land what you need2 Speak frankly
as though talking to a friend.
Mrs. Beck-I will, sir. We have
been out here two years, and cam
from Champlain county, Illinois
We live on a soldiers claim. M,
husband was a soldier in the Seeon'
Illinois Cavalry for four years, AM
served undor General Ord. We haV
8 good farm and feel like sticking b
lit. or course, after being on it 81
long We dislike to give it up. w
have no money in the world excep
ten cents that / have. AL our crop
were destroyed, both last year AM
this year, and we have now hterall
! nothing-Ho horses, hogs, cattle 0
t sheep. 1 am baking my last loaf c
j bread to-day, and wondered WheE
I would get -four to make any NOR
7 vvRe thinking stout Il al deV. an