Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-12-19

Dld lt create niucH aiarin ailoH >
the people"
"a great deal sir The more ignorant
classes, and especially the negroes, who
are very superstitious, thought that
some great volcano had burst ont TO the
northwest; and others supposed that the
Day Of Judgment was at hand.
This gentleman accompanied US to
various places in his section Of the coun-
try. and pointed out the destitution,aud
, almost starvation, prevailing over a
large portion of that region.
The Rev. Mr.. Womick, gentleman
well known in Northeastern Kansas,
has. at the earnest solicitation of many
citizens. gone into Eastern Missouri and
Central and Southern Illinois, to solicit
J aid-food- the starving in the
White River country. Aid must soon
reach them, or
MANY WILL PERISH.
Passing up into the Neosho country,
in Kansas, the destitution is even great
er than that in Arkansas. TO the great
drought they had added the grasshop,
per scourge. The people, many OF
them, were poor before this great ca
lamity befel them; now they have abso-
lutely nothing to subsst upon, except
what is meted out to them by charitable
hands
About As miles southwest of Fredo-
MIA, in Kansas, is family by the name
of Davis, formerly from Iowa. They
have no very near neighbors, having
settled on 'claim" in that new region,
A "squatter's cabin shelters them, 1t IS
true. The five little children, clad in
their ragged summer garments, are lily
prepared to pass the winter, even II
they had abundant food, which they
have not. The two horses MIR. Davis
took to that 'clam' are dead-dled for
want of provender: one COW died, and
another wandered of in quest Of water
and grass, and never returned. There
were no pigs or chickens that we co1id
see about the premises. y small sack,
partly filled with corn meal, was the
only article of food to be seen about the
cabin. a gloom rested about that
cheerless firesde. and the sad. saliow
faces of that family the story OF
PIScHING WANT.
-Four miles from this claim is the hut
of the nearest neighbor. a middle aged
woman came TO the door IN rcspanSe to
NV knock. She was dressed in faded
calico. AMI her feet were bare. She was
intelligent and had evidently seen bet
ter days.
"Who lives here, please ?"
She oave her husbands name, and In
answer to the question, 'Where is your
husband ?" said, while her breast hcav-
ed and her eyes filed with tears
INV husband has gone to the nearest
railroad station, about forty miles from
here, to see if lie can get anything tol
us TO eat.
"When will he get back 2
eve expect him day after to,mor-
row; should'he tai 10 return by that
time, God only knows what will become
of us =
"Are YOU so destitute as that, mad
am 2"
"Walk in, please, and see the condI-
ton of things" she said. The little
company with me paused at the door,
while | passed inside the cabin. y sick
baby lay on a rug before the fire, and
three year old Gil was seated beside 1t.
Said the little girl, as We entered -
"Mamma, is this the man what Il
bring us bread ? Is it, mamma
l'sE so VERY HUNGRY,
mamma. Indeed is
The mother answered the child with
tears; her leart was too full for words.
: Have you no bread in the house,
madam 2
"Only this; and it must last till my
husband returns" and she produced a
small corn loaf, dried, crisp, hard,
"Yours is an extreme case, no doubt,
| remarked.
! mo, sir; there are hundreds Of per
sons in this section as hopelessly desti-
tute as we,-hundreds Of them, sir.
/ Don't you expect help from some
source.
Yes, we may get help. Mrs. DIR.
Milton Short, of Fredonia, is now In IL
lnois and Indiana, soliciting aid for us
She has volunteered to supply the wants
of about fifty families in this part OF the
country. My husband has gone to the
station to see if any supplies have ar
rived fer US
| Such is the sad picture Of
ATLEAsr TEN THOUSAND PLRsoNS
in Kansas, and many hundreds in the
White River country of Arkansas
Starvation is, ct this moment, at the
doors of many. God help them this
drealy weather. Many towns in Nils
souri, and Illinois have organized "Ald
Societies" and are forwarding proyi-
sions and clothing to these suffering
poor. But there mus. be more gen
eral response to this demand on our bu-
mahitv. or little children, noble women,
and strong men, will die of starvation.
Let something be done quickly.
BAcCA.
Row AMONG CANAL BoATMEN.-The
Washington Republican says:-lester-
day afternoon an altercation took qlacc
between two boatmen up the Chesapeake
. ,..It t,.h