The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-11-03
NEBRASKA
BORDER STARVATION.

NEBRASKA SUFFERERS.
BORDER STARVATION.
TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE IN NEBRASKA SUE
FERING FOR FooD-THE
MADE BY Gen. o. c.. ORD.
The Chicago Times of the 23d inst. gives
the following account of an interview with
Gen. Ord concerning threatened restitution
in Nebraska:
most affected by the ravages of the late grass
hopper plague?
Gen. Ord. Western Nebraska. The eastern
counties are perfectly well able to AXE care
OF themselves.
r. Are the settlers in a very destitute con-
dition?
Gen. O. There are some fifteen counties
where one-half or two-thirds of the people
will have to be fed this winter. This is in
the most sparsely settled portions of the
State.
fifteen Counties?
Gen. o. About 10000, and one-third of
these were very poorly clad, in fact ragged
and without boots and shoes of anv kind.
They must suffer greatly during the win
ter.
r.. How do the people bear their misfor-
tunes?
Gen. o. They bear their troubles very
well, and nave displayed a good deal of
fortitude in the struggle with starvation.
They are a class of people vino have not
been reduced to such straits before, and are
averse to the receiving of eleemosynary
aid. They are most DESTROYS of working.
but there is no work for them. Gen. Bris-
bin, of the United States army, went
through the counties in the Republican and
Loupe valleys on 8 tour of inspection, and
for the purpose of distributing funds. At
each settlement on the route he called a
meeting of the principal inhabitants, at
which statements of the sufferings of the
settlers were made of a most agonizing de-
scription.
r.. Has there not been an organization
formed in the State for the relief Of the suf-
ferers?
Gen. o. Yes, there is a complete State or
ganization, of which Gov. Furness is presi-
dent, and the Hon. Elgin Saunders treas
urer. The executive committee, of which /
am chairman, is composed principally of
the most prominent citizens of Omaha and
adjacent towns.
r. What assistance have you already re-
ceived?
Gen. o. The railroads passing through the
State have, up to the present, contributed
10000. all the railroads carry contribu-
tions from Chicago and from the Pacific free
of charge to Nebraska.
r. What articles do the sufferers most re-
quire?
Gen. o. food and clothing and fuel. We
have given them considerable of each up to
the present time. In the spring we shall
have to supply them with seed.
II. Have the farmers in the portion of the
State not touched by the grasshoppers done
much?
Gen. o. The prosperous settlers have con-
tributed a considerable sum, both in money
and contributions, but principally in contri-
buttons. They rave all gone as far as their
means will let them. The merchants and
bankers are paying monthly to the fund.
r. Has there been much suffering among
the unfortunate settlers?
Gen. o. Well, yes. They have nothing to
eat but what we send them. The distress,
however, is
AMONG THE POORER SETTLERS,
who have only been in the State a year.
They are the poorer class of frontier settlers,
and were very poor before they vent to Ne
braska. They live in a very primitive way.
AS a proof of the clean sweep made by the
g~rasshoppers ] may state that Gen. Brisbin,
when he was distributing provisions, en-
| ployed three different teams to complete a
distance of 40 miles. The horses were in a
weak condition in consequence of corn FORM
ing no part of their diet. In the whole of
| the western counties, not a grain of corn
was left by the grasshoppers, aud generally
they devoured the greater portion of the
stalks. There is plenty of hay in the coun-
try. Grasshoppsrs are epicures, and reject
the vegetation from which they derive their
name.
r. Have any deaths from starvation taken
place?
Gen. o.. 1t is believed that several of the
deaths which have taken place lately have
been produced by the want of proper nour-
shment. Some heartrending stories were
told at the meetings called by Gen. Brisbin.
In one instance the mother of a family
walked several miles 10 the nearest village
in order to make an attempt to obtain some
groceries on credit. She left her children at
home. and when she returned one OF the lit
tie ones was dead. There was no
food in the house, and the
| child's system was. no doubt, completely
exhausted. Gen. Brisbin also tells of a case
in which a man had walked III miles to the
| village where they were distributing meal
and other necessaries of life. The man ar
rived at night, when the stores were locked
up. He was told that he could have the
meal, etc., in the morning. But he said, "I
am so concerned about my family. They
are starving. Can not l have it now?" At
IL O'Clock at night a sack of meal was given
to him, and the man, with a lightened heart
but a loaded body, faced the dement's and
trudged home with his prize. There are
many cases of restitution like this, and the