The daily gazette., 1882-06-13
A FAMrNE-srKlcKEN spor.

Thousands of People SufTering-An Entire
County Without Food and Appealing for
Aid-Tales of Distress From the Stricken
District.
DANvILLE, VA, June l2.-But little relief
has as yet reached Patrick county, where
from 5000 to 5000 people are actually starv-
ing. There Is no food In the county. Corn
and meal -four cannot be obtained for love
or money. The crops last fall were almost
complete failure. Not drop of rain fell
from early In April to October. The ground
became as dry as powder. Corn withered
and died. Almost everything green wns
burned up by the hot rays Of tn sun and the
farmers were able to save but little from
their fields OF wheat. This little lasted them
through the winter, but II has long since
given out. For some time past the people
have been living on the scanty supplies for
warded from Danville and Richmond. But
these were not sufficient to go around, and
now several thousand people are not only
suffering for want OF food, hut starvation
stares them IN the face. Indeed, there have
been number of deaths already, directly
traccable to the lack of food.
Patrick county is situated on the extreme
southern border of the State, In the Blue
Ridge mountains. A great portion Of 1t is
hard to reach. The roads are bad and run
over the mountains. They are steep and
rocky and to supply the starving thousands
is not an easy task. As far back as Novcm-
ber the officials of the county realized that a
famine was impending and took what steps
lay In their power to avert 1t. But their
efforts were futile, aud as soon as hunger
drove them to it appeals were sent 10 DAN
vile for aid. Over thousand bushels of
corn have already been forwarded from this
point, and this does not include eontribu-
tions from kichmon'. But these supplies
are but drop in the bucket. The appeals
for help come pouring in day by day must
continue until the latter part of July when
the new crops can be depended upon. The
famine is widespread. 1t not only affects
the poor but strikes home at the well-to-do
Most of the distributions of provisions are
made at Patrick Court House. Supplies are
sent by rail tO Burnt Chimneys, in Henry
county, and then hauled in wagons. People
who have visited the famine-stricken county
tell sorrowful tales of the sights witnessed
Farmers along the country roads, suffering
for want of food. will not be able to harvest
their crops unless help reaches them. Their
p.nched faces speak the suffering which they
are forced tn endure. Some of them have
not seen loaf of bread for many day.
These facts are not exaggerated In the least.
The appeals which come up from the famine
stricken region tell the tale of distress.
When a wagon of corn arrives at Patrick
Court House people earnot wait 10 he
served. They thrust their hands into their
bags and gnaw at the kernels to alleviate
their hunger. A peck of corn is prize
which will bring man many mile. 1t is
hOrrowiul to see children, with their wan
faces, eagerly grasping handful of the
golden treasure and carefully guarding
every kernel They cannot wait for the
corn to be ground. Two or three hundred
men and women are continually waiting at
Patrick Court House and praying for succor
When provisions arrive and they go to their
homes their places are taken by Others.
Anything in the way of food is acceptable.
Flour and corn are needed above everything
else.