Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-04-19
HELP, Or WE PERISH!
Startling Revelations OF Suffering
in the South,
MANY HUNDREDS ACTUALLY STARVING
In Eastern South Carolina A People
Whose Singular StOicisn Has Kept
Them from Appealing to
Others for Aid.

RELpoc, S. c., April ls.-Because no voice
has been lifted in cry for aid, the great
world does not know that the people OF q
State, one of the old thirteen, are row un-
dergoing privations unparalleled in her
history. Such silence under suffering is
only accounted for by q singular stoicism
which seems inherent with these people.
From the northern boundary, among the
mountains to its southern line on the At
lsntic, drought prevailed from May until
December. The scorching sun withered
the green fields, until hundreds of acres
were known to yield only as many ears Of
corn. The whitening winds seemed laden
with malarious poison, ard feyers dis
tressed the ruined farmers.
The fall crops were planted only in the
low bottoms, beside those streams that
were not dried up, and even these failed to
produce more than the cost of planting.
In many localities water became precious
commodity and q bucket full. was given
and received as a valuable boon. Far into
the midwinter this scarcity continued.
With the greatest difficulty winter grain
was sown, but the first crop was almost
Universally Failure.
Later on, in February, better stand was
obtained and now those who could afford
to buy the seed have hopes of partial
supply of forage for their animals.
A prominent business man in Bsrnwell
county, said: "My section could have
weathered it through had the merchants
been able to stand the pressure. You see,
they had advanced supplies to the farmers,
taking liens on their growing crops. Half
a dozen merchants in this little place, by
bard work, have obtained an extension OF
time till next November 1t is only delay
of the trouble, Any man who can put two
and two together knows what is coming
He uttered the last sentence like O sob
and turned and walked away.
$50 into the county," said another, "!f
you would know the condition OF the peo.
pie. There are people with large plants-
tions who are so helged in that bread is
barely attainable."
A small farmer, we'll known and re-
spected, said:
II had something to live upon till Christ
mas. Since then | don't know how We
lived. Many times there is
Not Mouthful 10 Eat In the House.
have kept my horse alive b7 picking
moss from the trees till the grass grows,
and now he lives on that, but he is nothing
but skin and bones"
"Is there no possible rel et for you?"
There is none until May" he replied,
"and the merchant who has always ad.
ysnced to me will let me have supplies
enc ugh to keep soul and body together
until can m AXE q crop. He can't do more
than this for be is almost broke himself"
Have you no friends to help you|
1--WE have one friend who would help US,
il sire could know, but we can't get to her
now
"The mans half.famished face and figure
told a sadder story even than his words.
In the humble room sat his wife and
n other, both confirmed inyalids, and in the
pext apart nent YES his daughter, lying
spent several years. We learned That this
mans industrious habits aud character
were the mesns OF his obtaining the prom.
ise OF help. Unless it comes speedily 1t
will be of no avail"
"Are there other cases like that? we
asked.
THAT is only one of many. Go on the
highways and look at the peoples faces.
They never looked go before"
Your informant has been in four coun-
ties ia the lower part of South Carolina OF
laIe, and the same story is repeated in
tn, III all. The perilous times have brought
10 ght the usual vampire, who feeds on
blood and calamity in the shape OF the
extortioner. Men are hard toeach other
because
The Stress for Bread
robs them OF feeling for others. There are
cases that show human nature caa soar
above selfshness and yet yield up its own
for Others. The instances where assist
ance is given the negroes from whites, and
where the whites receive from the blacks,
are frequent and touching.
Now, il ever, is the time when the North
ern heart should throb in benevolence for
the Southern blacks. Midsummer is the
hardest season in the South for the farmer
II in spring the cry for bread resounds IN
hushed tones there will be no concealme1t
in June, when help must come, lest star
vaiion epsue. Aiken, Barnwell, Colleton,
Hampton, Beaufort, Charleston aud Or
rangeDurg ere among the counties that are
suffering. II would not be Sinking the
truth TO say that there is scarcely county
Which is rot now sharing the general ca
lsmiiy. There will be need Of helI, bnt -
should come from home. South Carolina
has nOntyed men enough to keep hef
refdy from sn appeal to those without her