Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-06-08
AN APPEAL FOR AID.
The Situation of Affairs in Jackson
County,
As Set Forth by the Hsrald---Pub-
lie Meetings Being Held
aud Help Asked For.

of Food-Women and Children Crying for
Bread, and None to Succor Them-Au
Eonest, Manly Appeal for Aid-'Ssve Us
or We Perish" prints reports of several
public meetings held last week in that conn
ty to ascertain the exact amount of destitu-
ton prevailing, and the means needed for
relief, prefacing the article with the follow
ing editorial comment:
I'm another column is found few plain,
simple statements from some Of
THE STARVING PEOPLE
of jackson county. The situation amounts
to Just this: Without aid many of them will
absolutely starve.
THE districts mentioned elswhere are
not the only places in the county where
families are suferingI of hunger. In fact
there is probably not neighborhood in
which this state of facts doesn't exist to
greater or less extent. In q conversation
with Surveyor Hsrgraye, he told US Of being
at store in Grant district last week when
boy or 10 years old, bright manly lit
tie fellow, came in bringing
SMALL QUANTITY OF GREEN GINSENG.
After weighing it out the merchant in.
uuired of him what he wanted. Meal was
the reply. Being informed that he had
none, the next inquiry wac for flour, to
which be received the same reply. 1t was
then suggested that he take coffee and trade
it to some of his neighbors for bresdstutf
| A cloud came over the boys face as he sor,
rowfully replied that he knew none of his
neighbors in any better condition, and after
some little time he thought of crackers,
with which he was supplied aud with which
he hurried home to his furnishing brothers
and sisters. This, too, in neighborhood
from which there has been
NO COMPLAINT.
In another vicinity we are informed that
last week large family subsisted for five
days on lettuce, and the father, a hsrd-work
ing honest man being confined to his bed
with sickness, his stomach refused to retain
such diet. Yet no word was uttered by them
| of their condition, and had not their distress
been discovered the chances are they would
nave died of starvation. We are informed
| by those in a position to know that hun
uleds of families are no better off than this
one. Something must be done. Talk will
| not
SAVE THE PEOPLE.
Let those more fortunate go into their
| pockets, to their -four barrels, to their meat
houses, and do something for their dying
| fellow citizens. Let the County Court meet
| l. 4 L.
lief tits true that there is no moneyin the
treasury, but no county in the State has
better credit than our own. We are told
that this would be contrary to law, and in
violation of the constitution. But who is
there to oppose such proceedings, and what
are statutes compared with bread, and the
constitution to the preservation of life.
THE MEETINGS.
At White Pine the meeting Of citizens
was presided over by Rev. Rev. T. B. Tope
N. D. Cunningham acting as secretary
Speeches were made by many citizens set
ting forth the facts as they found them
Hiram Cobb said the people were suffering
and begging for bread, not fewer than
eight every day asking for as little as a
quart of flour; that they came to his mill
with gallon Of corn. Madison Cobb said
the people were at his house every day beg.
! cling for bread, and that he had divided
with them until he had nothing left to
divide. B. s. White said the people were
suffering, and he himself would soon be
in that condition. Scott Cobb said "As
for myself have little bread. We have
been begged as high as six times day for
teacuptul of flour. Some have gone
FIVE DAYS WITHOUT ANYTHING TO EAT,
and l myself will be in suffering con.
dition soon" Taylor Cobb said: Il per
sonally know the people are suffering. One
man came with chicken, Sunday, and
begged for bread. have divided till sm
out and nothing to get more with" Ed.
Smith said he had been hunting work
for a week, and offered to work at
l5 cents day, but could not get it, and is
now suffering. Jacob Casio said he had
been trying to get bread for q whole week,
but could not, and is in a suffering condi-
ton. Robert Garret said: l have no,
starved any yet but have sold all have to
,ell, and if don't get help Immediately will
starve Leths J. Jones, a widow, said: My
family is now suffering, and will stsrve five
DO not get help.
Many others present spoke in the same
strain.
At New Kentuck mass meeting of the
same character was held. John Smith, AS
SCISSOR, said that four-ffths of the people are
suffering for something to eat; that unless
help came there would be
THREE HUNDRED FAMILIES
in Washington district, starve. Those 10
the district not in need of aid themselves
have helped all they can. Robert Cleek, J
Hatcher, J. 81, Garrett, j. s. Huffman
James Parsons, W. Il. Hatcher, Benz. Pol
ing, P. C. Cleek, G. Parsons, John Innmsn
W. Rolings, Mute Teney D. Burdett
John Parsons, Anderson Stats
James Fields, q. R. Boggess and
others testified to the distress. B. P. Mau
gus told of child so weak from starvation
that it could not bold piece OF bread In it,
band. A. Scarberry said he was of rather
q proud disposition, and never liked to tell
his real condition, but said in trembling
voice and
WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES,
that be was in distress; told of sending his
boy to mill with the last peck of corn, aud
said he didn't know what to do. j. II
Garrett said he knew there were people
bound to starve if they were not helped, and
that soon.
An appeal for aid was signed by 100
citizens.
At Short school house meeting was also
held, attended BY Calven Fields, Abraham,
Lanham, George W. Thomas, VIM. Conner,
James L. Munday, John R. Muudsy, VIM.
R. Lsnham, Benjamin W. Milan, Henry
0uley, VIM. R. Thomas. In the published
account of the meeting they say:
I'VE have consulted one another and have
come to the conclusion that we will have to
| ASK FOR HELP.
We are a people willing to work for our