The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-06-20
STARVATION STORIES
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PRONOUNCED MUCH oygRpRAwN
81 The Representatives Of tho Wheeling
Chamber. II Commerce WAC was Sent
Down 70 InyesiIgate Tho Truth Of the
Reports..rextof the otleial Report.
Mr. H, p. McGregor, the representative
Of the Wheeling Chamber Of Commences
sent down to Jackson county early this
week to personally investigate the stories
ei starvation in that county, returned yes
terday, onthe Louis A. sherley, and at
once made an official report to the officers
Of the organization. As has been indi-
Gated by his preliminary report sent by
telegraph, he found no distress or want
that would Justify q movement for the re.
lief Of that section by the Chamber Of
Commerce or any other body here or else
where outside Of jackson county. The
few facts on which the exaggerations have
been built up are Of a trivial character,
and Mr.. McGregor gives 1t as his opinion,
carefully formed, that there Is less suffer
ing in jackson than in some other coun-
ties whose people have made no com
plant.
In his report to the Chamber Of Com,
merce Dir. McGregor says:
TnR TRUE STATE or AFFAIRS.
AZ Rayenswood / learned that Washing.
ton District, where the suffering exists, il
thirty miles back In the southeastern por.
ZION Of the county; that / could not reach
;tby buggy aud Il would take week to
60 over The district, which Is twelve miles
wide and twenty miles long, and very
spaFsety settled by very poor ciass o.
people, who are always not far removed
from starvation. They work one day, gel
q bushel OF grain and LOAF until 1t Is gone
The drought was very severe in that
locality last year. Some Of the people
have been In tho timber business, but that
business is at q stand still, there being nc
demand for their slaves, ETC., which adds
to their trouble. They have no garden:
10 apeak of. This ia not the fault Of the
soil or season, but because they have al
idea that tho women Hhoud make the
gardens, while these lords Of creation ioat
at the country stores, whiting boxes
swapping horses and ''cussiDg" aud dis.
cussing the political outlook. From all
can learn the majority Of these men de
servo no sympathy, but their wives and
children should not suffer.
Mr.. Armstrong, cashier OF the bank al
RayeDswooa, says: "The reports OF desti
tuition are greatly msgnifed. Jackson
county can and will take care oil all hel
deserving poor"
MIR. Mcintosh says: "some are in wan
and must have assistance, but generally
they are the men who will not work"
air. Mckinley says: "Jackson county il
very much obliged to Wheeling for hel
kind otIerp, but ! ON opposed to accepting
anything from outside the county,
Mr.. Williams, Of tho firm Of Williams 4
Wetzsl, says: "There can be no donbt
that aid will have to bs rendered, but the
County Commissioners should take meas
prea fqr-their relief at once"
LIVING on t'dARpES 4RpcK."
Mr.. George Leonard, merchant, says
from all he can learn there 10 consider
able suffering. He heard that some lived
for days on lettuce, onions and faaishes
but thinks such instances rare II they ex.
ist at all.
/ conyeysed with nearly all the promi
nent men OF Rayenswped, none Of, whom
knew OF anything personally, hut thei,
opinions did not di0er from those Of the
above named gentlemen, They are very
indignant that such reports should be rent
to papers in distant States to tho great In.
jury Of West Virginia, and. especially Of
Jackson county. She stands sixteenth in
point Of wealth in the State, and owes moi
q dollar. The County Commissioners are
severely condemned, and Justly, I think,
for not taking steps weeks ago to relieve
the wants OF their poor. Isaw the Pfesl'
dent OF the Board, and he gave as an ex-
cuse for not calling meeting OF the
Board that he had written the
Prosecuting Attorney at Jackson O. 3. for
the facts, and also had written 10 member
OF the Board from the interior Of the
county for him TO Investigate and report,
but had heard nothing from them, and Ii
would depend on the report they gave
whether he would call a meeting or not.
! met two farmers who said they lived
about eight milas from this district-they
said they had no suffering near them
they had heard there was some destitu..
ton in Washington district, but not so
much 40 reported, and mo more than they
deserved" met another fasmer who
said he heard they wanted TO sell some
stock over there, and had gone and offered
them all he eopld afford 70 give and all
they were worth, bpt eonld buy nothing.
ALWAYS IN THE NEXT DrsrRtcT.
! had q conversation with the man who
was sent out with provisions by the Relief
Committee at Ravenswood. He said the
etd was E timely and az. thankfully received,
would render they would get 9leng, He
saw no cases Of suffering. Hehcard Of
some, but 1t was always Just over in the
adjoining neighborhood.
While at Hayenswpod 7 met a Mr..