The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-24
Hardships Among the Polish Jews.
A Community of These People Com
prising Seventy Families
Undergoing the Tortures of Squalor
and Starvation In Dakota.
They Are Almost Entirely without
Food, Fire and Clothing.
Mr.. J. Harpman of st. Paul, investigates
the Condition of These stricken Peo-
plo and Finds That the Accounts
Arc Not overdrawn.

ST. PNur, Mimi, Oct 23,-J. Harpman,
who has just returned from a visit to Ram
scy county d. r., SAYS Of the Polish jew
sufferers there The tcttlement is located
about eighteen miles from Devils lake
and comprises seventy families, number
ing 23s souls. They came here two years
ago last spring from Chicago, st. Paul and
other places, with some household truck
and from 81, 800 to s., 800 in money, farm
ing implements, stock, etc. They pro-
cured land, built their modest houses and
went 10 work with will TO clear the land
and become Independent farmers. Those
without any mon y mortgagcd the land,
borrowed enough to pay the government
price, about $3.50, and expected TO live on
the balance Of their loans until the first
crop could bo harvested. They
raised u fair crop tho frst year
and the prospect was so bright
that they morigoged their lands and
other property TO purchase stock and farm
machinery. The second year they planted
much larger acreage. The notes and
mortgages signed 10y them, In many in
stances, bore interest Mt the rate OF per
cent. month on chattcls aud - per cent.
per II m ON ! al estate. besides per
cent. per unnum ON loans which they were
Obliged Ia paw. Loan sharks lent them
money and charged cXorbitant interest.
About the middle OF August all their
expectations were ruined IN one night. A
severe frost came and ruined their entire
crop of wheat, leaving them only about ~
many potatoes ~ they used for planting
and barely enough oats 10 winter their
stock. The trouble and suffering began at
once. Tho merchants who had heretofore
been anxious Ia supply all their wants re-
fused 10 credit thcm amy more, seeing that
they could not expect payment for what
had been furnished already. Nearly every
creditor became alarmed and iOrcclosed.
The situation became ~ bad that the
sheriff refused To inilict further suffering
on the people by taking their property.
| lie found the people without fuel or bread,
| they using the droppinggs OF cattle iqr iuel
\ ,o VooN SUCH icw W,VvNc- w tncN could get
and set bread, Il they had any, To bake in
this lire. Their children were naked,
without shoes OF stockings, the men and
| women la rugs and without iUotwcar.
stated. To the fearful appeals oi these
people, We said We should not let them
siafvc nor freeze, and they took fresh
| hopes, shuwcfing blessings ON ~. For
| the present, Their most pressing needs arc
| iucl aud bread aud these articles must 10
had at once, lot every day is day oi sui
icriug and priyation. We visited about
twenty houses aud found all, with but
tXo exceptions, Without q stick oi wood or
any other material lnr lire except
cattle droppings. On Saturday nae
Ice was thrcc-iourths ol an inth
thick. aud wo found numerous little
children with bare feet aud legs. Tho
mii IL cr's wife We found living ia hut,
the luor consisting ut the bare ground, no
fire. nor anything to make one with; ono
! little girl blue with the cold, and the other
la her rags. huddlcd up trying 10 keep
warm. Their cutiro supply Of food con-
| sisted oi q dry crust oi bread kindly sent
! by a ncighbUf from their scaniy supply.
| Another woman. We found the same morn
ing. with two little girls with bare limbs
aud feet, trying to keep warm on the
sunny side OF the house. some creditor
| had taken her COW aud left her to starye
| with her little ones.