Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-24
Starving and Freezing.

a TEkklbLk TALE VI SUFFERING FROM DAKOTA.
Minneapolis dispatch TO the New York Times
to-day says: J. Harpman, who has just returned
from visit to Ramsey County, OAK. says OF the
Polish Jew sufferers there: "The settlement Is
about 10 miles from Devils Lake and comprises
seventy families numbering 23S souls. They cam.
here TWO years ago last spring from Chicago, ST.
Paul, and other places, with some houseno ID truck
aud from 8, 500 10 s., 500 In money, farming I'M
p.ements. stocA, &c. Ihey procured land, built
lnelr INQUEST houses, and W nj 70 work with VIII
20 clear the land and become independent farmers.
Those without any money mortgages the land and
borrowed enough TO pay the Government price,
about $780, and expected TO live on the balance OF
their loans until the FIRST crop could be harvested
They raised fair crop the ms year, and the pros
pee was so bright that they mortgaged their langs
and other property 10 purchase stock and farm
machinery The second year they planted much
Larger acreage. The notes and mortg ages signed
by them In many instances bore interest at the
rate OF 2 per cent month on chatteis and u per
cent per annum on real estate, beside per cent
per annum on loans, which they were obliged 70
pay. Land sharks lent them money ana charged
exorbtant interest
"AOout the middle OF August all their expecta-
lions were ruined In one night. severe Ireshet
came and ruined their entire crop or wheat, leav-
ing Them only about as many potatoes as they
used for planting, and barely enough oats 10 VIM
ter their stock. The trouble and suffering began
at once. The merchants, who had heretofore been
anxious to supply all their wants, refused TO credit
them any more, seeing that they could not expect
paymentfor what had been furnished already.
nearly every creditor became alarmed and fore
CLOSED. The situation became SO bad that the
sheriff refused TO infict ful ther suffering on the
people by taking their property. We found The
people without fuel or bread. they using The drip
pings Of cattle for fuel TO COOK such few articles
they could get, and set bread n they had any, 10
bake In this ire Their children were naked, with
out Ioes or Stockings the men and women In rags
ana without footwear.
ave found everything a. the sheriff had stated.
To the fearful appeals OF these people said that
we should not let them starve or freeze, and they
took fresh hopes, shower1ng blessings upon US
For the present their most pressing needs are fuel
and bread and these articles must be had at once,
for every day Is day OF suffering and pnvauon.
We visited about twenty houses and found all
with but two exceptions, without a suck OF wood
or any other material for nre except cattle drop
pings on saturday the ice was three-fourths OF
az inch thick, and we found numerous lille chill
dren with bare feet and legs The minister's wife
we found living In hut, the moor consisting OF the
bare ground. with no IRE NOR anything 10 make
one with; one nttle girl, blue with cold, and the
other In her CRIB, huddled up trying 70 keep warm
Their furniture was In keeping with the rest and
their entire supply OF food consisted OF dry crust
OF bread, kindly sent BY ne.ghbor from his scanty
supply. Another woman we found the same morn
Ing with two little girls. with bare limbs ana feet
trying 70 keep warm on the sunny side OF the
house. Some creditor had taken her COW and LETT
her TO starve with her little ones"