New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-11
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
FAMINE IN NORTH CHINA.
PRESBYTERIAN FOREIGN MISSIONARIES sEEK.
tNa TO RELIEVE DISTRESS.

PRESBYTERIAN FOREIGN MISSIONARIES SEEK.
tNe TO RELIEVE DISTRESS.
To Me Edstor or The frSouns
Sir: There is at this moment IN the shantung
Province Of North China a most appalling famine
resulting from the general Overlooking of the low and
level country, which swarms with villages crowded
With poor people. Tho one fact that they are in
many cases living on the seed Of a plant somewhat
resembling tho sage brush Of Utah, with no other
food aud that even this poor supply will last but
two months at tho most, is sufficient to present the
situation
The Presbyterian Board Of Foreign Missions has
often opened It's channels Of Transmission for famine
funds TO be used In North China, in Turkey and IN
Persia, and again needing the call OF humanity It's
treasury Is now open for the free transmission OF
whatever humane people are disposed to contribute
II is OF the utmost Importance that promptness be
observed Tho following description Just received In
letter from the Row ]. II. Laughlln, Of wei Helm,
North China, Will sufficiently state the case;
The streams rose many feet. entering houses and
miles long by 90 wide, and containing popniatioS
OF bot far nom 2OOO00O IL would be hard / think.
e Snd village that had escaped having a. least
much larger proportion. Ono town OF formerly nearly
SJo houses now has scarcely fifty remaining. 4
Of waters fifteen feet deep through place and nine
enths Of tho dwellings and shops with all their
one life was lost tho people having been on tho
slcrt and taken rouge high ground and In trees.
For nearly two days until the waters subsidized they
wcie without food. This is The worst we saw
with our own eyes but We heard Of one even Worse,
But this s docs not limit The damage done. The
ground being low aud fat, when tho streams arose
thes surmounted their banks, OVERLOOKING the adjacent
country until their various currents united In vast
lale. covering an area OF many SQUARE miles. To
Tho crops this was OF course nnols. Weeks went
aitcr which there but little harvest left to gather
In al the vast region before mentioned post Of tho
supply Of grain to make II last the longer and this Is
the food they are now eating and Will continue to eat
even this is not the limit One part OF this region
has suffered every year for 1--WE years Sometimes a,1
River. again by high tides from tho sea, and again,
a. IN this instance, by torrents from the skies Hear
ns o. the extreme restitution thery. we rode oyer
prepared to bear testimony In appealing for help.
rhe condition Of the people is ptabc In tho extreme
ego could reach was covered with water. Ono
specially low spot indeed. ls stl 40 covered: We
crosscd u, mile In width. in a boat Here the pour
farmers we're gathering for fuel the bare stalks
q their drowned crops and taking them home ln boats
What Ia ieit 10 csi Almost literally nothing but the
seeds Of weed resembling no, Identical D, WITH 1ne
plant grows IN considerable quantities on the other
wise bare fields. The inhabitants ordlRary gather
for donkey and cattle feed but this year their own
seeds nom ne stalk hey steep them IN wsor and
mould them into kind of cake, and on that ascless,
unlnNlung cake muliltlues arc Hahlhb their uAib
breakfasts, dinners and slippers. II Is wonder 10
me that Il sustains life at all, but the people say
OL N we on!y had enough Of this We could manage
What measures of felief do we propose Six
hund a and hfty dollars have already been sent us
by he fofclEne IN Shanghai. They and Others WIZ
doubtless contribute more. but we shall Still need
The help Of the Christian church at home. WIZ you
hof therefore Pleas lay his matter before the Chris
.h people Of America. and cry for help. II prompt
ynuI contributions viii reach hero Just IN the nick
~ timrwhon the present meaErc store OK grass seca
Il consumed and human beings will DO starving.
They arr already dying Of diseases that they might
survive N they Ind nourfshing food but not as yet
Of actual starvation Here Is In the coming February
and March, an opportunity, verify believe. 70 save
untold number of livos.'
Contributions mas be scnt 10 Gilbert X. liarroun.
treasurer OF the Presbyterian board OF Foreign
Missions. No 80 Fifih.sve.. New-york They Will
not 20 into the general fnd Of the Board for Mission
Work. II. Il. ELLINWOoD
New.York. Dec 81 1883.