Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-01-30
SOUTH D.4KorA,s wor.
starvation staits In 10 COunties OF
tho New Stutrs

the New Sintes
4 CHICAGO, Ill, jan. 22-An Associated
Press reporter just from the ncrh. aest
Z brings with him tale of horrible So ,r-
ing and restitution in 10 counties of
South Dakota, gathered from persons
z who but recently have been eye witnesses
of what they so graphically describe.
4 The stricken area includes the following
B counties; MoPheraon, Campbell, Wall.
p worth, Edmunds Potter,R pRrt Of Brown,
Sphinx, Hyde, Hand, Bdale, CLARK, KlaRs
( bury, Miner. Davidson, Gerald, Fork,
I Hughes and Sully.
r. 70. Paxton, well.to-do business
man OF ShabboMa, DeKllb county, this
state, who has spent soma d4ys in the
afflicted districts, says: "Howevar hard
land sharks and other Interested parties
may try to keep tho true state OF things
from the people OF this country they can
mot long be successful. The successive
failure Of four years crops hal reduced
those formerly we'll to do to condition
If direst distress. Many Thousands OF
families are entirely without means OF
any kind. They lack the wherewi.hal TO
purchase the nee aasaries OF life, wail6t
the ominous plsoRrd conironts them in
every store where they once had credits
mo trust given; goods sold for cash
only"
Mr.. Paxton described the condition OF
the people in Kingsbury snd Miner ooun-
ties as simply heartrendins. la the latter
county they have no -four; the staple OF
life being badly ground corn meal and
there is deplorsble iusufhoiency OF tliIt.
livery farm Is mossgagsd, in many cases
for more than o sale under present prices
would realize Mott OF the stooh has
been levied on and sold by the sheriff at
public auction, the ridioulcuslv low prices
obtained being eloquent, not only OF the
starving condition oil the cattle but the
scarcity of means in this community.
Cows fetching as low as 80 piece, horses
So and $40, while sheep and pigs are
pimply unstable, there bsing nothing to
feed Thorn with. One man had few
miserable chickens left, of what, two
years ago was we'll Ltocked farm
Tho women and children bear evidences
of the hardBhips they have undergone in
their pinched and meagre faces In many
instances they are unpToyidsd with cloth
Ing with which to Withstand the rigors OF
winter, what they now nave being ia u
ragged and worn-out condition. "At one
plaoa," said MIR. Paxton, II saw two chill
dren walking with their feet wrapped up
in pieces of old blanket through the
pnow. They told me they had had no
shoes for maay months. i lifted tho
Youngest up-R girl Of or years
.he was little better than skeleton"
Are the railroads dong anything to
help the people?"
The railroads are naturally doing oil
they can to keep people in the country.
They live in hopes that good season
will set many on their feet again. They
haze done much to alleviate the suffer
ings OF the people from the extreme cold
by the gratnitous distribution Of coal
whore 1t has been most needed. In
many instances the banks also have fore
borne to fcreciose mortgages out Of sheer
pity"
"What 10 most needed, Mr. Paxton n
was next asked.
Flour, especially in Kingsbury and
Miner counties, sud oiolhipg for the
women and children. Provisions Of any
kind, just now, would be Goi-send te
Thousands who are In sem.. stargina
condition. Unless relief is given with 0
liberal hand this winter in South Dakota
You will hear of many deaths from abso
Lutte starvation, and the reports will IN
doubleday have foundation, in fact"
Mr., Paxton exhibited map which he
esid had BEEN marked by the governor
showing the area over which the dsstltu
ton extended. 1t included sll the oountie,
above named.
Mrs. A. O. Cleveland Of mond, s. d..
cnnhrms Mr.. Pax.on's story of ths wide
spread destitution prevailing. This lady
Is now in Minneapolis, whsrs she Il
making heroic efforts in behalf of the
sufferers. she says flour il very badly
needed, and will try and induce Mime
apolis miilers to donate ut least ca
load.