The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-02-07
DESTITUTION In DAKOTA.
Horrible Suffering in Nineteen
Counties Of South Dakota.
Thousands of People in Need OF the
Barcst EeccssRries of Life on Ac-
count of Poor Crops.

Thousands of People in Need of the
Barcst Teccssaries of Life on Ac-
count of Poor Crops.
A gentleman who has just +, turned from the
Northwest, brings with him tale of horri-
bic suffering and destitution in nineteen
CO unties Of South Dakota, gathered from
people who but recently have been eye wit
nesses of what they so graphically describe.
The stricken area includes the following
counties: McPherson, Campbell, Wallworth,
Edmunds, Potter, part of Brown, Sp:nk,
Miner, Dividson, Gerald, Fork, Hughes aud
Su!ly. +. T. Paxton, well-to-do bu u'iness
man Of Chicago VITO has spent soms days in
the 9 i'll cted districSs, says:
has reduced those formerly weIff65- DO o'ffS'is f6
con iition of direst distress. Many thousands
OF families are entirely without means Of any
kind. They lack the where ewithal to purchase
ths necesslries OF life, whilst tho ominous
rlacard confronts them in every store where
they once had credit:-No trust given, goods
sold for cash only."
Mr.. Paxton described the condition Of the
people in the kingsbury and Miner count 80
as he at ren'iing. In the latter county they
have no fl )ur; the staple Of life Icing u badly
ground corn mea,. and there is deplorabie
insuiiiciency of that. Every farm is mort
gagged, in many cases for more than q sale
uIdcr present prices would realize. Most of
the stock has been levied on nni sold by the
sheriff a: public auction, tho ridiculously low
pric obtained icing eloquent, not only Of
the starving condition OF the cattle, but the
scarcity of means in the community-cows
fetching as low as s. each, horses IS to $40,
while sheep and pigs are simply unstable.
there being nothins to feed tn ,m with.
One man had n few miserable chickens left,
OF what, two years ago, was u well-stocked
farm. The women and children bear evil
dences of the hardships they have undergone
in their pinched aud n,eagre faces. In many
tpof Tn
ter, what they no have being In ragged
and worn.out condition. "At one place"
said Mr.. Paxton, II saw two children walk
ing with their feet wrapped up in pieces or
old blanket throu 4h the snow. They told me
they had no shoes for many months. l lifted
the youngest up-a girl or or years-'he
VA lttls be tier than n skeleton.
HThe rail, Dads are naturally do!n al they
can to keep people in the country. They livs
in hopes that a good season will set many on
their feet again. They have done much to
alleviate hesuferings OF the people from the
extreme cod, by the Rratu.tous distribution
of coal where IL has been most needed. La
many instances the banks also have foreborhe
to forclose mortga ses out o. sheer pity"
Provisions of any kind, just now, would be
a podsend to thousant Is who ars In u semi
starving condition. Unless relief is given
with liberal hand this Winter in South Da
ksta, YOU will hear OF many deaths from ab
solute starvation, and the reports will un
| doubtediy have foundation in fact"
Mrs. A. c. G evelaui, of E>mond, 5. d..
confirms Mr.. PaxtonS story OF the widespread
| dest tuition prevailing. This lady is now il
| MINNEAPOLIS, where she Is making heroic eli
| forts In behalf of the sufferers She says hou
ia uer:: badly needed, and will try and induc
Il