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.
ThOusRnds of People in Need OF the
Barest NeccssRrics of Life on Ac-
count of Poor Crops.

Thousands of People in Need OF tho
Barest NeccssRrics of Life on Ac-
count OF Poor Crops.
A gentleman who has just r, turned from the
Northwest, brings with him a tale of horri-
bic suffering and destituton in nineteen
ct 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 :he following
counties: Mcpherson, Campbell, Wallworth,
Edmunds, Potter, part of Brown, Sphinx,
Hyde, Hand. Bsadle., Clark. kingbnry,
Miner, Dividson, Gerald, Fork, Hughes aud
Su!ly. +. T.. Paxton, a well-to-do bu usiness
man az Chicago. VITO has spent some days in
the : I'll cted districss, says:
has reduced those formerly weIffoI 10 ff6 ff66'iHs e
con iition of direst distress. Many thousands
kind. They lack the where withal to purchase
lhs cesslries OF lie, whilst tho ominous
rlacard confronts them in every store where
they once had credit:-No trust given, goods
sold for cash o1ly."
Mr.. Paxton described the condition of the
people in the kingsbury aud Miner count 80
as heart renriing. In the latter county they
have no fl Jur the staple OF life Icing Il badly
ground corn meal. and there is a deplorable
insutiiciency of that. Every farm is mort
gagged, in many cases for more than sale
uader present prices would realize. Most of
the stock has been levied on ami sold by the
sheriff at public auction, the ridiculously low
pric 8 obtained Icing eloquent, not only of
the starving condition OF the cattle, but the
scarcity of means in the community-cows
fetching us low rs IS each, horses IS to $40,
while sheep and pigs are simply unstable,
there being nothing to feed tn I'm with.
One man had few miserable chickens left,
OF what two years ago, was well-stocked
farm. The WON, and children bear evil
dences OF the hardships they have undergone
in their pinched aud nieagre faces. In many
instances they are unprovided with clothinS
tar what -shey ~ have being IN rIsse1n u
and worn-out condition. "At one place,
said Mr.. Paxton, 81 saw two children walk
ing with their tert wrapped up in pieces OF
old blanket throu4h the snow. Tney told me
they had no shoes for many months lifted
the youngest up-a girl or or years-'he
VA, ht,ls bs tier than q skeleton.
'The rail- oads are naturally doing all they
can to keep people in the country. They liva
in homes that a good season will set many on
their feet again. They have done much to
aIleyiat. the SUI offerings ot the people from the
extreme cod, 10y the gratutous Distribution
of ,,uai wioru IL has been most needed. Ii
many instances the banks also have 1oreDorhe
| to forclose mortSa ges out o; sheer pity.
Provisions of any kind. just now, would be
| n podsend to thousands Is who ars IN u semi
starving condition. Unless relief is giver
| with a 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. evelani of E>mond, >. ID.
| confirms Mr. PaxIon'S story OF the widespread
dest tuition prevailing. This lady Is now il
| MINNEAPOLIS, where she Is making heroic ef
for;s I'm behalf of the sufferers. She says lou
SS--.s.~dls uaeded. and Will Try audi AUD lnauc