Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-12-23
A Terrible Wall of Distress
from Russia.
Government Revenues Falling
Off Enormously.
Merchants and Petty Officials 0p-
pressing the Peasants.
The Knout Is Used with Deadly Ef
fect on Poor wretches Guilty OF
Stealing Food-American Aid
Heartily Appreciated.
A soclated Press Dispatches.

'DNe'~fNN>
LONDON, Dec. 22.-The Telegraph's g
correspondent at st. Petersburg says
there has been an enormous falling off
in the government revenues from the
famine-strcken provinces. Reports of
merciless oppression and outlawry are
continually received. The civil author
tiles do not depend upon themselves
alone to put down lawless acts, but upon
the merest pretext summon the mill
tary, evidently with the intention Of
overawing the people. Three men con-
victed of robbery at Simbirsk were con-
demned to undergo punishment with the
knout. The poor wretches, who had
probably stolen only to keep themselves
alive, died under the lash. A man de-
tected stealing few turnips was sem
fenced to penal servitude for life.
HARD HEARTED MERCHANTS.
While the army officers and many
societies have given up many OF their
usual banquets, etc., devoting the
money usually so spent to tho relief OF
the famine sufferers, the latter's dis
tress has not touched the hearts OF the
richest merchants of st. Petersburg.
They refuse to subscribe anything for
the relief OF their suffering countrymen.
An illustration of the apathy with
which appeals have been received is the
fact that collection of boxes placed
about the corn exchange were found,
when removed, to be filed with bits of
tin and pieces of paper. In numerous
cases dealers, after receiving enormous
prices for grain, sent it to the famine
stricken provinces in bags, the contents
OF which were mostly grass, sand and
bran.
CORRUPT OFFICIALS,
Corruption is widespread among
officsholders, and they are little affected
by the sights of distress, sickness and
death which are visible on every hand.
Many town officials refuse to enroll the
starving peasants on the relief list un-
less they first pay bribe at the rate of
10 copecks for every pound of rye given.
The petitions to the provincial assem-
blies and government asking that the
dram shops be closed and that the sale
OF vodka, the national drink, be forbid
den, have availed nothing.
RoYALTY's CONTRIBUTIONS.
Sr. PETERSBURG, Dec. 22.-The czar
has sent Colonel Wendrich to Postoff.
invested with absolute power to 30 or
ganize railway traffic as to effect the
distribution OF corn. The czarowitzh
has just donated $4,000 roubles to the
famine fund, while Grand Dukes George,
Alexander and Sergius have each con-
tributed 40, 900 roubles. Money for re-
lief purposes is also flowing in freely
from other sources.
AMERICAN AID APPRECIATED.
WAsHINaroN, Dec. 22.-The charge
daffaires OF the Russian legation, reply
ing to letter asking for information as
to the famine in Russia, and whether q
movement for help was necessity, said
the population OF twelve provinces, over
20,000,000 people, were starving, and
that any assistance given would be
much appreciated.
GOVERNOR BoIEs's HEART TOUCHED.
Dies MONIES, Ia, Dec. 22.-Governor
Boies today issued proclamation call
ing attention to the famine in Russia,
and asking for contributions from the
people.
DISAPPOINTED PEASANTS.
ODESSA, Dec. PA party of Polish
peasants who sometime ago emigrated
to Brazil in the belief that their condi-
ton would be greatly improved, have
returned in destitute condition. They
found it impossible to gain livelihood
in Brazil,