The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-09-30

LONDON, Sept. 29-The dispatch from
St Petersburg to the Telegraph, describ-
ing the situation in Russia arising from
the failure of the crops and detailing mar
rowing incidents OF the famine now pre-
vailing, a part Of which has already been
carried to the United States. adds that not
for centuries has such widespread distress
been recorded. 1t is nothing less than a
national calamity The Telegraph's cor
respondent saws that the trouble is chiefly
due 10 the government, which at the be-
ginning OF the year was well aware that
famine was imminent. The authorizes
delayed taking any action TO relieve the
distress until il WAS too late. What bene-
fir would have been derived from the pro-
hibition of the expectation Of rye was null
li.ied by the action OF the government In
extending the time for the decree 10 go
iato effect In addition TO the scarcity OF
food which has caused untold suffering.
the distress has been intensified by the
enormous mum Der OF unusually disastrous
fires that have occurred throughout the
famine-stricken districts. In many OF the
districts entire villages have been de-
strOyed The inhabitants of the burning
villages. weak from lack Of food and with
no prospect of improving their condition,
made no attempt to check the progress OF
the flames. but stood and watched their
dwellings burn Added to these cruel
strokes of fortune came the cattle plague,
which caused Incredible havoc. Thou
sands of head of cattle took the disease
and persisted. and thus many families lost
their only means of subsistence
What little food it is possible for the
peasants TO obtain is of the vileSt descrip-
ton. but so sharp are the pRngs of hunger
that they gladly eat food that at other
times they would not touch. In many
cases their only food is the sweepings and
refuse from the flour mills. In SnrAtof
the land owners found this refuse so iniu-
rious to their cattle that they would not
feed it to them, but. 'houRh it was not ft
for cattle to eat, tho land owners made
bread Of il and sold it to the peasants,
Bread made of finely chopped straw and
bran, mixed with very small quantity Of
rye. is considered a godsend. In many
districts the starving peasantry are not
able TO procure even these miserable sub
stitutes for nouTishing food and are re-
duced to the most dirO straits to procure
ANYTHING that will prolong life. In these
districts the starving population are keep
Ing themselves alive by what they call
HhunCer bread" 1t Is hardly to be be-
believed that human beings could be in
such dire necessity as to live upon such a
compound as this so-called hunger
bread" Yet it is stated as fact that the
ingredients entering into the composition
of this bread are dried dung the powdered
bark Of trees and ground peas and goose
foot. plant more commonly known as
pig-weed This mess is Rreedily eaten by
the furnishing people. Heavy rains have
fallen and the ground is so soaked with
water that the potatoes are rotting. The
price OF potatoes has already doubled and
is still rising.
BERLIN, Sept. 29.-The Cologne Gazette
prints a letter in which the following in-
rident is related in connection with the
famine in the province of Saratoff. A
another official and the latter boxed his
ears. The marshal challenged him to
duel and the challenge was accepted, on
condition that the marshal account for the
expenditure of 10000 rubles of the famine
fund. AS result the marshal was forced !
to resign, and an inquiry into further
official robberies is pending.