Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-09-30
Distress in Russia.

The Dispatch ron 81. Petersburg to the
London Telegraph describing the situation
In Russia arising from the failure of the
crope, and detailing narrowing incidents OF
thu famine now prevailing, part OF which
has already been cabled TO theUnited States.
adds that not for centuries has such wide
spread distress teen recorded. Isis nethlng
less than national calamity. The Tele-
graphs correspondent ssys that she trouble
is chiefly due 10 the government, which at
the beginning OF thu year WAS we'll awere
thai famine was imminent. The suttori-
ties delayed taking any action TO relieve the
distress until 1t was too late. What Denehs
would bave been derived from the prohlbi-
ton OF the expectation Of rye vas nuIltbeG
By the action Of the government In extend
Ing the time for the decree to go into effect.
In addition to the scarcity OF food. which
mas caused untold suffering. the distress has
beeu inteosifed by the epormoue plumber O!
unusually DISASTROUS fires thai have occur
red throughou5 the famins-strcken district.
In many OF the districts enti.e viilsgeE have
been destroyed. The inhabitants OF the
burning villages, weak from lack Of food
and no prospect Of improving their condi-
tioo, made 10 attempt 10 check the pfogrese
OF the flames, but stood and watched
their dwellings burn. Some Of shem, more
deVout than others, fell on their Knees and
prayed the Almighty to extinguish the ire
Added to these cruel strokes of fortuae came
the cattle plegue, which caused Incredible
havoc. Thousands of head OF cattle IooE
the disease and perished, end thus macy
families lost their only mems OF sub5is.-
L. n = gev tf,I fN,t he
peasants to obtain Ia OF the vllest 6eacrip-
tlon, bat 30 sharp srs the pangs of hunger
that they gladly eat food that al other times
they would not touch. 10 many cases their
only food IL the sweeping and refuse from
the flour mills La Saratoff the landowners
found this refuse go Injurious to their cattle
that they would not feed 1t to item. Bus,
though IL wss not fl for cattle TO eat, the
landowners made bread of 1t, and sold it to
The peasants. Bread made OF fnelY chopped
straw and bran mixed with very small
quantity OF rvs Is considered Godaend.
In mary districts the starving peasants try.
but are notable 60 procure even these mlser-
sole substitutes for nourishing food, and are
reduced to the most dire straits 10 procure
anything that will prolong life. 10 these
districts, the starving population are keeping
themselves alive by making what they call
"huager bread" It Ia hardly to be bsiev-
ed that human beings could be 10 such dire
necessity and live upon such compound as
this eo-called hunger bread, yet 1t is stated
es fact that the ingredients entering into
the composition of this bread are dried dung,
the powder bark OF trees and ground peas
and goosefeet, plant more commonly
known as pig weed. This mess Ia greedily
eaten by the iemlshIng PEOPLE. Heavy
rajns have fallen and the ground lie 30 soak
ed with water that she potatoes sre rotting.
The price OF potatoes has already doubled
and is still rising. The peasant boards have
cent petitions to the ministry praying that
the taxes and arrears OF taxes be wiped out.
The petitioners declare that the government
will be Obliged to maintain tue impoverlsh-
ed people for Il months spd that Il wiil be
utterly impossible for them TO pay tho taxes.
A circular has been Issued by the Minister
OF the Interior which envmsrstes Ii govern
msnts In which the people are completely
famine stricken and s Ia which partial
famine prevails, Toe great fair which is an
nuaIly held at Mini Novgorod, and which
s attended by merchants and dealers from
ell parts OF Russia, WAS a failure this year
This was due 10 The enormous number OF
bsnkrupss and their consequent withdrawal
from trade. Ia macy villages shs peasants
have nailed up their huis aud nave lefC their
communes to scour the country In search OF
work Hundreds of them have failed In
their search and ore begging elong the road
Sides In numerous cases the SEED corn
which was furnished the peasants by the
government has been eaten instead OF being
planted and the land is lying falIow. Not
withslaading the terrible condition OF the
peasansry, the taxes continue to be extorted
from the starving people. Everything is
taken from them to satisfy the demands Of
the tax getherers. Where the peasants dis
play any unWillingpess TO pay over sheir
taxes, the collectors resort to physical means
to eztort the money from them. The knopt
Is extensively employed by the officials Of
The tax collecting department Of Russia.