The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-12-22
THEIR PEOPLES DIRE SUFFERING.
ymzll Pox Adds to the Horrors Of the
Famine-Newspapcrs of the Stricken
Land Silent as to the True Stu.
stioa-Count Toistoi-and His
Family Doing Grand Work
for the Sufferers.
Z Add, to the Horrors of the

ST.. PETERSBURG. Dec. l5.-To the hor.
ror of the famine have been added the
concomitant of pestilence. Smallpox is
carrying of large numbers of the impov-
erishcd. people, who in their weakened
condition fall a ready prey TO the dreaded
disease.
! AT the first sitting OF the central relief
committee Sl25, o U was paid in by the car,
that being the amount he usually devotes
TO state balls.
| No mention Of the existence Of small
pox is made by the newspapers, and they
even print nothing about the famine and
a person with no other source OF informa-
ton would never know from reading that
the dread spectre of famine and pestilence
had spread its wings over vast areas of
what was once Russia's most fertile terri
tory. This is due TO secret instructions
issued by the police and the newspapers TO
ignore the famine and epidemic.
| In two small villages of the government
Of Rizian 2O0 persons are down with the
lolthsome disease and fifty deaths have
already occurred. Smallpox is also raw
ishing the provinces of V:atka, Sahara,
Vladimir, kursk, Orenburg, Peterhof and
Sartoff.
| In addition to this visitation of small
pox, typhus fever is carrying OF numer-
Gus victims in various provinces. On the
whole more gloomy OUTLOOK could not be
well imag ned, and although the few doc
tors scattered through the country
are doing their utmost TO stay the
disease their efforts are almost use
less. The people have reached stage
where they think il useless TO fig,.I against
any affiiction sent them, and conseg ueutly
many who might recover had they any
energy or will power succumb to disease
without making single effort in their own
behalf. Many, too, prefer death from dis
ease TO suffering the slow torture of death
from starvation.
| AT SGadrinsk in the province OF Perm q
sad condition of affairs exist and it may
be necessary for the government to inter-
tere TO prevent q wholesale carrying of Of
the inhabitants by famine. The granaries
thers are almost exhausted, and
the poor people know not where
to turn to obtain food to
keep life in their miserable bodies. Mis-
tionaries who were sent TO relieve the dis
tress were unable TO buy corn at any price,
al the stocks of grain in the vicinity being
|
refused to sell it for fear that il they
Hid they would soon find themselves in a
plight similar TO that Of their unfortunate
aeighbors.
The Moscow Gazette denounces the &C.
sep;ance Of foreign aid for the distressed
lpeople Of Russia, and especially English
aid. 1t declares that Great Britain wants
70 turn Russia into another Egypt and
warns the people against the duplicity of
philanthropy.
Nine. Tolstoi, the wife of Count Tolstoi,
the novelist, in an interview to-day said
che doubted whether the government
would consent to act as the medium for
tie distribution Of foreign assistance, but
here was no objection to Count Tolstoi dis.
!ributing such assistance privately. The
extent OF the famine, she continued, instead
81 being overstated, was greater than
any outsider would suppose. In the prov
nee OF Rizian, where her husband Is
working, the peasants get thirty pounds
81 grain monthly, but no meat or potatoes.
Within twenty days the monthly allowance
consumed, and the peasants then pass
the remaining ten days of the month in Q
state Of starvation. Furnishing mobs
,ften visit the houses of land
ords and wealthy peasants with
threats to burn the property unless
hey receive food. Count Tolstoi's family
5 now scattered, the members being sta
toned at various points organizing regular
:ei.ef independently Of the government Of
hcial,, who have been accusing them Of
oeing rsvolutionaries. II has greatly COM
torted Count Tolstoi to learn that the
siews OF these officials are not shared BY
he car.
Nine. Tolstoi waited on the car recent
y and explained TO him the injustice Of
these attacks on Count Tolstoi. She was
assured by the car that he did not doubt
the loyalty Of her husband. II is absurd,
Iaid he. to accuse Count Tolstoi of being Q
rebel, his sole aim being to do good and
practice Christian charity to all men
One son Of the count is sick with fever,
taught while visiting famine stricken
families.
The coming winter, Nine. Tolstoi con-
GUIDED, would be trying time, but she
feared the early spring most, as then re.
,ources would then be exhausted.