Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-24
THOUSANDS STARVING.

The Famine In Two Of the Mexican States
Still . Grim Reaiity-victims Grovelins
in Manure to Pick Out and Eat the
Grains Of Corn-Relief From the United
States.
DURANGO, MEX, June 23-[Special. j
Recent reports from the City of Mexico
stating that the drought in the northern
part of the Republic had been broken by
bountiful rains, is Incorrect, so far as the
States of Durango and Coahuila are con-
cerned. With the exception of one light
shower about two months ago, there has
been absolutely no rain here for the past
four and half years.
The farmers have given up all hopes OF
raising crop this season, and thousands OF
acres of rich land, upon which splendid
crops of corn and cotton were formerly
raised, are now barren of all vegetation,
and the whole States Of Durango and Goa
hula, except two or three small oases, are a
veritable desert.
The general Government has begun to
realize the extreme gravity of the situation,
and has removed all duties from corn and
beans, enabling the poor classes who have
any money to purchase food supplies at
comparatively low prices.
Even the Maguey Plant Is Blasted.
There are several thousand destitute
farmers and laborers throughout this State,
however, who are not within the reach of
this profered aid, and their suffering is in
tense. Even the hardy maguey plant,
which usually thrives in time of drought, is
beginning to feel the effect of the intense
summer heat and total lack of moisture, and
is being literally burnt up. In the remote
districts the people have for the past years
been living on the Juice of this plant, cool
and strengthening drink.
There are 1000 men and several hundred
teams employed in the construction Of tine
Mexican International Railroad to this city
from Torreon. Following the construction
camps are no less than 8, 900 half-starved
Mexicans, who make pitiful and constant
Each night the horses and mules are
corraled, and when the animals are
taken out in the morning their
places are Immediately filled by hungry,
wild and fighting horde of halfclad men,
women and children, who grovel in the
manure and eat the grains ofcorn they find
in the filth and offaL Whenever one
animal dies. or is accidentally killed, as is
often the case, they fall upon its body like
vultures and eat the meat raw.
Destitution and Measures to Relieve 1t.
These pictures of suffering are not over
drawn, but on the contrary, there are daily
sights too disgusting to be published. In
the city of LIE Redo, which was few years
ago the great industrial and manufacturing
center of the State of CoahuiIa, being
located in the midst of what was
once the most productive cotton
raising country in the world,
there is untold suffering among the people.
The city government has taken the matter
in hand, and large funds have been sub
scribed by the wealther citizens, which are
to be expended in the establishing Of free
lunch rooms for the poorer classes.
About 300, 900 bushels OF corn have been
shipped to Torreon and this city bv the
State Government from the United States
during the past six months This corn Is
sold at cost price to the needy, and has
lessened the suffering to great extent. 1t
Is estimated that /, 900, 900 more bushels will
be required to keep the people until next
season, provided crop is then secured.
The Governor ofToluco has contracted for
the importation of 16O, 900 bushels of corn
from the United States to relieve the suffer-
ings caused by the corn crop failure in that
section and the consequent increase in
p rice. Cases of death from starvation are
reported here daily.