Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-08
Terrible Tales of Suffering
and Starvation.
The Gar Blind to the Awful
Situation.
He Refuses to Sanction Succor Con-
tributed by Soldiers.
Relief Funds Stolen by Corrupt Omcials.
self-Abased Peasants Starved
Into Readiness for Open
X volt.
Associated Press Dispatches.


LONDON, Jan. 7.-Advices from st.
Petersburg show that the czar is either
willfully blind to the situation of affairs
in his empire, or that the condition of
the peasants has been kept from him.
He has heretofore stated that no wide
spread famine exists, and that the suf-
ferings of the poor were due entirely to
a partial failure of crops which the gov
ernment finds no trouble in making up
from the stocks of grain in the provinces
where crops were not affected.
The latest instance of his opinion on
the subject was given at the recent re-
view OF the Simeonofsky regiment. The
officers of the regiment, moved by Che
stories of utter destitution, started a
subscription for the relief of the suffer
ers. 1t was necessary to get the cars
sanction for the distribution of money
thus raised, and the colonel of the regi-
ment, on the occasion of the review,
begged the czar to give his permission.
Before the colonel could finish his ap-
peal he was interrupted by the car, who
angrily exclaimed: There are no starv-
ing people in the empire There is only
slight suffering due to bad harvest.
The measures taken by the government
will preserve the people from famine"
Chagrined at this abrupt refusal, the
colonel returned and reported the re-
suit of the interview to his fellow
officers. The remarks made by the
czar have been keenly discussed in the
army socially. There is no doubt that
the efforts OF certain government
officials to relieve distress would be
more productive of result were it not
for the dishonesty of other officials.
Immense sums have been sent to the
famine committee, but as yet no one
outside of the committee has any
definite knowledge of the benefits con-
ferred by the committee.
A recent dispatch from St. Petersburg
stated that committee of the Moscow
Red Cross club which had undertaken
the distribution of private bounty among
the famine-stricken provinces, has dis
covered defalcations amounting to 120,-
600 roubles.
Large numbers of peasants are arriving
in st. Petersburg. They have no means
of subsistence and many, on arrival, are
in starving condition. They come
buoyed up by the hope that in this city
they will be able to find work. 1t is
hardly necessary to say that their hopes
are not realized. To prevent them from
starving to death the prefecture of police
is billeting the peasants on wealthy
householders. A number of house
holders are obliged to lodge and feed as
many as ten sufferers each.
A correspondent who accompanied a
government inspector on his rounds in
the famine districts of Toula, writes that
many huts were found packed with fam
lilies, the members of which tried to
keep warm by crowding together. I'm
clad women and children of three gen.
erations slept huddled together on the
same benches about stoves. Barns aud
outhouses were destroyed for fuel. The
interiors of the huts were without light,
bare of furniture and permeated by
an intolerable STENCIL. The people in
most OF the homes had been
three days without food. In several
cases unprotected children were dis
covered starving, having been deserted
by their parents. In some instances
boards of food were found which would
be sufficient for weeks.
The correspondent adds: Some peas
ants are accustomed to get a living by
begging; others, hitherto self-support-
ing, are now starving. Most of the suf-
ferers hide whatever stores they secure.
The peasants affect the most extreme
self-abasement before the gentry, but
really feel intense hatred for the class
and are ripe for revolt.