Passaic City record., 1892-05-07
THE STARVING RUSSIANS
Distributing Americas Contri-
button of Grain and Flour.
Appalling Condition Of the Fam
ine-Stricken Districts.

c. McC. Reeve, one of the commissioners
who delivered in Russia the steamship
Missourrs cargo of -four and cornmeal given
by Americans and particularly by residents
of Minnesota and Nebraska, to relieve dis
tress in the great famine districts, has re-
turned to this country. From twenty-six
States grain or money was con T1buteo, ana
the New York Chamber q. Commerce
capped the climax by giving sls,UoV. wntca tca
purchased enough -four to make up tne
Missouri's cargo of $3.50. 900 pounds OF Hour
and meal
conditions in various communities OF nus
sia." said Mr.. Reeve to New York World
reporter 1--WE selected about forty persons,
and allotted to each a proportiun "a tne
cargo. which he seemed to need. The list
was revised several times
.rhe places selected for consignment are
scattered in the great territory, some SIX
hundred miles wide southeast OF Moscow.
including the provinces OF lula, Tambour,
S1rrator and Samarra. Count Bobrinsky
and DR.. Crawford, the Consul-General, went
with me to Libau to meet the ship and the
other Commissioners The Missouri came
towards the harbor of. Libau Sunday night,
April 8, but was SO heavily laden that
anchor was dropped three miles out.
1.-THE people were alive to the mission OF
with saiutes from the town and vessels in the
harbor and an abundant display OF bunt-
ing; -. .,u,,v,an..d and
by Monday at p. M. the first train or
thirty-two cars was ready to start from the
interior. As each car was filed Govern
ment seal, which is one of the things no
body NEEDLES with there, was put over the
lock. The last few bags OF -four were
lifted into the last car by the Russian
dignitaries and the commissioners. Upon
each car an official placard was attached
which directed that the consignment be-
hastened, with preference over all other
freight.
departure of the train, which was attended
byimposing religious ceremonies. Priests OF
OF the Greek Church, clad in their robes of
office, conducted the exercises which blessed
the sacred freight An invocation for Gods
blessing upon the American people was
fervently delivered. The scene altogether
was so unique and yet SO solemn that it was
to me wonderfully impressive. l have never
heard the singing of choir which equaled
that which participated in those services.
THAT Monday night the Missouri had
been lightened enough to come into the inner
harbor. Bells were rung in the city and
rockets lighted up the night. Praises of
America were on everybody's lips. Each
departing train was blessed by the priests
and by Wednesday night April 6, the last
one had gone. We followed It to Moscow.
'sNone of us went into the heart of the
famine district Obviously after placing
our offering in the wisest hands possible we
could accomplish no further good. set
about gathering information of this famine
and the condition of the Russian people
which would establish for my own satisfac-
tion the wisdom of this generous venture Of
Americans.
10 cir NJ
picture of men, women and children
starving and freezing to death in wretched
hordes can be too awfully drawn to truth
fully portray the real situation Besides
this district, into spots of which this offering
went, there is a triangular district along
the upper Volga and east of Mimi Novgorod
from which few details can be learned, be-
cause the situation is simply awful. There
are vast regions remote from the railroads
where it is impossible to send any relief.
Where the soup kitchens and food dis.
tributions are IN operation lists are prepared
which allot times for each persons eating.
Able-bodied men and children under two
children usually die. Women and children
are fed, but large families are allotted less
number OF meals than the number of men,
bers, SO some Of them must each day go
without eating
I'm the face of all that has been said about
JIG uoai tiesSueSS ol tue HouiiiDy anu ldnueu
proprietors oi Russia" continued Mr.. Reeve,
II found that they have, as a class con-
stantly aided in uplifting the condition of
the peasants. Minister Smith told me that
the present Car has been frugal and from
allowances for ordinary court expenditures
has saved large sums, and that he has not
only given all those savings, but has made
inroads upon his private purse in contribu-
tions to allay this suffering. He has given,
Mr.. Smith said, between s. 600, 600 or SO,
100000, or more than all the rest of the
world. This proves to my mind his deep So
licitude for his people,"