The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-24
MEXICANS ARE STARVING.
NO RAIN IN DURANGO And CoAHUfIA
FOE FOUR AND a HALF TEAhS.


l
Desert-Thousssas OF Bushels Of Corn
Sent ftor. the Uaitea States - Friehtfnl
S.Gsrinss OF the Famine-strfchen People.
DURANGO. Mexico. Juno 23.-The recent re-
ports from tho City OF Mexico stating that tho
| drought in tho northern part OF the republic
| Ind been brok en- by bountiful rains are incor-
| rect so fnr as tho States Of Durango and Goa
hula arc concerned. With the exception OF
| ono light shower about two months ago. there
has been absolutely no rain here for the past
] four md half years.
Tho farmers have given up all hope OF rails
Ing q crop this season. and thousands OF Rcrcs
OF rich land upon which good crops OF corn
and cotton were formerly raised nre now bar
rem OF all vegetation. and the States OF Du-
range and Conhuila. with tho exception OF two
or three small oases havo become vcritablo
desert
The general Government has begun to real.
lie the extreme gravity OF tho situation and
has removed oil duties on corn and beans.
enabling tho poor classes who have any
money to purchase food supplies at comparn-
lively low prices. Thoro nre several thousand
destitute farmers and laborers IN this State.
however. who are not within the reach OF this
profrered aid. and their suffering is intense.
Even tho hardy maguey plant. which usually
thrives in time OF drought, Is beginning to
feel tho eject OF the lntenSe summon neat ana
total lack of moisture. and is being literally
burned ur In the remote districts the people
hayS been living s on the Juice Of this pIant
teams employed In the construction OF tho
Mexican Internal ional road to this city from
Torreon. Following the construction camps
arc no less than 5000 half starved Mexicans.
who mako pitiful and constant appeals to the
laborers for something to cat. Each night tho
and when the animals are taken out IN tho
morning their pla COS IRE inm ediately filed by q
hungry aud fighting horde OF half clnd IN en-. wo-
mon. and children. Whenever one of the nni-
mails dies or Is accidentally killed. as Is often
the, case. they fall upon its body like vu!tures
fering are not ovardrnwn: on the contrary.
there are daily sights too disgusting to DO
published.
In the city OF Laredo. Which was a few years
ago the great industrial and manufacturing
centre of the state OF COahuin being located
IN the midst Of what was once the most pro-
ductive cotton;raising. country in the world
there 10 untold suffering among the people
The CITY Government has taken tho nntter in
hand. and large funds have been subscribed by
the Weather citizens. which Is to be expended
In the establishing Of free lunch rooms for the
poorer classes. About 500. 900 bushels OF corn
have been shipped to Torreon, and this city BY
during the, past six months. This corn
hos lessenel the suffering to u great extent. It
is estimated that 1.OO0.UOO more bushels will
be required to keep the people until next sea-
son. provided crop Is then secured: The |
Governor OF Toluco has contracted for the i'm |
portaton OF 100000 bushels Of corn from tho |
United States to relieve the snfferings occa-
Cases o. death from starvation are reported |
here daily.