The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-13

by Prof. J. J. Scherer, president Of
Marion Female College, Va, who sent
it to me to know if the statements are
true. | have never heard of any suffer
ing in South Carolina. | send it fer
publication in order that the trnth may
be obtained. Iftrue we ought to know
it; if not true our friends should be pro-
tected from imposition.
Yours respectfully,
J. HAWKINS,
Editor Lutheran Visitor.
! Haigler, S. c., March &.
FAIRFIELD County, S. c., March %,
1892 Rev. J. J. Scherer, Marion, Va
Dear Friend: I send you this Oh be-
half of the suffering people of this coun-
ty, who are in great distress for some
thing to eat, caused 10y the disastrous
failure of the crop and the low prize Of
cotton. Hundreds Of the people here
are in starving condition because
; they are not able to get anything to cat
aud have nothing to mortgage to get
it. Hundreds who are dependent upon
their labor for support have been
turned out of work and thei lies
are in distress Workshops, railroads
and all kinds Of work have turned off
the laborers, and farms have been
| forced to lie idle by reason of the dis
tressed condition of the country. Such
a time was never known here before.
Some who have land and stock to
mortgage can get 3 small amount, but
those who have nothing to mortgage
are compelled to suffer. I ask you if
your college teachers and students)
will help us as much as 10 or 25 cents
each for the starving people of our
country. We would not ask this, but
are compelled from necessity and
mercy to ask help rather than starve.
We never were in such a condition
here before, but such is the condition
now, and we are not able to help our
selves. The failure of the crop and the
low price of cotton have reduced the
people to utter starvation. We appeal
to you to help US if you can. Our con-
dition is awful in the extreme. Such
state of things was never known here
before. We are compelled TO ask for
help or starve. If you can help US any
at all the favor will be thankfully re
ceived and highly appreciated by the
suffering people of this distressed coun-
| ty.
refer you to w. p. Summer & Co.,
J. C.Swygert & Co., merchants; Thomas
Anderson, planter: Jerry Martin, min
lister; B. r. Martin, planter; George
Guignard, mechanic.
All the names give you as references
know and will certify to the character
Of the writer and the statements made
in this by him.
Please let me hear from you and
oblige, Truly yours,
JAMES McMEEKIS.
Alston, Fairfield County, S. c.
P.S.-Ne have a telegraph office at
Aston and express office at Peak, on
the opposite side of the river. J. NJ. NJ.
WHAT M'MEEKIN's NEG HBoRs SAY OF
HIM AND HIS STORY
COLUMBIA, April THE story about
destitution and starvation in Fairfield
County, in the neighborhood of AL
ston, occasioned surprise here to-day.
Several parties here, who know Mr..
James McMeekin, say that he is not
"more than tolcrably reliable" and
after all it may be a scheme to raise
funds. The appeal is very wei! worded
and calculated to arouse sympathy.
Very little could be definitely ascer-
tained here about the matter, so
telegraphed Mr.. w. P. Summer, one
of the largest and best known business
men of Aston, for information regard
ing the matter. The following answer
was received at so p. N. and ought
to be entirely satisfactory until the
letter promised is published:
ALsToN, S. c., April 7.-August
Kohn, Columbia, S. c.: know moth
ing of the reported destitution Of the
peoplein in Fairfield County and was sur
prised to see the McMeekin letter pub
lished in The News and Courier to-day.
The matter is not worth investigating.
I will write The News and Courier to-
night. w. p. SUMNER.
In the meanwhile the funds which
would readily pour into Fairfield were
the facts as alleged might be withheld.
Mr.. Thos. p. Icunginer was in the
city to-day. lie lives in the heart Of
the section of Fairfield County, which
Mr.. James McMeekin, in circular
letter, alleges to be in q condition OF
starvation. He is justly indignant about
the false report ard stamps it as
scheme to 10 raise money for individual
purposes. He lives within two and Il
half miles of MIR. McNeekin, and shows
no evidence Of being in an impover-
ished condition. He is a weli-todo
farmer, and says that everyone else
like himself who is willing to work is
making good living, and that Fair
field does not differ in this respect from
any other part of the world.
He says most emphaticaily that it is
within the range of his personal know
ledge that there is DO foundation for
the report OF destitution. There is
plenty Of work for those who are will
linz TO work. He said that he as