The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-12
THE APPEAL.
One OF the Most Terrible Calamlties OF
Modern Times. W.

One Of the Most Terrible CalAmlties Of
Modern Times.
The famine relief committee bases its ap-
zeal to the American people for contribu-
tons to relieve the distress Of tho starving
millions of Russia on the following anthem
ticated facts: -7e..
1.-THE existing famine in Russia is one OF
the most terrible calamities of modern
times. The area over which it extends its
most aggravated form Is 4oo,Ooo qua1e
miles. 1 lie population affected by 1t is nearly
% .OO0,O 900. In addition to this another re-
pion OF almost equal extent and population
ia suffering in a lesser, but very painful,
degree from scarcity of the absolute neces-
saries of life. The misery OF these people
is indescribable. Multitudes Of men. wo-
men and children are daily starving to
death, They can be reached and relieved
through agencies which are accessible,
trustworthy, and efficient. Every dollar
contributed through this committee will be
promptly and economically turned into
bread and distributed to the sufferers un-
der wise, impartial, and experienced super
vision.
stThe emergency is pressing one. 1t
needs no urgency Of appeal to bring it
home to every human heart. The plain
facts are moro eloquent thar words. We
confidently leave them to speak for them
Of SELVES. IL CanHCb D5 UAdb bASA MI ~PPooA
will fail to bring q generous response from
a community whose present prosperity ID
only enhanced by the calamity which has
befalleu Russia"
Among the first to respond are the mer-
chant millers of the United States, who will
send a large steamer especially chartered TO
carry American -four to Russia.
In charge of this cargo will be ".
G. Edgar, editor and manager OF the North
western Miller. n Col. Charles McReeve,
of Minneapolis. This railroads will cnrry
the -four to New York free of charge. Pres
idsnt Baker. of the Atlantic Transport line,
has offered tho steamer Missouri to carry
the flour. The offer is equivalent to = con-
tribution of 500 ZOO. Everything in CON
nection with the Missouri's trip will be-
free. Thomaa Hogan 4 Sons, stevedores,
applied for permission to load the ship at
their own expense. Ihs Berwing-Whits
Coal Mining company, OF New YORK, awe
offered to coal the ship for her trip. New
York warehouses will store supplies until
ready Tor shipment. No wharfage charges
will BIS made. Tho New York Central rail
way will collect food md deliver it in New
York, and the underwriters are now con-
sulting whether they can insure it without
cost. The 10000 tons Of flour will not
much more than half fill the Missouri. az
ahe has a carving capacity OF $4,000 tons.
All that may be received up to the tinc abe
sails, in addition to tina: already on hand,
will be sent over in her. The missouri will
sail from New York March l..
A commission will leave for Russia some
time in February, and upon the arrival of
the cargo will receive it and consisn the
1our to competent persons, WHO will attend
to the distribution.
In en- English pager MIR. ShiskoH, of
Samara. says that 2O,0OO,O00 OF peasants
have lost their daily bread through the
terrific drought which ruined the rye crop.
Between Oct. ! and % MIR. Shiskofi
travelled through the province of Samara.
He gives the following account: VI saw
Numbers of men IN their prime with drawn,
stony faces and sunken eyes; miserable
dregsas, and children shivering in the keer
some old man would be telling me tho sam
weary, wretched tale: we haye sold on.
last hotses, COWS and sheep; We have
pawned our winter clothing: we have seer
NO bread for q fortnight. There il nothin,
left to sell. We eat once q day-stewet
cabbages, xtewGd pumpkin: we may hay
not even shat. Some of US still have a LIT
tie bread made of chat, pounded Rrns
seeds and a little barley -four. This brea'
looks like u cinder. has q bitter taste, an
causes violent headache and nausea fror
the POISONOUS SEED. Many OF us have no
tasted any food for three days. HAY
mercy on us; we arc dying And while b
speaks, in a low, qulet voice, ! see the tear
slowly yelling from the eyes OF atalwal
men and falling one by one on their roup
boards or the frozen ground. No CON
plants, no cries: a dead silence, broke
only by the sobs of some wornout mother.
M 4,