The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-02-17
RUSSIA'S FAMINE
Fourteen Millions of People
Absolutely Destitute OF Food.
Pestilence Adds Its Horrors to
Hunger and Cold.

United States Minister Smith has reported
to the State Department at Washington
these facts concerning the Russian famine,
obtained from eye-witnesses and most trust
worthy sources:
The famine is general in thirteen prov.
inces Of European Russia, viz; Kazan,
Mini Noygorod, Orenburg, Oufa, Pensa,
Riazan. Samara, Baratof, Simbirsk, Tam
bov, VIatka, Tcula and Norenege; partial
in the five provinces of Kursk, Olonetz, Orel,
Perm and Taurlde and one or two others,
like Khsrkov, have suffered to some extent,
but are not included in official reports
The first thirteen provinces equal in area
the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Ver-
mount, Massachusetts,. Rhode Island, Con.
necsicut, New York, New Jersey, PenusYl-
vania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia and kentucky, and have a popula-
tion of ah>0t twenty-sev million. The
five provinces N which the famine is partial
equal in area the States OF Indiana. Iowa,
North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas
and half Of Ohio. and have a population
nearly double that Of the eleysn States.
This vast section is agricultural aad ordinar.
lily the most fruitful soil of Russia.
1t is officially estimated that 100000
persons in these provinces are without food
or means OF support, and this estimate Is
probably below the true number.
For three years the crops have fallen short
of the average, and the deficiency Of the past
season left the storehouses well-nigh empty.
With the increased failure Of this year 1t is
positive, Minister Smith says, that unless
adequate relief can be supplied the great
present destitution and suffering will grow
worse as the season continues. The peasants
make no savings generally, but live wholly
dependent upon yearly crops, hence long
continued and widespread drought leaves
them subject to outside relief.
The scarcity of provisions is not the only
misery of this people. When crops fail the
Government loses revenue and the peasants
while taxes and rental continue. lack all the
necessaries of Lille; clothing, firewood, farm
ing implements, the subsistence Of horses and
cattle all depend upon this one resource
the crops.
1t is as difficult to get fuel as food in some
sections, and cold as well as hunger causes
terrible suffering. In some neighborhoods
large numbers OF persons huddle together in
some houses most conductive to warmth.
Barns have been torn down and the boards
used for frewood. Even thatched roofs are
torn Off and the straw burned for fuel. Cloth
ing is given away for bread: horses and cat
tie are sacrificed at tithe Of their value;
fodder is as scarce as human fool, and In
some cases horseaesh has been sacrificed for
sustenance. During the winter there is no
work, and frequently fathers have left their
wives and children to fight the battle OF want
alone, because they could do nothing and
their absence would leave fewer mouths to
feed at home.
The bread which many are eating IS com.
posed Of wild arrock, potatoes, chah and
leaves and these terrible conditions fne71tac
bly produce disease. Within the radius q
one mile there are 12O cases OF typhus fever;
pestilence and hunger are daily gaining
ground, and pestilence is decimating the peo-
pie;
In January, February and March the
roads are good, and all energies should be
directed to pouring provisions into the suf-
fering provinces at once. The rivers are
frozen. Two or three railroads run into ths
famine-stricken region, but there are no
branches Of these railroads and all provis-
ions must be carried for long distances on
sleds. In the middle Of March, or first OF
April, the winter will break up, the roads
will become heavy, and the horses now
available for transportation will be needed
for spring farming. Time is therefore a
most important factor in the work Of relief.
Every week is vital.
One hundred and eighty million pounds OF
food are necessary Fifty carloads should
arrive every day in these stricken provinces,
but only eleven carloads per day were re-
ceived Christmas week. The Imperial Govern,
ment so far has appropriated s42, 100000
from the public treasury for the work ORE
lief. But the work must still go on.
The Russian Emperor has personally given
enormously and all classes are giving
according to their means. The loss 10 the
Government revenue will be 500, 600, 600 or
more, while a conservative estimate OF the
loss to Russia in view OF all consequences is
placs at not less than $500, ,000,00O. Up to
the present there have been few contribu-
tions from abroad, but the Government and
the people of Russia are deeply sensible OF
I the Spontaneous offers that have been made
in various parts of the United States and
the Emperor's Ministers, as we'll as others,
have manifested such to Minister Smith IN
their expressions OF appreciation.