The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1892-02-13
MILLIONS IN WANT.
Appalling Missrles of the Peasants o
RussIa Worst StnrIes ConArman

Appalling Miserles of the Peasants OF
Russia Worst Stories Confirmed.
WAsuINGToN, Feb. 1.-The horrors of
the Russian famine have been brought to
the attention of the department OF state
in a report from Minister Smith at st.
Petersburg. He says in part: Gold us
well as hunger causes terrible suffer
ing. In some neighbOrhoods large
numbers OF persons huddle together
in some houses most conducive TO
warmth. Barns have been torn dow
and the boards used for frewood.
Even thached roofs are torn off and the
straw made to feed the dying embers.
Clothing is given away for bread. Horses
and cattle are sacrificed ut u 1.-THE of their
value. Fodder is as scarce as human food
and in some cases horse flesh has been sac
rificed for s~ustenance. During the winter
there is no work and frequently fathers
nave left their wives and children to fight
the battles of want alone because
they could do nothing and their
absence would leave s
mouths to feed at home. The bread
which many are eating IS composed OF
wild arrock potatoes, chat and leaves, and
these terrible conditions inevitably pro-
duce disease. Within the radius of one
ulllC thCIC L - VI Hhuo ASNSA-
Pestilence and hunger are daily gaining
ground and pestilence is decimating the
people. An official estimate of the
number OF those without food on means
of support who require aid Is given
as IA, OOD, 90 persons and this il probably
below the true number. The loss to Russia
by the famine is estimated at 500, OJ0, O0O.
Up to the present time there have been
few contributions from abroad, but the
government and the people OF Russia are
deeply grateful for the spontaneous offers
that nave been made in the various parts
of the United States"
LONDON, Feb. 2.-Russian advices show
that large numbers Of starving peasants
are daily arriving at Samara, capitol OF
the government of that name, u city OF
about rs, 900 inhabitants. They are unable
to find work or procure food and many of
them are being made desperate by the
pangs of hunger. The robbery OF
shops, houses, etc, is being frequent
and instances where personal violence
is used TO procure food or money
are often reported. The suffering
poor steal anything on which they can lay
their hands or that will bring Them money,
even brass plates taken from the doors OF
houses and door handles. Many of the
famine stricken wretches have been at
tackled by typhus fever and they are dy-
ing in large numbers.
Samara is one of the governments in
which it is reported that the car is about
TO r~e-establish the system of serfdom. II
was said Il few days ago that the Russian
government with u view to ayerting q
repetition of the famine had decided To
make experiments in cooperative farm
ing. H. was proposed to allot grounds
for this purpose in the communities
OF Samara and Saratoff and, If the
experiment proved successful, to the
other priyinces. These plots will be cult
waited by ali the inhabitants while they
could well be devoted to refilling the com
munal stocks and the proceeds of the sur.
plus will be applied 10 tho repayment oi
local public debts. 1t was thought by
some persons that this is the basis OF the
reports of a re-cstablishmeut OF serfdOm
US 1t existed prior to 1861 when Gar Alex
ander II made the serfs free men.