The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-12-26
Fso,le Alnss. st.rgisg.

The reports Of des;itution and suffering
IN western Nebraska have been in no way
exaggerated.
In Dawson county, IL the neighbor-
hood OF North Platte, the condition OF a
majority OF The farmers is pitiab.e. Most
of the renters and the shiftless ones have
moved away. but the farm owners are
staying and hoping for better times.
These men are destitute and their animals
are broken down and starving. The
people need clothing, food and money at
once.
took twenty-five mile ride through
the district with county official, an in
telligenl and popular politician, and saw
scenes which / do not care 70 look upon
! again. lie told me as we went along OF
what he encountered every day, and v hat
We both discovered surpassed in distress
anything which he had yet come upon.
lie was on an e-rand of mercy, for he
was serving jury summonscs, hut the
farmers did not know that, and were ret
icent about disclosing their identity or
that Of their neighb0rs.
HE EXPECTED TROUBLE.
The first farm yard we entered con-
tained thin cow and two razor-baclSed
hogs. \ detected man sat on a box in
the doorway Of the house. 'Are YOU
-began the officer.
The man sprang from his seat and
! threw up both his hands. Good God,
man = he exclaimed. "Have you got an
attachment? Motherr'
His wife. thin, depressed woman, ap-
/ peared at the door with two little chill
dren clinging 70 her skirts. Neither child
had anything On bat thin calico dresses.
They were barefoo,ed. The wifo had on
a calico skirt and waist also.
"They come 70 attach said the man, in
a desperate tone.
"Well, let them attach said the wom-
an, doggedly. They're welcome 70 what
Is LEFT"
NO said the official, kindly, I've no
attachment. I've got a jury summons for
/ you. That means 81 day"
| II wish it wculd take all winter," eX-
claimed the man. .'Bat how viii I get
/ the-ee Ny team is dead. I overworked
them caltiyating the ground, and lost my
crop after ALL
Il STAGGERED HIM.
The official said he woaid tell another
man, whom no expected to serve. and
who had a team, 10 cali for him, and fur
ther added that ne would find place IN
1 North Platte where he could stay without
charge.
The unexpected windEIn was almost
/ too much for the man, and my compaE-
ion whipped Up the horse and we drove
of. had noticed good-sized package
/ in the buggy, and when he saw me Look
ing at /; he explained thai it was our
| lnnche7n.
The people - among" be said, ''arc
in no condition 10 give mo meal, or even
sell one"
Ny friend told me Of an energetic
/ young farmer and his man no, far from
North Platte. wha, in getting ready toput
/ in this years crop, worked in shifts, 50
that one was always IN the field plowing.
/ He worked from in the morning until
y O'Clock in the night. ana his farm hand
took his place At midnight and worked
until =. II. They cultivated five humid
red acres IN this way and did not get halt
I bushel Of corn 70 the acre. No other
grain sov-ed ~ chem came up. and his
potato GRO, has barely kept him alive un-
/ III now. his health IS entirely broken.
I and although i.;s spirit Is undagnted, he
hardly has the strength to stand the win