The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-03-09
STARVING IN TEXAS.
TALES OF HUNGER, DEATH. AND
DESOlATiON.
A Once Prosperous Reg'o,, on which
Nature Bestowed Her Choicest Gifts,
Now n Vast Desert, strewn with the
Bones OF Cattie-Untoid Suffering.
Along the Rio Grande.

The Rio Grande Valley might be
likened unto the valley of the shadow
of death. Where a few years ago
thousands of head of cattle, Lorses,
sheep and goat' grazed on luxuriant
and nutritious grasses is now floor OF
sand and alkali Buzzards and We Ives
are all that is left in animal like, ex-
cept few de titute and starving fam
lilies. In vegetation nothing is sc n
except the great green cactus, with its
forbidding thorns, which secure it
against an attack of even sh, ep and
goats. In Starr, Zapata and portions
of Encinal, Hidalgo, Cameron, DIM
met, Maverick and Duval Counties in
the extreme southwestern portion OF
the State the direst want prevails.
In Starr County the situation is more
deplorable and the ruin and desoiation
more widespread than in the adjoining
counties, hut in sections of each tho
same awful and gruesome state OF af-
fairs is manifest. Until four years ago
this section va, one apparently most
favored by nature. Vegetation was
rank in growth. The mild salubrious
was prosperity and happiness. Cattle
and sheep thrived and fattened on the
wild grasses, and with little effort in
the way of cultivation the hust andman
garnered enough to supply all needs.
In the more favored localities, where
springs were numerous, little villages
had been established and large popu-
lation was contentedly living, deriving
| its income from the vast stock and
sheep industries. All this has been
| transfo, med. The scene shifted and
the white, bleaching bones Of animals
covering the ground for miles and
miles is all the eye now meets. No
crops have been raised or harvested
for four consecutive years. Even the
springs have dried up. The scene
| presented is that of vast desert,
with nothing to relieve the monotony
A sad State of Affairs.
To increase the want and misery,
hunger has attacked mankind as well
as the dumb animals, and many have
died praying for bread. For time the
poor subsisted on roots and prickly
pears, adding half putfid flesh stripped
from dead animals which the buzzards
had not completely devoured. The
little Mexican children are naked, and
the older ones without clothes t. cover
their bodies. Taking Starr County as
an example, fully 80 per cent. of all
live stock has persisted. A year ago
there were in that county $4,000 horses,
$1,000 cattle, 125, 00) sheep, and $4,000
goats. To-day there are not all told in
the county more than 1000 head Of
four footed animals. Wealthy men are
bankrupt and absolutely starving
| ia Of %
| portions of other counties. The better
to give some idea of the distressing
state of affairs, some of the losses sus-
tanned by ranchmen are: L. Cara last
August owned $500 sheep, 100 cattle
and so horses; he has horses, 10
sheep and l cow left f. Gonzales,
200 sheep; has % left, all other stock
dead. G. Gomez, 800 sheep, 600 cattle,
100 horses; go sheep left, cattle and
horses all dead. G.. and Z. ranch, 400
sheep; 300 left. +. z. ranch, 1850
sheep; all dead. Peterson Brothers,
1000 cattle and horses; about $50 left.
This list might be extended indefinite
ly, but this will suffice to show the con-
dition of the country.
| So grave has tie situation become
that all hopes have been abandoned.
The gnawing pangs o. hunger are be-
ing felt by all alive, and scores are fall
ing victims to starvation. The dra n
upon the more rtunate has been 20
steady that they cannot longer help
one another, and they have appealed
to the charity of the world for contri-
buttons of money, clothing, CT pro-
visions of any kind. AS far as the
livestock industry is conc erned, the
agony is ever, as the animals bones
now strew the once green pastures. 1t
be o mes neces airy t. feed the living,
and remove them to other localitie
where they can begin the battle of life
ANEW. Mass meetings have been held
at some of the nearby towns, and
preparations are now going on 20 re-
| lieve the III erers.