The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-29
DEATHS IN THE BLIZZARD.
Many Persons Frozen 10 Death in
Various Parts Of the Country.

Heavy Loss of Life in the Drouth
Stricken Sections Of Nebraska Almost
Certain-The People without Fuel and
without Money to Buy Any-Almost
No Taxes Collected in Fifteen Coun-
ties Since June.
O'Nelll. Neb. Dec. 2S.-For some time
past stories OF extreme destitution have
come from Boyd county, and various
parts Of Holt county, but they seemed so
improbable that the people hardly cred
ited them. Inquiry shows that the stories
were not much exaggerated. The siAa-
ton in Boyd county is bad and if the peo-
pie are not helped soon they will starve or
freeze TO death. J. N. Smith who lives on
what is called the Three Mile Strip, on the
state line, was in O'Neiu to-day, and he
tells many narrowing stories Of the con-
ditlon of the people in his part of Boyd
county He says that what is true of the
people there is true in almost all parts
of the country. Mr.. Smith came with a
commission from the people of his section
TO collect supplies. lie gathered considera-
bic flour and provisions to-day and for
warded them.
Robert B. Peattie, the staff correspond
ent of the World-Hersld. has just re-
turned from a two weeks tour into south
western Nebraska in order to investigate
the reports in circulation of the destitu-
ton in that portion of the state.
The results of his search through the
counties of Buffalo, Dawson, Lincoln,
Keith, Perkins, Hitchcock, Chase, Hayes,
Dundy and Frontier may be thus sum
married.: In these counties, particularly
IN Keith, Perkins. Chase, Hayes and
DUndy, the destitution is extreme. Al
most two-thirds of the people in these
counties are dependent on charity for ex-
istence. There is little or no fuel in the
county, and COW chips are in many places
the only fuel. The remarkably mild win
ter is all that has prevented loss Of life
by exposure. There is no money in the
county treasures 10 help the destitute,
because in fifteen counties almost no
taxes have been collected since June.
The shiftless have left the country and
only the farm owners remain. There is al
most no water there. No crops were raised
at all last year except in the occasional
irrigated districts and ditch irrigation is
not possible in some of these counties be-
cause there is no streams
Most Of the destitute live in sod houses.
There have been only three crops raised in
nine years. Heart-rending cases of desti-
tuition and suffering are heard Of IN every
township. The present cold wave VIII
certainly cause death to a large number
Of settlers if it continues and no aid comes.
Fuel, provision and clothing are needed,
and the railroads VIII generally ship them
free if sent to the county commissioners,
AT the county seats Of the stricken cOun-
Ties.
Omaha, Neb., Dec. 2S.-The storm which
swept over this state Wednesday night
continued throughout yesterday and in
creased in severity last night The tenn
perature fell 81 degrees in twenty-four
hours, Snow is reported from Alliance, Sc
ward, Greedy, center in the Black Hills,
and in Montana All trains delayed. The
temperature was u degrees below zero
at Hastings yesterday morning and 10 de-
srees below at Chadron. Telegraph ad-
vices last night indicated that loss OF life
must have followed this blizzard. The
special correspondent of a local paper,
writing from the drought district last
night said: There is no doubt that this
blizzard has caused great loss of life.
These people are entirely without fuel In
some counties there is not tree or twig.
The people have no animals to carry them
10 places OF safety and in day or so we
shall hear of wretched deaths from the
cold"
Knoxville, Tenn, Dec. 2s-Intense cold
prevails throughout the East Tennessee
valley. The thermometer ranged from S
TO a degrees above during the day. At II
o'clock tonight the mercury is down to
degrees and zero will be reached before
morning.
Birmingham Ala, Dec. 28-The ther
mometer registers Is degrees above zero
tonight. The Indications are that it will
be much colder in the morning.