The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-09
.tDROUTH IN NEBRASKA.
THE TERRIBLE SUFFERINGs
OF THE INHABITANTS.

Iiye Counties In Which tho People
Are Utterly Destitute-More Than
5000 Families Need Ad-Women
and Children Dying From Cold
and Hunger-A Pitiful Condition.
The suffering among the inhabitants OF
the drought-blastsd part Of Nebraska, IN
sludine three fourths OF the residents OF i've
counties, Is becoming more intense daily
sndfmmediate steps alone can prevent many
deaths BY starvation. ~
/ Three years ago the farmers Of these
drought .bliehted counties raised very
Hight crop, and the past two years the crops
have been almost total failures. Many
families have not enough provisions In tner
homes tor one weeks sustenance, and no
money TO purchase the necessities OF lie.
j MANY of the merchants feel they have aid
: ~ these poor farmers to the extent OF their
;ahility. and are unable to do any more for
them or to sell them goods on credlt.
The sufferers cannot obtain employ
ment, and unless they receive AID very
soon It is the general opinion tnat many
viii starye to death, and should the weather
turnyery cold many will freeze to death, as
h Is fact that many are barefooted and
have scarcely sufficient clothing to cover
their nakedness.
A mother and her two children were found
deai1 in their little cabin near Niobrara. 1t
a eunposed the mother had been confined to
her bed by sickness, and she ana ner TWO
little ones starved to death: The stomacns
of the children were opened and NOT trace
OF food could be discovered.
! There is NOT stream OF water in Perkins
County nor a living spring. Wells run from
sixty to 200 teet, the majority being l5o to
a00 feet deep. The soil, II waterad, raises
rood CROPS ;if not It bakes like solid mass.
,The roads and much OF the prairies resemble
asphalt, so hard-packed and Smooth are
Well digsers say the soil is a solid mass
$50 teet down, so hard that picks have to be
]. med 20 loosen It. Over this smooth surface
the never-ceasing winds blow from every al.
rection. They are filed with minute sand
sparticies and are almost resistless.
President Mason, Of the Nebraska State Re-
! fiei Commission, has been forwarded care
fully prepared report OF the number OF des-
ttffufe families In the different counties where
;thase was q crop failure. The list ts large
tone. and # Will require all the assistanes
,lthat can be procured to keep the people IN
4 lthe most urgent Of necessities during the
cold winter months. The report, as made
Iout by Secretary Ludden, is as follows:
Custer County, $50 families Perkins, 200 |;
lCHass:, 225; Dnnuy, 100; Hitchcock. $50 |;
Red Willow, 100; Hayes, 200; Frontier, 40 /;
iFuernas, 100; Lincoln, 700; Dawson, 45 |;
3iKeith. 20: Deuel., 40; Cherry, 40; Nc
lPherson, 40: Blaine, 90; Boyd, 2Soi Holt,
so Antelope, 80; Keya Psha. 2s Kaos, s ,s. rs;
s In many instances people OF the districts
remote from railroad facilities are eating
I: S 4 newspaper man made a tr.p through
( tho most destitute part OF TINS coun,
!try. A few deserted sod huts and
b frame houses were seen, and there
were signs here and there that some
,habitations had entorn down and removed
with the other goods OF the owners when
.tbey left II. In some cases farm implements
wore seen In the fields, and at distance
jsubstantial granarles stood just as their
towners had left them.
i The people OF the edrought-cursed sections
Ihope TO have the Legislature pass measures
;of rollef the first day the body convenes.
!Thie may not be done, but all organized re-
iiIef measures are absolutely necessary to
-fpcoyant many deaths from starvation.