The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1895-06-13
SUFFERING.
A SAD TALE OF DESTITUTIOK In
OKLAHOMA.
ACTUAL STARVATION N sIGPT.
The Condition is Attributable TO the
Continued Droughths--A Committee
From Grant Comfy In Kansas City
Asking Aid.

For some time reports Of destitution
and suffering among the settlers in parts
of Oklahoma have reached the public
but for the most part they we're not be-
heved. It was thought that the news
paper correspondents of the Territory
were using the subject as means Of
tiding over a dull season, and official
denials of reported instances lent color
to this theory.
The Rev. p. Shane and Judge 7. B.
Nash, of Grant county, Oklahoma,
reached here to-day, says a Kansas
City dispatch dated Saturday, with
story of the actual condition of affairs
among the settlers there that is graphic
in its picture Of desolation and want
They come as a committee sent out by
the people Of Grant county to solicit
aid. They have letters from Thomas
J. Lowe, territorial secretary Gov. +.
N. Morrill,, of Kansas, and others
equally well known, vouching for
them. They declare that the condi-
ton Of affairs among the settlers Of
Grant county is one Of desperate want.
The situation is such that only instant
aid will prevent actual starvation
among those who are trying to hold
the claims which they secured in the
Cherokee Strip opening, September
is, 1898.
Owing to the drouth which has pre-
vailed since the opening, no crops have
been raised. As a result the settlers
are in actual want. They have no re-
sources, and to make the situation
more desperate and hopeless they can
not get away. The destitution is 50
great and widespread that the county
government can furnish lao assistance,
and the territorial government has no
money for such purposes.
Slowly but surely the settlers ex-
] hausted their resources.
With actual starvation in sight the
people of Praire township held a meet
ing and started movement which re-
suited in the county sending out the
Rev. Mr.. Shane and Judge Nash TO
tell the story of their extreme want to
the charitable people Of Kansas and
Missouri and to beseech aid. They
want provisions, -four, seed, food,
clothing-anything in fact that viii
cover nakedness and ward off hunger.
The story the two messengers tell Of
destitution is affecting in the extreme.
The Rsv. Mr.. Shane, who draws pen
sion of S14 a month, tells this story:
"For the last three months foul
families have been existing on my pen
sion money. 1t would do in ordinary
circumstances for the bare wants o.
nv immediate family, but with foul
families you can imagine what it meant
Last Monday / drew $42 for my las
quarter. l paid the grocery bill which
had accumulated during the quarter
and then had 81 70. just befor'
leaving on this trip I asked for credi
for sack Of -four, but was refused It
Then we had to face immediate want
1t had been customary for the mer
chants to credit those who had pen
sions, for they were sure of gettlni
their money. But with credit denies
the last resource was cut off. My son
in-law and his wife started away
} their wagon Tuesday without a cen
and without provisions. They sal
they might as well beg or starve ON th
/ road as to stay there and starve.
{ have not heard from them since.
| The Kansas City Live Stock IL
change has appropriated $50, and
/ movement has been started IN the clt
> to send immediate relief to the dest
r tute.