The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-16
THOUSANDS HAVE PERIsHED
4 Terrible Famine ana Plague II
Bsnenslztinx India

LONDON. Jan. Oh the district u
J4salyar, India, xnich mas a population
u 2 20 90, ~ 90 persons have died
u Starvation Thousands u ofners
will perish. despite efforts that may be
made - succor them. ar ths stricken
usygyIe are 70 weak that they cannot
assiTlflate fOod.
TIE situation l. little better in other
paris Il India. The area Of famine
covers a country a. large az the British
Isles and France t0gefhfrs with a
population u s. 80. 90. the distress
b4inz very acute IL two thirds Of this
AREA.
Private Letters depict pifabls scenes.
CuIsiyators and laborErs u high and
low caste are ergwdiny On 20 the relief
works. Al hzs; the India Office red
,sylsrr stiaed fhe aow Of British charity.
xhlIe Rzssia AMI Arosrica were sending
grain % tie Starving Indians. but the
gravity II he situation today has com
peeled TIE government urgently 70
APPEAL tOE u4gneF AMI food Relief
Committees are Being formed through
OUT England and Scotland and q
gsrzrO1s Response Il certain.
In ADDITION u the famine. the bubOnie
plague. q native disease, has made lis
APPEARANCE in Bombay and other Indian
cities II Bombay the weekly mortality
las increased 10 90 a thousand, which
means tha. since the beginning Of the
plag1e nearly 81 0Q9 persons have
did
Large as the existing Indian relief
Eyst-In i. i il entirely unable TO meet
famine period which. il Is estimated,
will extend over the whole of 1897.
Cablegrams from the Eieeroy Of India
have been received here. telling cheer
fully Of rains tina. have fallen in several
paris Of rne country, but rains are Of no
benefit 10 a people with starvation
staring them in tne face. They cannot
SIT down and wait for crops 70 grow,
ripen and Be harvested. But II appears
that fas Indian government, with in
comprehensive fatuity. has acted On
the belief that rain, and not food. was
needed. OF course, rains will prevent
a recurrence OF the famine. bur what Is
wanted now il food 70 save thousands
upon thousands % men. women and
children from torfuring death
Tae Indian authorities here, acting On
the entirely unf0nDded presumption
that 10 aid was required. aside from
thai which would Be given by the Indian
government. checked the lord mayor Of
| London from starting q famine fund.
/ but ar the advie-s now a. hand show
/ that the arrangements for fighting the
| famine are entirely inadequate. the
| lord mayor. AZ the request Of Lord
| George Hamilton secretary Of state for
India, has opened fund that promises
To reach large figure The indifer-
ence hitherto displayed by the British
people To the sufferings Of their fellow
subjects in India mas been due 70 the
attitude of the authorities. The appeals
that are now being made 70 them are
being met with response, and large
contributions already have been received
at the Mansion House, the officiaI
residence OF the lord mayor.
| The question Of national relief grant
will be raised in parliament.
Ths business aspect Of the famine 4
altogether depressing. A bad budget
declining trades and dear none.
embarrass and xill eTnbarrass the
Indian government. The official value
Of money called for t8O months at II
per cent has been a fictitious yalue.
The Bank Of Bombay has refused Il
] END az even u Der cent