The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-31
THE FAMINE in RUSSIA
THOUSANDS OF THE PEOPLE DYING
OF sTARvATIoN AND DISEASE.
A Committee Formed I'm New York
City to Have Charge Of Money
Eafsed-Rev. MT. Francis's Report.
New York Times.


in the eastern provinces OF Russia show a
very distressing and fearful state Of affairs.
The lack of crops In Russia, caused by the
long-continued drought, has affected an inn
mense tract Of land. and millions OF peas
ants are, in consequence, In most dis
tressing condition. They are literally dying
by thousands. Typhoid fever In its worst
form. as well scurvy, both the natural
results of bad and insufficient food. are dew
astating the land
The Russians themselves are doing all
they possibly can for their suffering coun-
trymen, but where millions are starving, OK
course outside help is necessary. England
has already sent large amounts OF money
and supplies, and now America Is called
upon to help on the good work.
In New York city committee has been
formed who will have charge of all funds
that may be contributed in aid of the starv-
ing Russians. On this committee the fol-
lowing gentlemen have consented 10 act:
James A. Scrymser, 81 Wall street; Col.
John j. McCook 10 Broadway: Morris X
Jessup A Pine street; Charles A. Moore, 80
Liberty street; Hon. Abram S. Hewitt, IL
Burling slip; James Stokes, 40 Cedar street,
and William G. Cochran, Yonkers.
Mr.. Scrymser is treasurer OF the commit
tee and all remittances should be sent To
him.
That the condition of affairs in Russia has
not been exaggerated is evidenced by nu-
merous letters which have been received in
this city and elsewhere.
Princess Alexander Lieven. in letter de-
| scribing how she and her sisters are giving
| all their time and money for the relief of the
| suffering peasants on their estate. says:
II am doing my best TO help the poor peos
sniff
and am obliged to cry for help. 1t is not
| pleasant business. and a very new one for
me, because, not being very deep in charity
1 never asked anybody to help me in my en-
| terprises But now / have no right TO be
silent; the misery is too great and feel too
much my responsibility, and so. putting
| aside my pride. / stretch out my hand ana
beg: Help me TO save more lives out OF the
perishing thousands; try 10 collect some
thing from your friends and acquaintance.
We use what we get with the greatest dis
small sum of l ruble. so copecks. or even
| less, a month" This is equivalent 10 about
In a private letter recently received from
| an American visiting Russia the following
description of the famine was given;
Lieven and several other prominent Rus
| slams, who spoke concerning the terrible
need that exists among the peasants IN the
| / was told that there are several millions OK
| Russians who are actually starving, and
scnryy. The Russian people are Sending
| millions of dollars into this district.
TOLD BY EYEwITNESSES.
| The Rev. Alexander Francis, pastor of the
Anglo-American Church in st. Petersburg.
who has made a tour through the afflicted
district writes: L appeal in Christ's name
for help. Any money that may be sent Will
be judiciously expended"
The following report Of the conditions In
the country has also been received from
| Mr. Francis, who tells of his experiences on
a tour of investigation and aid:
| At 10 a. m. We were joined by our fore.
runners. who Immediately took US around
| the village in two parties one set visiting
one-half and the other set the rest OF the
houses. There are over 400 houses so We
| had our work cut out for US. became SO
| sick at the sights that met US that i cried
a halt after two hours work. During that
time We did not come upon single house
| which had escaped he plague; not one In
| many houses, five, SIX, seven, or even eight
people. being In some cases the entire fsm-
| which serve the Tartars as beds-all prac-
tically naked. On our entrance they simply
| barred their teeth, which were loose and
| bleeding. TO show that they could not speak.
and pointed TO their legs. which We're Grip
not rise to greet US Some of them had
| been lying in that state for months Zone
woman for five months) with not soul
black bread land but little OF that, of poor
| quality On one plank bed, without
Children and IN a sledge' Which had been
somehow got into the room TO serve as a
bed. lay the father-an of them emaciated.
articulo norris One lad had escaped. and
Il fell to him to care for all the rest The
ones hue he could S into INTO the sun lana ana
he, a mere boy, do for his suffering father
most of us, to the sight Of misery in acute
| form, could not even speak a word of SYM
pathy, being choked with our tears.
At IL a. m. We were asked to go to the
morning. We reached his house in the
course. of our vistations at about noon.
Ina, o re few wa fee, sSo bis
against the wall of which lay the only MEM
Der of the family, who had been able to
crawl there TO witness the burial of the
bread-winner-save the mark-of the FAM
| lily. But L need not describe the scenes.
Each house seemed in a more hopeless
| plight than the other, and soon as we be-
came familarized with the sight of suffer-
ing, we were able In some measure at least
| to control our feelings, although none OF US
ventured to speak a word to the other. lest
down.
I'm the afternoon the zemski Nacha lorik
| and Ispravorik local officials). of the dis
| trict, called TO welcome and invite us
TO extend our help &c neighboring villages.
where scurvy is raging and nothing is be-
ing done to cope with IL. Especially did
they plead for a Russian village only about
| three versts distant. where over 200 known
| cases are. II was heartrending to have to
say mon possumus," but a dozen workers
| among about 1000 utterly helpless sufferers
\ in over 400 houses-what are they among so
many? Something must be done for them,
| however. and ] am hurrying home TO beg
| for money and volunteers. The ladies at
| our village will be sadly oyerworked, for
really every patient ought TO have a special
attendant. but they are nothing daunted.
and while there are many poor creatures
| possibly save-we saw at least 100 certainly
| doomed TO death-yet their sufferings will
} at least be assuaged. and TO all the villagers
CLEAN of hope has come. And they are SO
| patient and accomplishing, thankful. too,
for even kindly touch
| AT midnight stood in the center OF the
| village, every house or which stood out Ola
tinctly in the bright moonlight. and tried
| 10 pray for the people who seemed 20 nO
| under a heavy curse but may God forgive
me, there was no faith In my heart, and no
| petition escaped my lips I realized that
| not only that village, but also many others
| ments, were filed with men, women and
| children. whose bodies were racked with
pain, and whose hearts were broken-and
the broken hearts are more appalling to
| contemplate than even the bruised bodies
| Il must not conclude without expressing
| my admiration OF the ladies. who. without
| ostentation, without even any suspicion OF
the heroism of their deed, have gone at
| their own expense 10 live among and for
these people Of a different race language
and creed from their own. Not one of them