Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-07-30
Special to the Leader.

| JOulhCJ dblOoo IiC NilhOoO
province of Shansi, ono man helped
to bury 1876 dead bodies, all of them
victims of hunger. The man was one
of the native Commissioners appoint
ed by the Governor of Shansi to sup
ervise the work of relief.
Dead bodies lying by the wayside or
eaten by dogs were not the only evil
dences of the shadow of the hunger
cloud which the Chinese Commission
er saw.
He met parents selling their chill
dren for food, and men who bought
and sold boys and girls.
The Commissioner kept diary of
his journey and sent it to his friend,
Chow Tsz-Chi, Chinese Consul in New
York. His Excellency Chow Tsz-Chi
forwarded a translation to The Christ
ian Herald.
1t is an eloquent letter. Its terse-
ness is evidence of the terrible truth
fulness of the picture it presents. Its
author makes no more attempt at ex-
aggeration than he does at conceal
ment.
May 5-Our party (seven) left Mi
chi City today On the way we saw
numbers of refugees coming down to
the south, as thin as skeletons, eating
tree leaves and apparently enjoying
| them.
May 6-Stop at temporary asyl-
um, where nine out of ten dodgers
were seriously sick. Gave all medi-
cines in our possession. Superintend-
ent said ten or twenty famine fever
deaths every day.
May 7.-Started for Fung-shiang
three o'clock in the morning; saw
many dead Lodies on the road. The
lrcal author y was supervise lg taGi
burial. In deserted cafe nat 'oy
o. al ut fcu! teen, dying from hunger
VIC rescned him and fed him with
brad and water He told us that
both his parents and sisters died two
days ago. We notified the kind
hearted authorities to bury them, and
sent the boy to the hospital. He
cried bitterly on his departure, and
we all shed tears.
May S.-A dreadful scene in the
woods today. A number OF hungry
birds fighting for a dead body. Many
women and children were crying for
mercy, and drawing their last breath.
We gave away all the provisions we
carried with us.
May 9.-Turned out of our way to
big city, and tried to buy some more
provisions, but could not get any Had
to stop there, and wait fo4' our provi-
sion wagon. Saw fifty-six dead bod
les, and hired some coolies to bury
them.
May 1O.-Early this morning our
wagons came with plenty Of provi-
sions and medicines, and four soldiers
from the Governors body-guard. We
started at noon, after an inspection of
the poor quarters in the city, and dis
tributed some food. Buried seven
teen ooaies.
May 11.--Arrived Pei-mun. Distri-
buted food to the starving, and medi-
cines to the sick from five o'clock in
the morning till eight in the evening.
We had not drunk a drop of water,
but did not feel thirsty; could not eat
bite of bread, yet did not feel hun
CRY. Buried sixty-six dead bodies.
May 12.-Arrived at Puch Bridge,
| distributed food and medicine, but
not so much as yesterday. A man
here was selling his boy for 50. Asked
him why, and he answered in tears,
that his wife was starving at home,
and that there was no room in the
hospital for her. He tried to sell the
boy and saved his wife. The boy was
crying. We gave the man 81. Buried
seven bodies.
May 13.-Arrived at Pie-yin Tenn
pie. Distributed food. Not many sick
here. Met a southern man with four
girls, and Hsaohing man with four
girls, all of who were bought in the
village at very cheap price. Two
of the girls were crying very bitterly
My companion, Chu, paid ten times
the original prices for them, and sent
them back to our headquarters ant
asylum.
May 14.-Arrived West Ple-yir
Temple. Distributed food. About
five a. m. met band of men (buyerE
of girls) fighting ten soldiers. One O
the latter was killed and two wound
ed. The ruffians escaped with theil
goods in wagons and on horseback
though they lost ten of their com
rades. Buried six dead bodies.
May 5.-Thunderstorm this after
noon. Many sick persons were re
lieved here. Distributed bread. Mori