The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-01-07
DYING FROM STARVATION
Famished Firms Eat Food That
Hungry Horses Reject
Rains Ruin the Crops and Cut on the
Supply Of Fish-llIilions to BE
Expondsd For Relief.

st. Petersburg. Russia.-BefOre the
spring thousands Of Finlanders will
have died Of starvation. Thousands are
now living upon bread made from un.
ripe rye and barley. which hungry
horses refuse to eat. Thousands are
living upon bread baked from the bar.
ley husks and straw. Between 100000
and 100000 persons are literally starv-
Ing at present. Before the spring. un-
less Government relief is adequate. q
great proportion Of these will have
died. In 1867. when the crops failed.
the famine was not rs bad. and 100.0 .0O0
persons died Of starvation. This year.
in addition to the failure Of the crops
the rains have spoiled the fishing. So
complete Is the devastation that thou
sands of birds have starved to death.
unable to find sufficient to sustain life.
The average grain crop gathered In
Finland Is valued Mt s30.O00.000. The
estimated value Of the 1902 crop Is
$50. 100000. While this loss Is distrib-
uted throughout Finland, II Is almost
total In the northern third Of the coun-
try. where are the provinces Of Ulea-
borg. Kuoplc. Vasa, st. Michael and
portions Of Viborg.
Peas and beans generally have failed
and the potato crop has not been gath
cred. The hay has rotted or been
swept away by foods. The disaster Is
due to the late spring. the nearly con.
tinuous chilly rains and the early frost.
which was recorded on August 10. In
the north there have been only half q
dozen days when 1t did not rain.
The present crop failure Is the worst
that has been experienced for the last
fifty years. It Is hoped, however. that
better methods Of communication Will
facilitate the work of relief and avoid
wholesale deaths by hunger and ty-
phus.
There are all told about 500 parishes
In Finland. One hundred and ninety
four of these parishes are now nearly
destitute. The Agricultural Board has
received reports from 40 OF the 194
parishes, showing that 108 have food
supplies to suffice them until Christmas
only.
The unrIpe rye and barley which the
people are forced to Use make a bitter
bread. while the bread baked from bar.
ley husks and straw. mixed with lit
tie -four. contains little nutrition and
Is extremely unwholesome.
Count Bobriokoff. the Governor-Gen-
eral Of Finland. foreseeing the famine.
issued an appeal for help from Russia.
A voluntary relief committee was or
ganlzed by Finlanders. with branches
throughout the country. The Anglo
American Church here Is aiding this
committee.
The Senate has decided to spend
1915. 900 on public works In Finland to
relieve the suffering. and has appro.
prIated $500. 900 for grain to be sold
to the people Mt cost. Besides this $75.-
600 Will be expended In encouraging
cottage Industries.
The provinces and certain cities OF
Finland have voted for relief work
money amounting In all to 100000.
The voluntary relief committee has
received $685. 900. but It Is understood
that NIL this sum has been already e1-
pended.
The Russian Government has drawn
up O comprehensive plan for feeding
the people who are starving as re-
suit Of crop failure. and Of relieving the
distress which Is at present widespread
throughout ten governments Of Euro
pean Russian and some districts OF 81
IBERIA. The sum of $3.331 500 already
has been expended In relief work, but
further great sums will be necessary to
support the populace> Of the afflicted
districts and enable them to resume
farming In the spring.