The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-12-30
THEY NEED HELP.
The Sad Condition Of the Colored
Peopl in Lower Richlsnd.
LANDLORDS DOING THEIR PART.
They Have Given Money and
PrCvisions for Months and
Are Now Urging Others
to Helm Them.
to Help Them.

To the Editor Of The State:
II has frequently occurred to me to
make known to the public the deStitu-
Sion and suffering Of the negroes in
the section that was devastated by
the unprecedented hailstorm Of June
/, and their imperative nted for help.
Not only was the growing crop de-
stroyed, the one planted subsequently,
almost destroyed by floods Of rain, but
the oat crop, which would have kept
their animals alive, was also destroy
ed by a fly. Unless one had witnessed
this destruction it could not be con.
ceiyed. Whole plantations that on
June / were beautiful with well cult
7ated crops, were in an hour made
as bare of growth as the public roads.
The helplessness Of the negroes was
pitiable. All their labor was in vain.
What were they to do? They had no
food for animals. No seed for replant-
ing crop-thought it was too late
to try to make another. But the
patient, hopeful negro, with encour-
ageuent from white friends, decided
to make the trial, and with tortitude
and courage truly sublime, toiled on,
and those who did their duty faith
fully with their work saw in the fall a
green. well boiled prospect of fairly
good crop IF frost did not come too
soon." Alas. Oct. % brought the
dreaded frost. The crop was most
materially injured, the bolls SO harden
ed that picking when opened was d
tedious labor. done with bloody
fingers. Where the prospect with
uany was froca six to eight and ten
bales, il dwindled down to /, - and
100 pounds-almost nothing. This
picking still goes on in this severe
weathec, and will far into the New
Year.
Besides all these troubles chills and
fever took possession Of the whole
country. Often every member of a
family was sick at the same time, not
one able to wait on the other. Chill
dren were sometimes sent a half mile
to take water to the sick. Medicine
is high and they could not afford to
buy it. But when sent for the kind
doctor would 60 or send medicine. His
own drug bill. never to be paid for by
those be helped, is very high. Fodder
could not be pulled and perished on
the stalks.
These people are in great want,
" mt OF corn and bacon, want OF help
to work another year. Those who
rented land to them have lost their
income and can do nothing for them.
This brief notice tells but little of
their need; their nervous anxity about
the future. They may be said to have
nothing. 4 man said to me in view
of his destitutior. Freedom was
given to US With nothing but our
handS-we have them yet--we will
struggle oD.''
Citizens! these people are our
friends, work for US, take care OF US.
They are children Of the Confederacy.
Help them. Set them up again.
Open your hearts for-the: needy, the
destitute. Here they are at your own
doors.
Without help they must scatter,
leaving many (. bare field now in the
coming year to grow only grass and
weeds.
60 among them daily. see their
poverty. They thank God they have
good houses TO- shelter and plenty OF
wood for fire. Mrs. Jas. ?. a dams.
Congaree, S. c., Dec. 2l, 1908.