East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-12-11

In the churches of Missouri refer
ence is often made to the time when
the united prayers of the people of
this commonwealth went up to heav-
en- asking that the plague of grass
hoppers be lifted and how that prayer
was answered with promptness that
astonlshed the scoffers, says the Kan
sas City Star.
Non-religious people contended
that the grasshoppers would have
left when they did even II not
prayer had been offered. But the fact
remains that the grasshoppers had
been swarming over the state in ever
increasing myriads until the very
morning of the day of prayer appoint
ed by the governor and upon that day
June 3, tS75-the grasshoppers
arose In clouds which obscured the
sun and at the very hour when the
churches OF the state were filled with
worshippers, the clouds of grasshop-
pers flew away and to this day have
never returned.
The grasshopper plague began in
the spring " 1874 i'm the states west
came over the wires that the locusts
were being hatched out by the tril-
lions. In the spring of 1875 thep ap-
peared in swarms all over Kansas
and western Missouri. They were in
such numbers that they stopped
trains everywhere, the rails being SO
oily and smooth from the crushed in
sects that the engine drive wheels
slipped upon them. They ate every
green thing they came upon and
stripped the fields as bare as
stretch of desert land. In the spring
of 1875 farmers In Kansas and Mis-
SOUR planted corn as many as four
times and each time II appeared
above the ground the green blades
were eaten by the grasshoppers. Be-
cause of this plague. thousands of
farmers deserted Kansas and moved
back east"
A Proclamation.
In Johnson county, Mo, in the
spring of 1875. the grasshoppers ate
up completely 2O08 acres of wheat
and 258S acres of corn. besides strip
ping the fields of every green grow
ing thing. The farmers of western
Missouri drove their cattle to north
ern Kansas and Nebraska for pas
turage. and in one day 5000 head OF
cattle crossed the Leavenworth
bridge. The greatest damage was
done in Jackson. Clay. Bates, Vernon,
Henry, Cass, Johnson, Lafayette.
Ray, Platte, ClfEton, Buchanan and
Andrew counties, In Missouri, and in
the counties opposite in Kansas
May II. 1875. Governor c. H Har-
din of Missouri issued the following
proclamation;
Whereas. OWING 10 the failures
and losses of crops much suffering
has been endured by our people dur
ing the past few months and similar
calamities are impending on larger
communities. ana possibly may ex
tend to the whole state. and II not
abated will evenniate in sore distress
and famine:
Wherefore, BE 1t known that the
third day of June. proximo. is here
by appointed and set apart as n day
of fasting and prayer that Almighty
our midst these impending calamfties
and to grant instead the blessings OF
abundance and plenty. and the pee
pie and all the officers of the state
are hereby requested to desist during
that day from their usual employ
ment. and to assemble at their places
of worship for humble and devout
Missouri ridivuled the governors
praeyr and to otherwise observe the
day as one for fasting and prayer.
&C. H. HARDIN. Governor."-
Missouri ridiculed the governors
proclamation. A st Louis newspaper
said:
1T is generally conceded that the
days of miracles are past"
newspaper in Kansas City said:
Governor Hardin means to be the
only man in Missouri who thinks
Providence can be relied on to de-
stroy the grasshopperH.~
Other newspapers commended the
proclamation. The Leavenworth
Commercial contained the following
editorial
1--WE cannot see that this Is any
more out OF place to invoke the
blessing A God of Heaven in our
conflict with the army OF grasshop-
pers than II was in 1875 in our con-
test with the army of Great Britain"
May 81 Il mass meeting was held In
the court house in Independence, this
county, and resolution was adopted
calling upon all the people to re-
Ia, q Ss,N,,