The San Francisco call., 1905-08-27
Heartrending Con-
dltionS Still
Prevail.
Mortality Among the
Young and Old Is on
the Increase.
Long Drought Locks Wheels
Of Industry and 100000
Are Out of Work.

SEVILLE. Spain, Aug. es.-Heart-
rending reports continue to reach the
provincial authorities from the outlying
famine-stricken districts. The latest re-
ports received are from Osuna and AL
mongia, the respective Mayors of which
notify the authorities that their re-
sources are exhausted and that they
are unable to further assist the fam
lsneo Iaborers and the women and chill
dren. as the distress is too acute.
AT Ecija the population has looted the
bakers stores
The mortality among infants and
aged persons is attaining terrifying
proportions. and in many localities tho
working people are living on roots. The
Government has organized public works
on small scale. employin ing about 500
men; but this Is q mere drop in the
Ducket OF misery. as d moderate calcu-
lation shows that 100000 men are out
OF employment
Cardinal Sancha. having exhausted
the available charitable funds. is go-
Ing from house to house in Seville beg
ging for contributions, while the eni-
ployes Of several banks and commercial
houses have decided to devote portion
OF their wages toward the relief of the
destitute.
HEROIC MEASURES.
Count Romanones, Minister of Agri-
culture, has just completed an exhaust
i've personal inquiry into the distressed
districts, following on the relief fund
OF sso0.000 voted by the Government
His report creates the Impression that
heroic measures for relief are essential.
The Count journeyed from end to end
OF Andalusia. and everywhere In the
four provinces comprised therein he
was confronted with pictures OF DESC
lation
The territory most stricken forms
circle embracing Seville, Jerez, Cadiz.
Malaga and Cordova, where natural
forces appear TO have combined against
the peoples welfare.
The rivers for years past have been
gradually filing with sand, preventing
navigation and hindering commerce.
The district always has been dry, but
this year a two months drought, be-
ginning in the spring, destroyed all
hopes for the reaping of crops and rem
dered the landscape practically a desert.
resembling portions OF Morocco. The
population is almost entirely composed
of day laborers. who depend on agricul-
tural employment. and when that fails.
which is a frequent occurrence, though
more marked this year than ever be-
fore, practically everybody is thrown
into a condition of indigenoe.
PEOPLE DESPERATE.
1t is calculated that third of the
population emigrated in recent years to
South America, and these emigrants
naturally included the most robust
The condition Of the remainder, how
ever, was not amelforated thereby. The
soil, owing TO lack OF irrigation. is be-
coming more and more unproductive
and the patience OF the people Ia now
nearly exhausted.
The absence OF the landlords and un-
fulfilled electioneering promises. added
to the fact that women and children arc
suffering the agonies OF slow starva-
ton. have led the people to listen to
agitators, who melted them to violence
the result of which is seen in attacks on
farms, the seizure and killing of fiocks
OF sheep and the threat OF armed inva-
sion of the towns.
Murmurs of revolution have awaken
ed apprehension and the farmers every
where are taking refuge In the cities,
while the police regard acts OF piIlage
with indifference. refusing to arrest
men who frequently accuse themselves
in order to obtain food.