Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-27
A FAMINE IN SPAIN
CONDITIONS COMBINED AGAINST
PEASANTS IN WIDE SECTION.

SEVILLE, Spain, August 26.-Heartrend-
ing reports continue to reach the provin-
cial authorities from the outlying famine
stricken districts. The latest reports re-
ceived are from Osuna and Almongia, the
respective mayors of which notify the au-
thorities that their resources are exhausted
and that they are unable to further assist
the fanfshed laborers and the women and
children, as the distress is too acute.
Stores Looted
At Ecija the population has looted the
baker stores.
The mortality among infants and aged
persons Is attaining terrifying proportions,
and in many localities the working peo-
pie are living on roots The government
has organized public works on small
scale, employing about 600 men, but this
is mere drop in the ocean of misery, as
a moderate calculation shows that 10000
are out of employment.
Cardinal Sarcha having exhausted the
available charitable funds, is going from
house to house in Seville begging for con-
tributions. while the employees of several
banks and commercial houses have decided
to devote portion of their wages toward
the relief Of the destitute.
Count Romanones, minister of agriculture,
has just concluded exhaustive personal
inquiry in the destitute districts, follow
ing on the relief fund of 100000 voted by
the government. His report creates the i'm
preston that heroic measures for relief
essential. The count journeyed from end
to end Of Andalusia and everywhere in the
four provinces comprised therein he was
confronted with pictures of desolation.
The Famine District.
The territory most stricken forms cir
Gle embrac cling Seville, Jerez, Cadiz Malaga
and Cordova, where natural forces appear
to have combined against the peoples well
fare. The rivers for years past have been
gradually filling with sand, preventing nav
igation and hindering commerce. The dis
trict always has been dry, but this year "A
two months drought, beginning in the
spring destroyed all hopes for the reap
ing of crops and rendered the landscape
practically a desert. resembling portions
of Morocco. The population is almost en-
tireiy composed of day laborers who de-
pend on agricultural employment, and when
that fails, which is a frequent occurrence,
though more marked this year than ever
before, practically everybody is thrown INTO
a condition of Indulgence.
Section is Unproductive.
1t is calculated that a third of the popu
lation emigrated in recent years to South
America, and these emigrants naturally
included the most robust. The condition
of the remainder was not ameliorated there
by The soil, owing to lack of irrigation,
is becoming more and more unproductive
and the patience of the people is now
nearly exhausted.
The absence of the landlords and unful-
filled electioneering promises, added TO the
fact that women and children are suffering
the agonies of slow starvation have led
the people to listen to agitators, who in
cited them to violence, the result of which
is seen in attacks on farms, the killing OF
fiocks of sheep and the threat of armed
inva sion of the towns.
Murmurs OF revolution have awakened
apprehension and the farmers everywhere
are taking refuge in the cities, while the
police regard acts of pillage with inditer-
ence refusing to arrest men who ire
quently accuse themselves In order to OBJ
tain food