The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-04-07

U the prague, u great Idnlne Ii
sweeping over the Chinese EN-.
pire, and the victims Of the
dual persecution are now mum.
gered by the tens of thousands. The
plague Is bad enough. but the famine
will be ten times worse. Already
hundreds are dying from lack of food.
yet these hundreds will number thou
sands and tens of thousands before
the first scanty rice crop furnishes
relief. From the relief committees of
the interior comes word that one mil
lion people will die before the first
crop is harvested. Even this will be
scanty, because the people have not
the strength to till the soil and no
animals remain for blowing.
II Is estimated that 100000 people
are without food. They are existing
on roots. grasses or anything that az
fords the slightest possibility of nour.
ishment. Those possessing grain
guard II day and night. Missionaries
who are distributing relief tell Of
many tragic occurances-a man on
his way to meet them, dying on the
road; another falling by the wayside
as he was returning to his family
with a packet OF rice. These relief
committees describe the people as
horrible skeletons, some with their
limbs hideously swollen. They suf-
fer all the pangs Of hunger until death
brings relief. This endless relief is
coming to thousands daily from starv-
alton.
The pitiful condition OF these starv-
ing wretches is well shown by the
recent food riot at Sha-Yang. when 81
persons were trampled to death. The
emaciated men and women fought
like demons for these few mouthfuls
workers who were distributing II was
great. A considerable amount OF food.
stuffs had been received by the mis-
sionaries. who planned a systematic
distribution. Their work was hardly
begun when thousands OF desperate
men. women and children. who had
learned that there was q chance OF
their hunger being half satisfied.
swooped down upon the supply depot.
An uncomfortable riot followed. Each
fought for himself and the weaker
went down and were ruthlessly
trampled.
In some portions OF the province
parents are offering their children for
a mouthful Of rice. Many parents,
despairing Of keeping the entire fam.
lily until the new crops appear, are
desertips their offspring.
The lawlessness In the stricken ter
ritory is growing each day. Made
desperate by hunger, bands Of hun
dreds Of starving refugees are rowing
through the famine area plundering
and killing. and reign OF terror pre-
walls.
At Kunshan. q walled village so
miles from Shanghai. the villagers,
after raid In which stores were
looted and many killed, melted out
punishment peculiarly Chinese In its
callousness to the raiding refugees.
A band Of more than 500 are reported
to have been surrounded In a com.
pound and burned to death.
Relief has been coming in. but II
has proved inadequate. The Ameri.
can Red Cross society has sent over
about $4,000. while the Chinese of
San Francisco have forwarded s2o.-
900. II costs but q cent a day tn
keep one Of these starving Celestials.
yet the United States and Japan have
been the only nations to give aid.
China is sending its plea over the
entire civilized world for help.
The famine situation has rocentlv
somewhat overshadowed the plague
ravages. but not because the latter
has shown any signs of let up. Il
is still sweeping over the northeast
ern territory. scattering death right