Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-08
MILLIONS ARE DYING
Desperate Conditions in Fam.
ine-Stricken Region of China.
COLD AND HUNGER KILLING
Foreigners in Tsingkiangpu Besieged
by Crowds of Beggars Crying
Piteously for Assistance.

a dispatch Just received from Consul
General Wilder, at Shanghai, shows the
situation In the famine-strickeh region OF
CHINA to be more desperate than ever
Inc earliest harvest which can bring re-
lief cannot be expected before the 1st OF
June. The reports from missionaries wh(
are engaged in the relief work give de
tails OF the horrible conditions prevail
Ing. They show that three million per
sons are slowly dying Of cold and hun
ger.
The famine around Tsingkiangpu,
says one report, SIS much worse thi.
year than four years ago. Crops of al
kinds, including sweet potatoes, turnips
peanuts and wheat, were entirely spoiled
by the floods.
People whose houses were destroyed
attempted to leave the district, but were
sent back and could only drift about
having no shelter. Many turned to rob
berry.
Beggars Besiege Foreigners.
Foreigners cannot walk through the
city of Tsingkiangpu without having
crowds of beggars besfeging them on al
sides. Many sad cases Of women with
to be seen everywhere. Quite a common
way for them to do is to sleep on the
stones just outside the missionary's gate
Many a one has been found in the morn
ing, chilled through, still crying for food
and clothing, some only having on a
piece of an old potato sack on cold
February night. The missionaries have
done everything in their power to aid the
sufferers; they have given away all the
ciothing they could spare, but the naked
ana hungry crowds continue to swarm
the city. There is not enough money tC
take care of one-thousandth part of those
who flock the streets daily.
Prom 10000 to $1,000 people near the
city are and have been for some time
living on potato leaves, with perhaps q
physical condition of these people viii
be deplorahle. and the death rate large
unless help comes soon."
Distress in Yungchenghsien.
Mr.. Ford, c. I. NJ, Taikang, Honan, re.
Gently passed through Yungchenghsien
Honan, down to Mengchen, where he is
at the request of the committee assist
ing in relief. He reports that in Yung
chenghsien alone there are 5000 villages
and about 100000 persons Two thou
sand of these villages were flooded, 81;
very badly. A census of distressed people
was made before the New Year, wheT
there were 11O,12 adults and 71,214 chill
dren. These were helped by a donation
from the governor of Honan, and by To-
cal subscriptions. used to purchase food
stuff. There are 100 beggars (mostly
women and children) in the city to whom
one-fourth of a beancake is being dis
tributed every ten days. Six died after
the first distribution from eating too
quickly and then drinking afterward. Al
orphanage has been started, which has
already taken in 40 boys, who are giver
two meals day 1.-TWO ounces beancakt
and one ounce of millet per meaD. The.
want to start a similar place for girls
but have not the funds. There are hun
dreds of children crawling about.
More American Money Sent.
The American National Red Cross ha:
cabled another $4,000 to Shanghai
China, for the relief Of the famine suf
ferers, making a total Of $4,000 which
has been disbursed by the society il
that cause.