Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1913-12-30
SCORES DIE OF STARVATION
IN THE STATE OF SINALOA


tails of starvation and wholesale death
in a famine stricken district not far
from the United States We're made
public by DIR. H. S. Mensendieck, an
American physician who is acting as
agent for the American Red Cross In
trying to save the lives of more than
1000 destitute families living in the
agricultural district of ChoiX, Sonora.
Scores already have succumbed to
hunger and report that reached
here announces that Is more dead
victims were discovered in a single
dav and that at least 1000 children
and women are confronted with death
by starvation.
In two cases at least among the
Indian tribes living in the mountain
Gus region between Batopila and
ChoiX cannibalism is suspected, but
the authorities are powerless to aid
the community owing to total fail
ure of the food crops in this district
and the fact that all communications
with the outside world long since have
been cut off as the result of the civil
war
The consular service received a
telegraphic transfer of money Sufti-
Gent to provide corn and it is eX-
pected that as soon as the awful de-
tails of the tragic condition are made
known other steps will be taken to
relieve the dying people.
The famine district, which en-
braces large territory and is popu-
lousy settled with agricultural work
ers and small land owners, is about
three days mule journey from Fuerte,
Sinaloa, where General Carranza
made his headquarters before moving
to Hermosillo.
No one in authority at this capital
suspected that the people were in dan
ger until the arrival of DR.. Mensen-
deck, who made the journey overland
especially to notify the American gov
eminent The telegraph was placed at
his disposal and through Consul Sim
pich of Nogales, Sonora, the story
was sent on to Washington.
Although the famine district is on
the direct line Of the survey of the
Kansas City, Mexico and Orient rail
road, the only means of communica-
ton is through the towns along the
Southern Pacific in Mexico.
Despite the revolution, the usual
crops were planted last summer, but
the entire absence of rain for many
months added to the fact that all
mines and business enterprises had
been closed down, brought the people
to the verge of hunger more than two
months ago.
What little food was on hand was
quickly used up Three or four weeks
ago the people were compelled to rely
on stewed roots and bark to keep soul
and body together. Conditions grad
ually grew worse and the men became
so weak that no volunteers with suf
ficient vitality were available to carry
the news of their plight to the world.
According to DR.. Mensendieck cof
fee sold at ST pound and thread at
81 a spool before the supply actually
gave out. Beans and corn mounted
in price until in several cases small
farms were mortgaged for sack of
beans. For more than two weeks
there has not been single mouthful
of real food in the entire territory.
The American physician asserts
that the plight of the women and chill
dren is pitiable, aside from the fact
that they are dying like flies. Not
one of them, he says, has anything
but the veriest rags, and more than
half the population are now wander
ing around in the costumes formerly
adopted by the Indians in the warmer
climates.
The weather has been bitterly cold
in the mountains and in their weak
ened condition the inhabitants were
unable to withstand the exposure, and
many deliberately laid down and died
in the public streets. In view of these
circumstances, the Red Cross waived
the usual method of dealing with
famines and American Consul Simpich
at Nogales, Sonora, was empowered
to draw on the funds of the society
to buy corn to last a few days until
other arrangements can be made. The
consular service on the west coast
also was instructed to aid in getting
relief to the famine victims.
Food supplies will have to be sent
through Fuerte to Vaca, which is one
of the largest towns in the famine