The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-09-06
VOLGA REGION.
is A PIC TU RE.
OF DESOLATION.
Once Prosperous and Color
ful Valley of Southern
Russia is Turned to
DesOlatiOn.
TYPHUS AND FAMINE
TAKE HEAVY TOLLS
POOR AND RICH SUFFER ALIKE
IN GRIM STRUGGLE OF BARE
NECESSITIES or
LIFE.

syzran Russia, Sept G.-There was
n time when syzrou was the most col.
orful city along the Volga. but that
time is gone. Today It is crowded with
duct hegimed peasants who group
themselves into gray masses in their
search for food Time was when the
air was filled with a perfect babel of
tongues-the languages Of the Kali
mucks Mongols Tartars. Chinese and
| Russians. but the crowds on the
streets nj present are mute. Even the
laughter Of children has been silenced
in the despair that has settled over
these tens Of thousands, who sit cross
ing themselves, and wait for what
seems 10 be the inevitable
Pictures Of misery seen here are
duplicated in Samara. Simbirsk Sara.
toff, Tsaritsin and other cities I'm the
famine stricken valley of the Volga
Docks and railroad stations are piled
high with the belongings Of refugees
who arc driven from their land by tho
drought and clouds Of grasshoppers
that destroyed even tho meagre grain
that had defled the heat Of the terrible
summer now drawing to tragic close.
Committees are trying to move the re-
tugees 10 other points where there IS
promise Of foods. but II is necessary 10
use the limited river and railroad
transportation facilities 10 send seed
grain into the city and TO bring bread
into the famine districts
Many professional bergars of the
Gypsy type are to be found here and
In other large centers i'm southern
Russia but the starving farmers ask
no aims and utter no cry. They stand
silent and await their fate with a etoi
cism pictured so graphically and truth
fully hy Tolsto and DostoiWsky. Mar
kets have sprung mp mushroomIike
here and there about the refugees
camp offering for sale vegetables
bread flour and meat They are sur
rounded by hungry people who have
no money 20 Offcr but who exchange
wedding rings, fur coats caps. ket
ties. pans boots and other small pos
sessions They know the Russian win.
ter Is coming and that IL win find
them without shelter and clothing. hut
they are Obliged 20 give up the ne.
cesNtcs OF the future 90 meet the de-.
mands OF the present.
Large peasant families arrive in a
state of exhaustion. their carts being
dragged by carnels and starved horses.
There is mo- hay or grain here anf
there IS slight prospects that the ami
Na N..
tho carts are Slmovars talking ma.
chimes and American sewing machines.
which are bar,cred for food orr coffins.
The dead he unnouccd FOR hours.
while near thorn are p.ufuI groups.
boiling q few potatoes and onions with
which to keep alive. Some markets
are under armed guard. but this ap.
pears to bc unnecessary ass the nsa.
SAINTS are too weak and passive to AXE
violent measures
Great crowds attempt tb cling 10
the Few trains th7t leave here daily
and soldiers often pull somc of the re-.
fueccs from tho ears frequently sop.
awunc families. somc members of
which hive managed to secrctc them.
selves between the ears.
Typhus hgs appeared In many places
aud ;hc hospital superintendent at
Samnu said tho other day that tho
only way to handle thc situation was
90 scrrcrotc those who had boon str.rk.
cn They receive rtuons when food Is
available hut There ia uo suop and
mo- hot wltrr to wash the sufferers.
many OF whom are children. Five
hundred sick eh.ii~or Wen, found
grouped n ono building ln Somar1.
Some of them wero seen eating leaves
from shrubs WhIr others wrrr y.rv
about on dirty bags more dead than
alive Most of these children We're so
3ehor and rmar'atcd that they roe.m.
h'ni Ola mon and wnwcr.
Many orrr prosperous German lawi
llos 'rp among thv refugees 1t Sowor1.
and arr living in filth and poverty n
crowded duck sheds or have ro shr'.
ter et an Several Germans told tho
Associated puces they had relatives
In Sihcri1 and wore trying Co reach
omsk but they had exhausted thrir
money and could NOT pet permission to-
migrate eastward Mies Anna Haines
VI philadelphia worker for the
Friends Relief organization. Is In Sa.
mara and Inst week said the mortality
amonr children lrss than Years old.
is very hivh and That nearly 90 per
cont arr already dead She told ~
four persons DIVING ON station plat.
form In Sainafn tho other might while
they were waiting Co br transferred tn
snnc other town Others wcrr living
about and so helpless that 80 was dif
ncult to- distinguish between the living
and the dead
\ committee sent to Russia by the
/ American Ncar East rrlicf. left Sa
narn last week fnr Tini- after max
ing an investigation. pr John R Vdr.
hic uf the committee wiil ro tn New
York tn report on The situation.
Mr. and Mrs e. o. Sims. Mr.. and
Mrs Ioe Raltnrpr Mr. and Mrs. n
I q. Nann. spent Sunday and Monday
/ camping az sulphur where they report
to have had a most enjoyable time.