People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 January 1895 — Without Food, Fuelor Clothing. [ARTICLE]

Without Food, Fuelor Clothing.

Through the courtesy of Mr. L. Stroug the Pilot publishes below au extract from a private letter written by S. B. Yeoman, of El wood, Neb., describing the terrible condition of people in drouth stricken Gosper county. Mr. Yeoman is too well known here to be suspected of exaggeration, and the appeal which he makes for his neighbors there will meet with prompt and liberal response by the generous of Jasper. ••You are doubtless aware of •the fact that this section of country has sustained two almost total crop failures, in succession by reason of drouth. These failures,following close upon the failure of 1890, have left many of our people in destitute circumstances. These failures have been so general that the people are compelled to ask for outside help to prevent suffesing and Eleven starvation. There are many I farmers who have not a cent of ’ money with which to buy either fuel, food or clothing. There are families even now subsisting on one scant meal a day and how they keep warm God only knows. All the fuel some have is cow chips gathered from the pastures. Fortunately we have been blessed with moderate weather so far this winter —only one snow that remained on the ground any length of time—which is a God send to the people and , stock. I shudder to think what f the result would be if we should

have such blizzards as we some . times have here. All the feed jfi there is for thousands of cattle and horses is what they can rustle for themselves on the prairies. Many of the older horses are already dying. The younger ones are doing well and will continue to do fairly well as long as there is no snow on the ground, but will be in no condition for spring work. You may think this picture is overdrawn, but it is not. The worst has not been told. There was not a bushel of corn raised on a thousand acres, and no hay to speak of except old dead grass two and three years old. A good many farmers have some fodder, but many do not even that. Our people as a rule are as industrious, economical and hard working as any people and it is no fault of "theirs that they are now destitute, and when in condition to do so they are quick to respond to the call of unfortunates everywhere as is evidenced by the fact that Neb., sent a train load of corn to the Russian famine sufferers in 1892, one car of which was sent by Gosper county. We now appeal to others for help in our extremity. Our county is now organized, and has a relief board, which acts in conjunction with the State board, through which all supplies will be distributed. I sincerely hope the good people of Jasper county, will contribute liberally from their abundance to alleviate as far as possible the destitution and want of fellow beings in Gosper county. Neb. I have been appointed . solicitor by the executive committee of the relief board for Gosper county, and if you think your people will respond to a call of this kind to an extent to justify it I will go to your county and solicit in person. I wish it distinctly understood that I am solicting nothing in my own behalf as .1 am amply able to take care of myself. lam working entirely in the interest of others. Present needs are for fuel, clothing ands provision for immediate relief, and feed and seed to enable farmers to put in a crop next spring. Please let me hear from you at once and if advisable I will go out to your country.” Truly your friend. S. B. Yeoman.