Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 April 1889 — AWFUL FAMINE IN CHINA. [ARTICLE]

AWFUL FAMINE IN CHINA.

Thousands of People Starving to Death and Greater Distress Expected. Detailed reports of the great famine in Shantung and Manchuria, brought by the Chinese steamer Monday night, shows that its horrors have not been exaggerated. It is the worst famine known in China for twelve years, and the saddest feature of it is that i n many parts of these two provinces the overflow of.the Yellow River has ruined the land so that no good crops-ean be expected for several years. Letters from American and English missionaries, who have been distributing food, say that no more than one hundred thousand can be reached by them, although fully five million are starving. Many of the men abandoned their families after the flood and the women and children have nothing to live on. The missionaries report that the spectacle of patient suffering of these people is heart rending. One case is recorded of a blind woman who strangled her little girl rather than sell her or see her starve, while an old man of seventy-seven, maddened by hunger, sold his daughter-in-law for $9. It cdsts only.one cent per day to maintain one person, yet the wealthy have been so reduced they cannot aid their poor neighbors. Near Chefoo, Dr. Laughlin writes that ihe whole plain is dug up by the people in search of roots which serve to fill their stomachs, but draw up their hands as though they had infiamatory rheumatism.

WASHINGTON NOTES. Hon. Milton J. Durham, at present First Controller of the Treasury, is reported to be a candidate for the Demo cratic vacancy on the Civil Service Commission. Ex-Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Thompson, of South Carolina, was appointed to this office by President Cleveland, but the Senate failed to confirm him. He is, however, making a fight for re-appointment by President Harrison. Ex-Representative Truman A. Merriman, of New York, backed by Hon. Samuel J. Randall, is also making a struggle for the place. Commissioner of Pensions Tanner Thursday, issued an order holding that “whenever a pensioner is disabled in band or foot in a degree entitling him to $24 per month, under the act of March 3,1883, such pensioner shall, by reason of that fact, be entitled to the rate of S3O per month, under the act of Aug. 4,1886.” This order will favorably affect the pensions of some six or eight hundred pensioners, disabled veterans of the late war. ' Secretary Blaine says it is not true, as reported, that this administration would retuse to appoint any one as minister or consul to a foreign country in which he was born. This will let in a number of German-born American citizens who are applying for consulates in Germany. Secretary Halford** says that the President has made no arrangements to. leave Washington before the 29th of this month, when he goes to New York to attend the centennial celebration. The President has declined a number of invitations to visit various cities The number of letters received daily at the White House rangesfiom 500 to 700. Three time the number exceeded 990 daily. Each of these letters was answered or acknowledged. Dan. M. Ransdall, of Indianapolis, it of conceded, will be appointed Marshal is the District of Columbia. Judge Allen G. Thurman, the “Old Roman,” called on the President, Thursday. MINISTERS TURN MURDERERS Two ministers of the Gospel in Vavasota,’Tex., were actively concerned in tragedies on Sunday. Rev. R. K. Lawson, a minister, shot and killed a negro named Daniel McLeod, who had stolen several articles from him. The second tragedy occurred neaiftYarborough Station. Rev. Hall Miller was conducting Sunday-school, and white praying, an intoxicated man named Purchard entered the school and disturbed the meeting. There was an altercation between the preacher and the disturber, and Rev. Mr. Miller went home. He returned with a shotgun and fired its contents into Purchard’s side, killing him instantly. The dead nfen was pqesessed of great bodily strength and was brutal.

ji The Poor Old Cxar. A rumor was circulated in European cities Friday that an attempt was on the .life pf the Czar on the Sunday previous, £nd that be was injured by the explosion of a shell. It is alleged that strenuous efforts are being made to suppress the facts, but the rumor ia Very generally credited and great excitement prevail#. The general features upon which all reports agree, are that on Sunday last a dynamite bomb exploded within the imperial palace at Gatechina, whether by fuse or concussion is not stated, and that the explosion must have been produced in tl e room in which the Czar was present, for it is circumstantially reported that the Czar was injured and that an officer of the guards was wounded at the same time.