OCR Text |
Show THE CHINESE FAMINE Terrible Deal motion ot Llla by Fire, Kiurvfttloa stud Cold. San Francisco, 25. Per Oceanic iron Chiua, A terrible disaster occurred oc-curred at Tientsin refuge bouBe in which famine stricken relugees from the northern provinces bad assembled. Tbe building took fire and of nearly 3,000 people in it only about 100 escaped. The extremely cold weather that has prevailed has had a fatal effect on refugees, many of whom have been frozen to death, while thousands are suffering from insufficient accommodation accommo-dation and lack of food, which cannot he supplied in quantities to meet the demand. Chaa Budd, of the China inland mission of Wuchang, wbo has recently visited the famine stricken province of Shansi, writes a heartrending heart-rending account of the suffering he I bae witnessed. Government effort to supply food and assistance to a great extent was nullified by the dishonesty of officials, children were sold by hundreds by starving parents. In the large cities of Hancheng and Pacbeng risings have ocoutred among the people rendered desperate by Beeing wives and children Btarvmg before their faces, and many other outbreaks are reported. In Pacbeng the people beheaded the mandarin for pp?cu!ating on their necessities. The cold has been unusually severe throughout the country for several weeks. Tbe money market has been very tight lately, but arrivals from England and Ban Francisco arc expected to ease it soon. - Tbe boiler ofthe coasting steamer Yesso exploded recontly, killing about eighty natives. The engineer has been imprisoned lor manslaughter. |