BARREN LABRADOR. A Sad Tale of Suffering and Starvation.
Tiik Chicago "Times," Montreal special says : —Two families, named Russell and Rumboldt, have, after great exertions, escaped semi-starvation in Labrodor and reached Montreal. The story they tell of life in Labrador is very painful. The people are in a state of semi starvation. They are slaves? to the dealers, who never allow them to see a shilling, well knowing that if they had a lifctle money they would fly from the country as a land of pestilence. Mn> Russell, a very intelligent woman, mado the following statement, to which two men lent their assent: "We are hero because we could live there no longer. We are almost starving. We often have been hungry. Fishing has fallen away and the people can't live, and they can't get away because they never receive a shilling in their li\ cs. Wo are paid for our fish in goods and clothes, and we have to pay three prices for everything. Fishing lasts only threo months and we have to live the other nine months out of the profit of the three. Fishing has so fallen away that there is scarcely enough made to keep us during the summer. "Spring is the worst season, for then there is nothing at all. The Government gives a little assistance, but what is a little flour, peas, molasses and meat ? kord bless yon, I have not had fresh meat during the last twenty-five years. Such a thing is never thought of. We've often ground peas and made a sort of tea out of them. We have no such thing a? meat or potatoes or vegetables. The whole country is a barren rock, We have got salt meat, and not enough of that. When fishing was good we could manage to live, but instead of getting about 100 quintals, we can only get about thirty- five now, and on that we have to live nine months. There are now about 100 families in Bethel harbour, but all who can get away are going. Id is a hard thing to tee your family growing up around you und nothing for them to do and nothing for them to eat.'* "And you never get any money for fish ?" "Not a penny do we ever handle. We hn\G just to take what they give us in clothes and food. We never would have got here but for my uncle, who gave us a little money. This is the truth I'm telling you."
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Te Aroha News, 26 November 1887, Page 3
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419BARREN LABRADOR. A Sad Tale of Suffering and Starvation. Te Aroha News, 26 November 1887, Page 3
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