A CORRESPONDENT of the Milwaukee Sentinel tells this pitiful tale of what he saw going from Wisconsin to California:—
Before reaching Kinsley, and between Kinsley and La Junta, the fields were literally covered with dead and dying cattle. The uncommon cold in Colorado had caused them to go south.
Reaching the Sante Fe road, their further progress was barred by wire fences, but could they have passed this, the Arkansas River, which is partly frozen, would have prevented them from reaching any more southern point.13Freezing and without food, there was nothing for them to do but to wait for death. Their lips were frozen and they were unable to eat the bits of grass that were above the snow. It was the most pitiful sight, I trust, that I shall ever be obliged to witness. It was estimated that one hundred thousand were in sight from the car windows; and when to this number is added the almost countless herds between Arkansas River and northern Colorado, the amount of suffering is beyond human computation. Many lay under the wire fences dead, having pushed their way as far south as possible. Little calves leaned against the wires with no strength to release themselves from the cruel bars—waiting for death.
At Dodge City, where we were detained by a wrecked car, the starving creatures were walking through the town, or standing with their mute, appealing eyes turned toward the people, who were powerless to help. The white snow that covered their bodies was the only touch of mercy that we saw. Some of them were Texan cattle, wholly unfitted for northern climates unless sheltered and fed when necessary. Surely the moans of the cattle upon the thousand western hills ascend unto the ear of the Almighty. Thirteen hundred sheep lay in one pile—dead—frozen to death.
Another View in New Richmond after the Tornado of June 12.
And all this suffering of the poor animals comes in consequence of man's gratification of an unnatural appetite for flesh. Flesh foods are disease producing, and if man's nature was not perverted he would revolt at the thought of eating the quivering carcasses of dead animals. The abundant harvests of fruits and grains, and vegetables and nuts, furnish foods that give more physical and mental strength than flesh meats can possibly give, and then the morals are not depraved by the influences of bloodshed. For he who can learn to look with indifference on the suffering and slaughter of the animals, may learn to take the still further step of torturing and killing his fellow-men. T.
