The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-26
SITUATION IN CUBA.
Described by IN American Who Has
just Returned.
NUMBER OF SOLDIERS ON THE ISLAND
The Protection Afforded Americans
by the Government.
uMBER OF SOLDIERS ON THE ISLAND
THE CONDITION OF FINANCES
Paper Money Issued by the Govern.
mental Dnnk I'm Havana Ia De-
prcciRtlns--rriccs High.

Atlanta. Ga. December 25.---J. l.. Nicoles.
a prominent business man OF this city. has
Just returned from Cuba, whore he has
been for some time on business. or the
situation in tho island Mir. Nicolcs gives
this account to the journal:
"The present population of Havana is
divided about as follows; Native Cubans.
white, 10000; native Cuhans. black. 10000;
native Cubans. mulatto, $4,000 Spanish,
civilians. $1,000; foreigners. 10000 making
n total of 2i5.0U0. Besides there are regu-
larry quartered soldiers averaging $4,000.
whil1 In the hospitals on December 10 were
li.S56 sick and wounded soldiers requiring
nifty three buildings for their accommoda-
ton. a continual demand Tor more room
Is being made upon the government OF
the inmates IL. I'D hospitals cniy 20 per
cent ave itom wounds caused in BATTLE
while the remaining SO per cen; are from
diseases peculiar to the country. But at
this season OF the year, considering the ex-
ccedinEly filthy state of the city and the
lack of sanitary efficiency, there Is COM
paratvey very little yellow fever and
smallpox. In the prisons. including Nor
70 and Cabanas, there are charged with
he city prisons under civil charges are
| 1875. OF the political offenders dfty-four
are native Americans, 263 naturali2ed citi-
zeus of the United states. and 15i citizens
| OF other foreign countries. while the re-
mainder arc Cubuns. or course there may
| be some little differences In these figures.
| which are estimated from actual numbers.
| However, my statistics are carefully gotten
! from the records of Spanish and Cuban au-
| thorities together with reports from the
| American consulate, besides the statements
of many So nish officers whom | inter-
| viewed.
The total number OF governmental
| troops IN the Island Is a25, 900 OF which
| fully 20, 900 are Spanish and Cuban volun-
| tees. residents OF the island, who have en-
| listel either as n protection to themselves
| or because they were requested to do 80
! by The authorities. and n refusal 20 enlist
means dsioyalty to Srnin, and punahment
| follows accordingly,
| THREE .SoLDIBRS TO ONE CIVILIAN.
ION the streets OF Havana one meets
| with three soldiers to every one civilian.
| Along the trocha west Of Havana that
| separates pinar del Rio from the province
Of Havana are stationed 900 soldiers In
order TO keep the insurgents In the noun
talns from crossing into Havana province.
| "Almosta daily la Lucia publishes in
teryiows with Captain General Weyler In
which he claims the paciioation Of Pinar
dol Rio is accomplished. At the same time
endorsements are continually sent to the
trocha and daily ,ranloads of sick and
wounded return to Havana.
| "a large portion OF Pinar del Rio Ia
: mountainous. and hidden In their wilds
are many scattering banda of insurgents
numbering from nifty to 500 each, In all an
estimated total of 1000. which constitutes
| Maceo's command.
Sometimes. though very seldom the
Spaniards will follow the insurgents into
the hills and then they Invariably gel
worstcd and are driven back 'tehlnd the
| trocha.
"rhc Spaniards record crueltles and at
| roci,les committed by the insurgents. and
| firmly believe In many Instances they are
correct, and would be more frequent were
II not for the strict account of their move
ments required by their leaders. But as
far as the work of devastation Is concern
ed, plantations not burnt by the insurgents
because the proprletors pay taxes to the
, patriotic army, are Immediately destroyed
or confiscatod by the Spainiards on ac-
count of assisting the rebels. and the
work of desolating goes on until eventu-
ally the entire island Will be a waste, aud