Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-01-30
UNHAPPY CUBA.
Gen. Gomez Said to Be Near Death
from Consumption.
REFUGEES FLOCEIyC INTO HAVANA.
ProvIalons Going Up In tuba's Capital and
All business at u standstill-All
Eyes Turning Toward the
United States

HAVANA, Jan. 25.-For some time
past reports have been in circulation
here concerning the physical condition
Of Gen. Maxine Gomez, commander.in.
chief OF the insurgent forces. One
story has asserted that he was suffer-
ing from wounds and that he was seri-
ously i'll with fever. 1t appears from
information derived from trustworthy
sources that neither OF these reports
are correct, but it is positively ASSERT
ed that the insurgent chief Is very
sick man. 1t is stated upon the al.
thority cited that the doctors In at.
tendance upon Gen. Gomez recently
held consultation and diagnosed his
case as being an advanced stage Of
consumption, complicated with fever.
1t is further stated that the physicians
have come to the conclusion that Co
mez can only live about two months
longer These statements have caused
considerable alarm among the insur.
gents and their friends, as, even though
his condition may be exaggerated to
some degree, it is believed the main
facts are correctly stated.
Besides, according to the reports
from the front, he Is being sharply
pushed by the Spanish troops, and Is
getting little or no rest now, day or
night. The effect is that his move
ments can now be marked by trail Of
tired out or lame horses which the In
surgent leave behind them. The
opinion is expressed here that the In.
surgents are in desperate straits, and
that for Gomez everything now de-
ponds upon the safe arrival in the prov.
ince Of Havana of the eastern, or sec.
ond army of insurgents, under Gen.
Jose Macco and Rabi.
The authorities now have to face Q
serious problem here. The prices Of all
kinds of provisions are going up
rapidly every day, In spite Of this,
people are tlocking into Havana from
the country districts and other prov
inces and in many cases the refugees
are people who have lost almost every
thing they possessed and great num-
Der of them, here and elsewhere, are
depending upon charity. The cost Of
the war has been enormous, and the
drain created by provisioning the army
has been very great. There Is a large
and ever increasing exodus Of planters
and others from this city, hundreds
leaving by every ship bound for the
United States, Jamaica, Haytior South
American ports. The increase Of crime
in all the provinces Is said to DO
enormous. Business is almost at
standstill and commerce is practical
ly thing Of the past There is no
longer any talk of settling the insur-
rection by crushing blow, and al
THOUGH the advent of Gen. Weyler is
looked forward to as likely to be the
signal for more active operations
against the insurgents, the feeling
grows that the struggle is most ex-
haustng one for all concerned, and
that much more blood and treasure
must be expended by Spain If the in
surrection is to he quelled by force Of
arms. Under these circumstances, it
is not astonishing that feeling in ia
vor of some compromise arrangement
is growing and all eyes are turning to-
ward the United States as likely to be
the great factor in bringing peace and
prosperity once more to unhappy Cuba.