The sun., 1897-12-06
RATAGEs OF CUBAN FAMINE.
60. 900 Persons Die in Nzatanzas Province In
Ten Months.

Ton Months.
HAVANA, Dec. 2.-According to tho offlcial
sta tement of tho Spanish Statistical Bureau,
tho number Of deaths in tho city of Matanzas
during tho last ten months is 5186. This o.
Innate only comprises the city, without its
suburbs. Matanzas has only about 10000 In
habitants, and this rate of mortality is ap-
paling. In the whole province of Matanzas
tho number Of deaths during the Same period
has boon about 10000. including the pacifcos.
Many towns have entirely disappeared.
In Pinar del Rio province tho number Of Or
phans. huddled together in tho courtyards Of
the several police stations and other places and
many Of than employed as slaves by the Span
ish officers and their families, is 1900. The
parents Of these children were alive whom
famine began to spread in tho province, and
most Of them belonged to families composed of
at least four adult persons. In Pinar del Rio
It Is estimated that $4,000 persons have bean
the victims Of famine.
Havana has not been moro fortunate than
tho western province In the very capital Of
Cuba hundreds Of cases Of death from starva-
tion have been reported to THE SUN in the
months of September, October, and November.
The situation has not improved in any re-
spect Gen. Blanco's order for the distribu-
ton Of 100000 in Spanish silver (about
succor to all tho starving people on the island.
Tho relief juntas Of Pinar del Rio, Matanzas,
Santa Clara Puerto Principe and Santiago do
Cuba have already disbursed this money
Havana has been left without any relief Tho
general poverty here is SO great that charita-
BILE institutions can do very little for the poor;
and now. with Gen. Blancos refusal to accept
aid from abroad, tho hope that victuals and
money would como from foreign countries 10
blasted. Weyler began to exterminate tho
Cuban population, and Blanco. posing as moro
merciful man. is doing tho least he can possi-
bly, do to prevent tho end aimed at by his pred.
ecessor. 1t is no exaggeration, no newspaper
sensatonalsm, to say that two years moro of
this awful mortality would wipe out the enti TO
population of Cuba and Weyler would have
reason to be satisfied with the results Of his
plans.
Tho reports from Santiago do Cuba city say
that the Spaniards there rejoice over the NOR
tality rs the stanchest supporters Of the ex-
termination policy here have not dared to do
An article published in Madrid by the Carlist
newspaper, El Correo Espanol, and signed by
Don Juan Vazquez do Mella. has: been repro.
duced in Santiago de Cuba in a manifesto In
dorsed by many Of these SpaniardB. Don Mella
not only approves Of what Weyler did. but In
suits the American people because public opin-
Ion In tho United states ls In sympathy with
tho patriots. He believes Weyler and his army
capable Of conquering the United States and
Furnishing American insolenco." Most Span
iards really do not know what vast and popu-
lous country the United States is.
The Cubans residing In Havana city have
sent tho following to the new President of tho
republic of Cuba, Senior Bartolom6 Maso:
"We live here, under the Spanish yoke un.
able to take arms with the patriots in the cid
or to emigrate. We arc old. or too poor. and
have to support largo families. Thousands of
us are women, who are moro burden than
q help In time of war. But mere we aslo work
for our country. We suffered dire days Of
persecution under Woyler, and We arc working
for tho patriots under the watchful eyes of the
Spanish police. We give our money for the pa
triot cause. w send to our brethren in tho field
arms. ammunition, clothing. and medicines.
Scores of us have suffered cruel 'tortuyes Of ex-
ile in Africa and many among us have been
DRIVEN from their homes and murdered In the
night.
eve have also right to sond you our congrst-
ulations and to declare that we will work until
the last for tho absolute independence of Cuba
from Spain. This is the great programme of
our ancestors and our only hope"
Tho document was signed by 5000 persons
and was sent yesterday to Maso by . special
envoy.