The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-07
STARVING.
Pitiable Condition
of CubanS.
Penned Up in MatanzaS
and Other Places.
Weyler'S Work of Extermina-
tiOl by Starvation.
Helpless Children Expire In the
Streets From Hunger.
Helpless Children Expire In the
Streets From Hunger.
A Touching Appeal For Help Sent to
People Of the United States.

New York, June IA special to the
Herald from Havana, Cuba, says: A
strong appeal on behalf of the starving
aud dying reconcentrados i'm Matarzas, who
excited pity in the hearts of Consul Gen.
eral Lee and Mr. Calhoun, has been made
TO the people Of the United States.
Since the United States government mas
begun measures for tho relief Of its citi-
zens in Matanzas, the desperate plight of
the Cuban reconcentrados there has re-
suited in petition, signed by 100 of
them, in which they beg in the name of
common huIr anity, that they may be in
cluded in tho charity
The petition Is headed "An appeal TO
the United States" 1t is now on its way
TO Washington. The principal part fol-
lows:
For some time past we have been con-
templating the ilea of appealing to your
charitable feelings for relief for those OF
our people who are bitterly suffering the
consequences Of "A most inhuman way of
waging war; The fear, however, that
our representations might be received as
passionate aud exaggerated has restrained
us from undertaking the task, but since
General Lee, Commissioner Calhoun, his
secretary, Mr.. Fishbnck, and Mr.. Alex
ander Brice, the Arserican consul of this
place, have seen with their own eyes, the
misery existing here we do not hesitate
any longer To speak TO you. IT. as is to
bo hoped, these gentlemen make their re-
port To the United States government Of
all they have seen, you will find full con-
firmation OF the statements we make
First and foremost let IL be said that
in unhappy Cuba we can do nothing to
help our suffering countrymen, the pacifi-
cos that have huddled in our cities. We
would be looked upon as traitors for so
doing, and as such we would be summar.ly
dealt with We must not feel for them,
we must be blind and deaf to their suffer-
ings and do nothing that can in any way
interfere with General Weylor's policy Of
determination
No Hope of Help From Spain.
We have to witness day after day, scenes
of horror which no language can describe,
and yet no voice can be lifted to protest
against them. To Spain we cannot apply
for succor. She Is we'll acquainted with
the present condition of affairs in Cuba,
and SO far not farthing has come to us
from her and yet we have sent her our
money freely whenever the Spanish people
have been in want and distress.
But what are we TO expect from Spain,
when her worthy representative General
Weyler indifferent, cold and deaf to our
misery, coolly says that his mission In
Cuba is not to look after the starving
population, but simply to end the war
| according To his own notiona
Vultures Feed on Corpses.
He has converted into deserts sections
of country where abundance once reigned,
| thousands of happy towns have been
looted and burned down by a savage sol.
! diery ashes and desolation meet the eye
wherever you look, and. people OF America
vultures feed on unburied corpses strewn
In the ruined fields.
! Upward of ten thousand of the victims
| of this savage system OF warfare have been
crowded into Matanzas without providing
! for their most natural wants; and after
/ they have been compelled TO abandon all
! they had in the world, they are seen in
crowds, from 8 o'clock In the day until
/ late at night, imploring charity.
Many child pcrishes in the streets un-
! able TO stand so many and such long con-
tinued privations Indeed, Ii looks Saslif
our graveyards had turned out their dead
| upon Us, such is the cadaverous look OF
/ the multitudes that frantically go about
| begging for morsel of bread and whose
only guilt is to have been born In Cuba.
An Appeal to Mothers.
IL is not possible TO give detailed ac-
| counts of tie misery that reigns supreme
here and in other cities and towns. lt 10
enough to state that the reconcentrados, or
pacifcoS, are living in huts erected in the
! outskirts of our cities. For reds they
| have the bare ground and on IL they eat,
| if they happen TO be relieved by some
charitable source. Tender, loving mothers
of America, to you. in particular, we ap-
peal i'm our humane undertaking. Think
that at your very doors there are mothers
who love as dearly as you love aud who
dav after day see their little ones perish
i'm our streets without piece OF rag to
cover their nakedpess.
! As for us, we cannot co our work
openly We have 10 beg for the means OF
feeding the hungry and clothing the
naked concealing ourselves and our names
I as If we were doing something wrong, and
we, therefore, hope that any relief that may
come will be entrusted to the American
| consuls. Very respectfully,
] 100 CITIZENS OF MA1ANXAS.