Evening star., 1897-05-27
STARVATION AND MISERY
The Spectacle Presented to M. Calhoun
When He Visited Matansas.
Ruiz Inquiry to BE Soon Finished
Mr.. AtkiQs' Plantation Raided
-Distrfbuting Funds.

The latest advices from Mr.. Chas. M.
Pepper state that the palace authorities in
Havana are chagrined over Mr.. Calhoun's
visit to the reconcentrados at Matanzas
| without giving them notice. He went in
company with Consul General Lee and Con-
sui Brice. He saw settlements Of pacificos
at points between Havana and Matanzas,
| but his personal inspection was limited to
Matanzas. He was horrified by the spec
| tacle of starvation and misery which he
| witnessed. He declined to visit other places
that day where pacificos are herded, say
| ing that he had seen enough and that fur
ther investigation could add nothing to his
idea Of the situation.
He was satisfied that the reports of suffer-
ing caused by Weyler's concentration order
had not been exaggerated, and that the
American consuls in their reports to the
State Department had not overstated the
cases.
Mr.. Calhoun made special inquiry as to
whether any system Of issuing rations to
the reconcentrados had been adopted by
either the military or the civil authorities.
He was told that nothing had been done
for their relief
The number Of reconcentrados at Matan-
zas Is now 1000. which Is much smaller
than formerly. Many of them have been
sent into villages in the country.
While Mr.. Calhoun declared that the pa
cffco settlement at Matanzas was all he
wanted to see, 1t is possible that, since the
horror OF his first impression has worn Off
ne VIII visit two or three other places be-
fore returning to the United States
His opinion Of the Matanzas reconcentra-
dos and his description of the actual con-
dftions as he found them are already on the
way to washington. Distribution Of funds
to the distressed Americans has begun in
Matanzas and Sagua. Gen. Lee is securing
passage OF the Havana destitutes to New
York.
AtkfnRs noado5
The insurgents are making night raids
around Cienfuegos. with little opposition
from the Spanish troops. One night they
drove off 800 head of cattle which the
troops were guarding. The following
night they made a raid and took fifty cat
Tie from Atkins plantation and fifty from
an adjoining one. Atkins Is a Boston su-
gar planter, who is said to have gone to
Washington to convince President McKin-
ley that the insurrection was ended and
that Cuba, including the country around
Clenfuegos, was pacified. Information of
tnese raids came direct, and partial admis-
sion OF its truth is made at the palace,
The Ruiz Inquiry.
Consul General Lee and Mr. Calhoun
hope to finish the Ruiz inquiry this week.
Senor Congosta, who represents Spain. is
also anxious to end it. Mr.. Calhouns re-
quest for official records has been COM
piled with. and 1 am informed that the
records show that Ruiz's death occurred
just after the military authorities turned
mis- case over to the civil authorities. and
no proof had been brought forward which
1ustlned holding him for completely in
Arrangements attack On the train near On
anabacoa. 1t Is clearly established that
Ruiz was kept incommunicado for days af-
ter declaring his American citizenship and
demanding bis rights.
On the ether hand Spain is bringing a
volume Of evidence to disprove the charge
that Ruiz was i'll treated in prison, or that
ms death was due to a blow from the jail
er or other person. The Spaniards are
seeking to make out that epilepsy runs in
Huizs family, and that he may have died
during an attack of it. But there is no de-
mai OF his solitary confinement.
havana, ne says, is awaiting news frcm
SpaiE ana the United States. Nothing gets
by the censor except a few details of the
discussion in the cortes and hints of The
cabinet crisis at Madrid.
Weyler at Snncti Spiritus.
General Weyler rs at Sancti spiritus and
Is said to be keeping in the field in order
to be out of reach Of communications
from the ministry and demands for an
explanation of the failure of pacification,
He Is quarreling with his generals and
censuring their inactivity in the field.
Gen Suarez Inclan who was in command
In Plnar del Rio, has insisted that he be
PSA AhiieeSo ~ iCtuiu ~ OpdlH on account or
bad health, and he will leave soon. Gem
eral Arolas of trocha fame is still here in
active.
The autonomists are showing some life.
They profess to have information of
change in government policy and in the
conduct Of the war which will make con-
ciliation Of the insurgents easier The
proposition for Cuba to purchase independ-
ence IS secretly favored by some, though
public declaration of it cannot be made
General Weyler says that the reforms
will be promulgated whenever Madrid di-
rects. Mr.. Calhoun's refusal to encourage
suggestions that the United States guaran-
tee reforms has finally caused a communi-
cation to be made that McKinley's admin
istration will not be drawn into such a
policy.
Insurgent advices report General Gomez
not forty miles away from Weyler at
Sancti Spiritus. but he is not marching
westward.
Local guerrillas have won some skir-
mishes against the insurgents, but the
| latter's losses were small. At Dimas 800
insurgents surprised some guerrillas who
we're reconnoitering and routed them The
official account places the guerrilla loss at
| twelve killed. but the number was greater