Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-12-02
THEY DE LIKE SHEEP.
Death Reaping a Frightful Har.
vest Among the Cuban
Reconcentrados.
Many FALL DEAD IN THE GUTTER

Authorities Less Humane Than African
demic-CorPses the Food ofthe vultures,
Dogs and Hogs Rebels Capture and
Loot . village-Spanish Officials Report
Victory.
Havana. Dec. 2.-The deplorable con-
dition Of the country grows more and
more apparent. Refugees and reconcen-
trados are becoming more and more
miserable. According to reports from
San Domingo smallpox is making terri
BILE ravages among the reconcentrados.
Since April last more than 1000 have
died in the city alone. to say nothing of
the suburban towns which are likewise
infected. The local authorities take no
steps whatever to check the mortality.
The streets Of the city are thronged with
famine-stricken. wretched beings, who
succumb to disease under perhaps some
lonely portico, and sometimes fall dead
In the gutter, where they remain until
God only knows when. The correspond
ent of the Associated Press at San Do
mingO says that the worst African saw
ages are more humane than the local
authorities.
Corpses Arc Devourel by Beasts.
More than 200 smallpox cases are
known to exist. but no one is ever vac
cinated. Medical aid is very Scarce, and
the burial of these wretched beings is
most brutality effected. Often as many
as fifteen corpses are piled together in
a cart and then dumped together in a
hole, to be covered only with such little
earth that the first shower exposes the
dead, which are afterward devoured by
vultures. hogs and dogs. A few days
ago a cart en- route for the cemetery
broke down. The driver, unhitched his
horses and drove them away. and the
| dead were left there abandoned until the
following day. The Diario de la Marina
says that the reconcentradOs in the
Luino borough, Havana province, are
! faring comparatively well, owing to the
| generosity of q local merchant, Senior
| Noriega. who distributes food among
the needy.
Rebels Capture q Town Fully of Booty.
| The insurgent Generals Rabi and SAL
vador Ries pillaged the village of Guisa.
about fifteen miles from Bayamo. Their
artillery destroyed several block houses,
killing the military commander and one
lieutenant. The garrison after having
lost fifty soldiers killed and wounded
surrendered. The insurgents plundered
the stores, securing rich booty. two
months supplies, coed quantity OF
ammunition ard geo rifles. The Span
ish have sent reinforcements to retake
the town. 1t is persistently rumored
that Insurgent Leader Cuervo, who
started for the insurgent ranks to in
duce the followers of General Aran-
Gueren to surrender and who has not
returned. is believed to have been as
sassinated. A number of commission
ers who have been sent out by the
Spanish officers to confer with the in
surgents but have not returned have
been killed, it is feared.
| Position of Apezetguia.
The Marquis de Apezetguia. leader OF
the Spanish Conservative party. arrived
here yesterday. He was welcomed by
the central Conservative committee and
had long interview with Captain Gen.
leral Blanco. We says that the Conserva-
Tive party ought to stand by the gov
eminent in furthering the work Of pac.
ification, but he has not made any pub
lie declaration in favor of autonomy
I His position is that of the central Con
sentative committee, which recognizes
the necessity Of pacifying the island
but does not believe that autonomy i:
the best way Of bringing that result
about.