The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-11
SLOW WORK OF THE DIVERS
STILL SEARCHING FOR POSSIBLE
CHANCE TO RECOVER BODIES.
Conservatives Will Take Part in Au-
Economist Election, but Will Not
BE Active as Deputies.

NEW YORK, March 10.--A special to the
Evening World from Key West, Fla, says:
Among the passengers on the Olivette from
Havana to-day was Senator Proctor, of
Vermont, who has been making study of
Cuba and the Cubans. With him was Col.
M M. Parker, of Wash ngton. AS soon as
Senator Proctor had regis tered he sent up
his card to Admiral Sicard He was shown
to the admirals room, and was closeted
with him for two hours. The object of the
interview presumably is to deliver to the
admiral some messages from Commander
Converse, of the Montgomery Colonel
Parker said to an Evening World reporter:
1.-THE senator's trip to Cuba was merely
to satisfy himself as to the real merits of
the Cuban question. 1t has no political sig
nificance whatever. The famine, suffering
and awful restitution among the Ieconcen-
trados is something almost indescribable.
The alcalde of Matanzas told me that $1,000
persons had died of starvation in that city
during the last year, and that $500 had died
during February.
In a ward Of a hospital at Matanzas
there are a number of Cubans, most of
them sleeping on the floor. We spent a
half-hour at the hospital and during that
time three of the patients in that ward died.
General Blanco's order modifying Weyler' S
reconcentrado edict has not gone into effect,
but when it does / do not believe that it
will help matters any. Around every town
is trocha. Any citizen who walks outside
of it is liable to be shot by a Spanish sem
try. Blancos order permits them to go
outside the trocha for a few hours every
day, but does not remove the sentences, and
so long as they remain Cubans are not 60
ing to venture outside.
I'VE were just about to enter a hotel one
day with our party, in which were several
ladies' A group of Spanish officers were
standing at the door. AS we passed one Of
them said in Spanish: L should like to have
an order to kill these people,
Every American in Cuba is watched as
though he is a criminal. The Spaniards hate
u.s. and do not hesitate to say so.
Every one in Havana now knows that
the Maine was blown up. Spaniards no
longer deny it. They do not seem to be
very sad over it, either"
"Are we going to have war;"
''Wel, if we DON'T shall be surprised.
Colonel Parker said all the American con-
suls in Cuba are doing their best in the dis
tribution of relief supplies except Consul
Magyar, at Cienfuegos, who, the colonel
said denied that there was much suffering
and who seemed to be in sympathy with
the Spaniards.
Senator Proctor, after what he calls "a
most profitable two weeks in Cuba" said:
81 have not had an easy time. I have seen
all, from the highest general and the rich
est merchant to the neediest reconcentrado
and the humblest pacifico-bankers, officials
and others. I have visited the military
prison, hospitals relief depots, asylums,
guardhouses, trochas, farms, offices and
homes. 1 have been in four provinces
Havana, Pinar del Rio, Matanzas and
Santa Clara-and in the principal cities of
each. 1 am of an observant turn of mind,
and kept my eyes open.
Il have found out what I could not have
learned without a personal visit, while
have not to my knowledge, antagonized a.
single person on the island. My trips with
Miss Barton have been of great service be-
cause. when the minds of people are mel
lowed by gratitude, their hearts speak out
the truth AS business man 1 wish to
say that Miss Barton's methods of receiv-
ing, caring for and distributing the supplies
are most admirable. l am surprised at her
ability and delighted at the results at
tanned. The American people may be fully
confident that all money or supplies sent
will be conscientiously applied. Could they
see, as 1 have seen, the suffering, starva-
ton and death, they would, as Whittier
says, pour forth wine and OIL"