The San Francisco call., 1898-03-11

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 KEY WEST, Fla, March 10.-Sena- tor Proctor and his companion, NJ. M. Parker of Washington, both of whom returned yesterday from an extended trip in Cuba, leave Key West for Washington tonight. Senator Proctor said he had a good time and a good opportunity to see the condition of affairs in the island. He visited the provinces of Pinar del Rio, Matanzas and Santa Clara.
 Of the condition of the people MT. Proctor said he could add nothing to what was already known of their suf- fering and starvation. He had been gratified to find relief supplies being distributed in a way to do the most good and at a very small cost He spoke in high terms of the energy and ability of Mir Elwell, the agent of the Cuban Relief Commission, and of the work of Miss Clara Barton. MT. Proc tor added that while not himself specialist in charitable work, he had been much interested in the way the supplies sent from America are being distributed, and that he had been inn pressed with the efficient manner in
 
 He said many courtesies had been shown him by the Spanish officials, and among them he had not observed any marked anti-American feeling.
 MT. Parker was more outspoken in referring to the condition of the starv ing Cubans. Not half the horrors of that land, he said, had ever been told. In Matanzas he had been officially in
 
 tion during the last three months. Wis iting the place where some reconcen- trados were herded he saw three die during the few minutes he was there.
 He found the same condition exist ing in other parts of the island. No efforts whatever he said were made by the Spanish Government to feed the reconcentrados. The Government had herded them in cities and towns and left them to subsist on charity or starve. HosI ital wards are over crowded. he says, with these wretched people, while houses, parks and boule- yards swarm with others in equally desperate straits. The dead, who are too numerous to receive prompt and proper burial, are strewn everywhere. 1 The whole picture of ghastliness is be- yond the imagination, and renders the crime of concentration the crowning shame of the nineteenth century.
 Referring to the resignation of Con- sul Barker of Sagua, MT. Parker said he thought it was the outcome of an apparent lack of appreciation and sup port of Mir. Barker's representations and appeals by the authorities at Washington in behalf of the starving CubanS No conception of its enoTmity was possible except by being constant ly besieged by these people, begging for sustenance for themselves and their L,1 J,l being gradually undermined by the dis tress that surrounded him.
 Both Senator Proctor and MT. Par ker paid the highest tribute to the patriotism and abnegation of Consul Barker, who, they declared, was a most excellent representative of the Ameri can Government. They said they had best of reasons to believe his reSigna tion had been withdrawn.
 They gave a most graphic and anus ing description of the skirmish between a company of Spanish cavalry and a handful of insurgents which took place while they were on train near Matan- 1 gas, and which was undoubtedly pre- pared for their especial benefit. Before reaching the station they noticed that the telegraph wires had been cut and some slight Instructions placed on the track to impede their progress. On a l hill in the distance they could see the l silhouettes of a dozen Cuban insur- | gents outlined against the sky In the 1 valley the Spanish cavalry had started toward them, but they were brought to sudden halt by bullets from the | enemy.
 The distance was too great to hear the shots, but the smoke from the Gu bans rifles gave warning of what was | taking place. The Spaniards halted l and formed 6 hollow square, while the | officers sought safety behind some con- | venient trees. Meanwhile the insur- gents called for a truce and withdrew into the dense woods, and the Span | iards returned to the station in time to | meet the train and receive the con- gratulations of the commander of the | district All this byplay struck Sena- | tor Proctor as most amusing war tac- tics.
 An old Confederate war veteran who accompanied the party asked the Spanish officer in command why he had | not given chase to the insurgents, as | there were not more than a dozen of them. His reply was characteristic. | He said there were more than thou sand behind the hills. The story is told that each member of that cavalry troop | has already received a medal in com memoration of his bravery in the bat tie.