The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-18
SUFFERING IN HAVANA
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE SLOWLY
STARVING TO DEATH.
Municipal Authorities Doing Nothing
to Relieve the Distress-BIancO
and ArOlas at Outs.

HAVANA, via Key West, Sept 17-As
predicted, the streets anG places have again
become crowded with beggars since the
closing of the soup kitchens. Nothing could
be more ridiculous than the statement of
Civil Governor Fernandez de Castro that
want and distress have disappeared. The
reasons which caused the opening of tie
kitchens during the blockade still obtain in
the same degree, and the beggars are no
better off to-day than they were then. The
raising of the blockade did not have the
effect of reducing the prices, which con-
tinue prohibitive for the poor. In fact,
there is almost a total lack of food, cloth
ing and medicine. Hundreds of children
mere skeletons, and hellow-eyed colorless,
naked men and women are dying by inches
from disease and hunger, forgotten by ALL
The municipal authorities are doing abso-
lutely nothing to remedy the evil. Commits
sions composed of ladies are visiting every
store and business house. collecting relief
supplies and medicine for the Cuban troops,
but the collections are far short of the ac-
tual requirements The Spaniards have con-
tributed generously, even the most rabid Of
the Conservatives.
The condition of the Spanish troops is
hardly better in the country. The average
death rate among the Spanish soldiers was
one hundred daily during the first fortnight
of the present month. The principal causes
of death We're malaria and dysentery caused
by the lack of food and bad quality OF that
outaInable. The steamer Chateau Latitte
leIt on Friday for Spain with 1000 sick SOL
dlers on board. All the outgoing steamers
bound for Spain are full OF sick and
Wretched locking soldiers. Army officers and
their families are leaving in great numbers.
General Blanco has been sick in BED since
yesterday, suffering from collie.
1t is learned on authority of an official
source that, when the American eyacua-
tion commissioners arrived on the steamer
ReSclute, General Blanco decided to- appoint
an officer to represent him in receiving the
commission, refusing to receive the commits
soners in person. General Parade, second
in command IN Cuba, and General Solano ar
gued with him whole day, pointing out
that such action would be a direct aIront !;
that the commission, composed of two gen.
erals and one admiral, representing the
United States government, had come here in
pursuance of an agreement with the gov
eminent at Madrid, that he was personally
expected to receive the commissioners and
that a refusal on his part to do so could
only be regarded as a slight. General Blan-
co was finally brought TO reason and per-
suaded to receive the commission in person,
doing SO in full dress uniform.
1t is ali open secret that Captain General
Blanco and Military Governor Aroias are at
daggerS drawn, General ArolaS never go
ing near the palace unless there are urgent
oincial demands for his presence. Last
night the performance was to have been
given at the TacOn Theater for the benefit
of the Cuban soldiers All the seats had
been sold and great crowds of Cuban SYM
pathizers were expected to be present.
General BlancO had given permission tor the
performance to take place, but on Thurs
day General ArolaS went to the palace and
had stormy interview with the captain
general criticiSing in strong language his
weakness in permitting such a gathering.
He protested against allowing the perform
ance to take place, declaring that he. as mil
preservation of order in the city, and adding
that if the captain general persisted in his
intention of allowing the performance to be
held he would then and there present his
resignation as military governor. There
was an extremely stormy scene between the
two officials in which the tactful General
orders were issued for the suspension of the
performance. General Arolas was persuaded
to withdraw his resignation.
Reports from Matanzas state that dread
full conditions prevail there. The poor are
dying in the public streets and highways at
an average of four or five daily. Besides
the twenty. seven unburied bodies before re-
rorted, the bodies of four men and women
who have died from starvation were found
in the streets. One child, almost dead from
hunger, was found close to the wall or I'll
Oriente foundry. This condition of things
in the neighboring seaport town demands
instant attention.
Advices from other towns in the interior
and on the coast report that distress and
want prevail principally among the Cuban
troops, who are camDed on the outskirts.
Caibarien is apparently the worst on Cal
BARREN is the port which General Gomez. in
a communication to General Wade, asked
should be first evacuated in order to estab-
lish Cuban base of supplies, In order TO
minister to the wants of the troops in the
field.
1t is reported that on the 18th inst. Skin
mish took place near Madruga IN the prov
ince OF Matanzas, between Cuban and Span
ish forces The Cubans lost one officer
killed and two men wounded. One OF the
Cubans was taken prisoner and carried 10
Matanzas by the civil guard, where he was
turned over to the military authorities.