Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-07-08
THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES HAVE
LEFT SANTIAGO.
ARE DESTITUTE AND STARVING
BETWEEN 12.OOO AND $1,000 ARE
NOW AT Ell CANEY.
Rich and Poor, Black and White Hud-
died Together in Helpless. Al
most Hopeless, Misery-Ciara
Barton Helping Them
Little.
lcorrespondenee OF the Associated Press.l

Correspondence of the Associated Press)
Ell CANEY, NEAR SANTIAGO DE Gu
BA, July s, p. m.-Between 1900 and
1900 innocent victims of the war have
fled here in wild panic to escape the terrors
of the threatened bombardment of Santiago
and they are now confronted by the hor-
rors of starvation. In their helpless con-
fusion they are appealing to General Shaf-
ter for succor. Most of them are foreign
ers, principally French, or with a mixture
of foreign blood, and their interests are
being looked after by their consuls.
When they were informed yesterday that
General Toral refused to consider the ques-
ton of surrendering they swarmed out of
the north gate of the city all day, and
trudged through the blazing sun over the
road, which, in places, was ankle deep IN
mud. Tottering old men and women were
supported by children, and mothers with
babes at their breasts struggled on toward
Ell Caney, San Luis and other towns. Most
of them came here last night and over
5000 slept in the village, which, under ordin-
ary circumstances, hardly accommodated
800 people. They were crowded together
in the houses, upon the verandas and in
the streets. At daylight, those who had
been overtaken by darkness on the way
side began to pour in, and at this hour,
they are still coming. Already more than
1900 are here.
They were not allowed to bring food with
them, and tlrose who have money are as
destitute as those who are without. Rich
and poor, cultured and ignorant, white and
black, are huddled together, choking the
passage ways between the houses, all with
gaunt despair written on their counten-
ances. The ignorant desire only to be fed.
and the cultured want to get away, any
where. anyhow. away from the war which
has driven them from their homes.
Pathetic sights are witnessed on all sides.
There are women of good birth and edu-
cation, supported by frail girls who hide
their faces from the vulgar gaze of the
others who surge about them. In the eyes
of both mothers and daughters is the
haunted look which wild animals have
when driven to bay.
General Shafter explained to the consuls
yesterday the impossibility of caring for
these poor people out of the army supplies,
but he did spare some rations. which were
given out with sparing hands last night to
the women and the feeble old men.
To-day Miss Clara Barton and Mr.. George
Keenan,. of the Red Cross Society, offered
TO provide 5000 rations if General Shafter
would transport them. After consultation
agreed to do so. The first pack train arriv-
ed at 2 o'clock in the afternoon and was
unloaded in the village square amid the
clamoring cries of thousands.
The better class held back, while the
ignorant, especially the negresses, pressed
forward frantically appealing for bread.
Captain Finlay, who commands the gar
rison in town, saw to it that enough food
was reserved to supply those whose dclicacy
and good breeding restrained them from
begging. Many of the better classes have
offered to pay almost any price for trans
ports to Juragua and thence to go by our
transports to some foreign port. 1t ap-
pears likely that some arrangements can
be made to get them out of the country.
A few of the best Spanish families came
to FL Caney, but many preferred to share
the fortunes of war, while others went
northward TO San Luis and other places
where they have villas and estates
Among those at Ell Caney are some young
lad1es-and for that matter some old ladies'
remarkable for beauty, with classic feat
ures. large dark eyes and rich olive COM
plexions. They would attract attention
anywhere. They wear white wells over their
heads, holding these partly over the face
thereby adding to. rather than detracting
from, their charms
1t is probable that all except some of
the younger men VINO fled with the women
and children will be given something to
eat before night. but how long this relief
can be extended is problematical. Many, of
course, will be driven to the woods and be
forced to subsist on mangoes and other
fruits.
Quite number of the Spanish volunteers
who came out with the refugees and who
at first were allowed their liberty are be-
ing gathered up and placed under surveil-
lance. While it is known that most of
them welcomed the opportunity to escape,
it is feared that some may be spies. 1t has
been learned from the refugees that there
was a regular mutiny among the volunteers
in Santiago the day after the fighting be-
gan. The volunteers were loud in their de-
mands that the city should be surren-
dered.
1t was also learned from the same
sources that Admiral Cervera was prac-
tically goaded into making his desperate
effort to escape from the harbor. Both he
ana his sailors were assailed towards
for not fighting the Yankees. Some ma
rines We're assaulted in the street. The
night after the fleet was destroyed. the
cruiser Reina Mercedes was sunk across
the entrance to the harbor-or an attempt
was made to sink her thereto prevent
the American warships going in.
Mr. Ramsden, the British consul. when
asked by the Associated Press correspond
ent whether the Spanish general would
continue to resist, replied: "Of course he
will. Toral will fight till he dies" Diff
ferent stories. however are told about the
temper of the Spanish soldiers. One con-
SUI who declined to allow his name OF
nationality to be given. said that, so strong
was the desire to yield among the rank
and file, that there We're open talks of
assassination of General Toral
General Blanco telegraphed General Toral
from Havana:
THE Spaniard dies. but never surren-
ders." paraphrasing the historic cry of Ma
poleon's imperial guard. This statement
is confirmed by the French cable reporters,
who have left Santiago They told the
writer of this dispatch that the cable was
still working to Jamaica, and that they
connected it with the cable to Havana be-
fore leaving. This still gives General Blan-
co communication with Madrid, but cuts
out Santiago.
The desperate character of General Tor.
ais determination to continue the strug-
gle Is apparent when it is known-and this
information is among the most reliable
| that has come out of the beleaguered city
that the Spanish soldiers have less than
a days ammunition remaining. Had as
sault all along the line been pushed on
the second day of the fighting last week.
as was contemplated the night before, it
is probable that Santiago would now be
ours.
lack of ammunition places time limit
at least upon the enemy's ability to hold
out. This lack applies to artillery and siege
guns as we'll as to small arms. 1t is learned
that the siege guns in the Lunette are