The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-06-23
Little Port on the South Coast
That Has Been Overlooked
by Blockaders,
And Through 1t Plenty of Provi-
sions Have Been Shipped to
the Capital. "
Mexican Theatrical Troupe Doing
Good Business - General
Health Good.

place on the 9th instant, arrived here
on his way to New York. His descrip-
ton of the situation in Havana at the
time he left contradicts widespread re-
ports of famine and suffering in that
city, and throws a new light on the ef-
fectiveness of the blockade, which. it
appears, fails in its purpose as far as
cutting off all means of supplies and
communication with the outside world
is concerned.
His story is entitled to full credence
and consideration, coming as it does
from one of the leading merchants of
Havana, a foreign resident, unbiased
in his views or sympathies. He re-
ports in the first place that Havana is
practically an open port, as 1t is not
blockaded on its southern approaches.
Batabano, on the south side, 40 miles
from Havana, with which city it IL
connected by rail. Batabano has never
been more than a shipping port and
headquarters for the sponge fisheries of
southern Cuba and landing place for
there connect with the northbound
trains for Havana.
Has Been Overlooked.
The water between Batabano and the
Isle Of Pines being very shallow, no
where exceeding 9 feet in depth, and
therefore inaccessible to any large
craft, has caused the Isle of Pines to be
overlooked as a possible entrepot or
base of supplies for Western Cuba, and
as point deserving of greater consid.
GRAFTON than that attaching to a fifth
rate and most mismanaged penal col
ony. 1t appears, however, that con.
slant traffic has been kept up between
the Isle of Pines and the Yucatan
coast, and that full cargoes of provi.
sions and livestock have been regularly
landed there from the four steamers
and other sailing vessels, unmolested
by American warships, which rarely
if ever patrol those waters.
The work of trans-shipping these
cargoes to Batabano on the fiat bot
toned ferry boats constantly plying be.
tween that port and Neuva Corona, the
principal port of the Isle of Pines, has
been an easy matter, as also their sub.
sequent transportation to Havana by
rail.
In the first four days of June, it is
asserted, over 800 head of cattle were
landed at Batabano, besides large guam.
titles of -four and grain. Not only are
the shipments not limited to supplies
h.
life, but our informant reports coal in
large quantities is also brought over.
This statement practically confirms the
reports that the Spanish government
has established large coal depots on
the Yucatan coast.
Stores to Last Six Months.
At the outbreak of hostiities it was
reported that Havana had sufficient re-
serve supplies in store to last six
months. Since then, it is asserted,
fresh shipments have been received by
way of Batabano; and the Isle of Pines,
far In excess of the consumption, so
that apparently, so far from suffering
from the evils attendant upon the
blockade, Havana has kept on in the
even tenor of an unruffied existence
with sufficient stores on hand to last
another half year.
A gay and cheerful note in these
warlike times is sounded by the an
nouncement that by way of this same
Progresso- Batabano route an intrepid
"compania de Zarzuela," or theatrical
troupe from Mexico, made it's
appearance in Havana and has
since been playing to full houses at the
Albisu theater, unmindful of the i'm.
pending fate that hangs over the
doomed city. The daily routine of life,
it is added, continues unaltered, ana
theater parties, dances and the usual
social diversions are INDUCED in as in
times Of peace.
Have Some Tobacco.
Considerable, fear, says the Havana
merchant. has been entertained as to
the tobacco crop. Following the usages
of warfare practiced by Span iards and
Cubans all along. it has been conf
IDENTITY expected that at least one.half
Of the Vuelta Abajo tobacco crop
would be ruined or set on fire in the
field, but much to the general surprise,
nearly the entire output Of the Vuelta
Abajo and Remidios districts have been
baled and stored in Havana ware
houses. One firm alone. it is alleged,
had 10, 300 bales of 1873 tobacco stored
in Havana on June !, valued at over
81, 500, 900.
General Health II Good,
The general health is reported by the
mefCbant to be particularly good, espe-
cially for this season of the year. and
he denies the reported ravages of gel
low fever and smallpox on the island.
He confirms the military activity mo-
ticed and recorded by the officers on
blockade duty. and considers Havana
today very strongly fortified.