The San Francisco call., 1898-05-21
STRIVING TO
 LEAVE CUBA FeVeriSh Desire of Many
 to Escape. FIVE THOUSAND ARE BOOKED. POOR FAMILIES TRYING TO BoR-
 ROW MEANS.
It Is Reported That Santa Cruz de Sur Has Fallen Into the Hands
 of the Insurgents.
Special Dispatch to The Call

HAVANA, May g (via Vera Cruz, May 13).-The weight of the blockade is beginning to be felt here. Business is almost at a complete standstill, and there is hardly any movement in the streets. which have a sort of holiday appearance. The parks are almost de- serted, and there are very few people
 Q be seen on the Plaza des Arms at night, although the band plays there, md everything possible is done to keep ID the spirits of the people.
 There is a feverish desire to leave the
 sland. and over 5000 people are booked
 the office of the consignees of the
 rench steamer Lafayette, which leaves nere to-day for Vera Cruz, Mexico. with this letter, which will be posted at that port. In fact, an actual panic now prevails, while, when the blockade commenced, there was a feeling almost of serenity among all classes. But things have changed. The grim earn estness of the Americans is steadily forcing itself upon the minds of even the most hot-headed Spanish officers, though the latter are working vigor- ously at the Notifications, which have been considerably strengthened and improved since the war began. The Spaniards, it must be admitted, are preparing to fight as desperately as possible under the circumstances.
 Many families without means, desir- ing to eInigrate, are endeaVortng to borrow money from more fortunate people in order to pay their passage. But it is impossible to see how their condition will be improved to any con- siderable extent, even if they do suc- ceed in leaving the blockaded city, for they have been rendered penniless and their chance of earning a livelihood in any foreign country is very slim.
 There is considerable feeling against the men who are desirous of leaving the city, and posted on the corners of houses all over the town you can see such notices as follows: Here are sold women's skirts for men who are aban doning the island of Cuba"
 There has been no disorder in the city or in the provinces, so far as is known, though it is true people here are en- tirely ignorant of what is tranSpiring at Santiago, no mail having been re- ceived from there for some time past and the cable being in the hands of the Government and almost exclusively devoted to military operations, which are about limited to evacuating the in- terior towns and concentrating the Spanish forces at or about the large cities.
 It is reported here that Santa Cruz del Sur, on the south coast of Puerto Principe, has fallen into the hands of the insurgents. If this is the case the latter now have a port at which their friends can land arms, ammunition and supplies without interference Other important events are said to have transpired at Santa Cruz del Sur The officers of the Spanish gunboat Cuba Espanola have reached Sancti Spiritus. province of Santa Clara, by land and are on their way to Tunas, and from there by coasting steamer to Cienfuegos. One report has 1t that the commander of the Cuba Espanola burned or blew up his vessel in order to save it from falling into the hands of the insurgents. Another version of the affair says the gunboat may have been captured by the insurgents.