The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-05-26
CAPITAL OF CUBA.
rhe First Real News From Havana Since
the Blockade by the United States
Was Commenced.

HAVANA, May Q, via Vera Cruz, Mex,
May 13.-The weight of the blockade
is beginning to be felt here. Business
Is almost at q 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
to be seen on the plaza de Armas at
night, although the band plays there
and everything possible is done to
keep up the spirits of the people.
There is q feverish desire to leave
the island, and over 8. 900 people booked
at the office of the consignees of the
French steamer Lafayette, which
leaves here to-day for Vera Cruz, Mex,
with this letter which will be posted
ut 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 Span.
ish officers, though the latter are
working vigorously at the forti.
| fcations, which have been considera.
bly, 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 are
striving to emigrate, trying to borrow
money from more fortunate people in
order to be able to pay their passage
money. But it is hard to see how
their condition will be improved to
any great extent even if they do sue.
ceed in leaving the blockaded city, for
| they have been rendered penniless
and their chances of earning a liveli.
hood in a foreign country is very slim.
There is considerable feeling against
the men who are desirous of leaving
houses all over the town you can see
such notices as the following:
Here are sold women's shirts for
the men who are abandoning the is.
land of Cuba"
There has been no disorder in this
city or in the provinces. so far as
known, though it is true people here
are entirely ignorant of what is trans
piring at Santiago, no mail having
been received from there for some
time past and the cable being in the
hands of the government and almost
exclusively devoted to further the
military operations, which are about
limited to evacuating the interior
towns and concentrating the Spanish
forces at or about the large cities.
1t is reported here that Santa Cruz
del Sur, on the south coast of the prov.
ince of Puerto Principe, has fallen
into the hands of the insurgents. II
this is the case the latter now have q
port at which their friends can land
arms, ammunition and supplies with
out interference.
Although the prices of provisions
here are very high. it is calculated
that there is food enough obtainable
to last about five good months, because
it is claimed, considera BILE stores were
laid in before the blockade, and NJ
provisions are allowed to be sent from
here to the interior towns
Eggs cost ten cents EACH A glass O.
milk costs from 20 to 25 cent?
and the size of the loaf of bread hal
been reduced one-half. This, how
ever, was done before the blockade
began. There are thousands o.
men from the cigar, tobacco ant
other factories out of worl
and the authorities are employ
ing as many of them as possible on tn,
Notifications. The wharves are entire
ly cleared of merchandise, not a box
barrel or sack being seen, and there
the idle people congregate and enjoy
the fresh air while talking over th'
war. The number of men idle is
matter which causes the authorities
considerable anxiety. Up to the pres
ent they have been provided with foot
In one way or another, mainly by theil
former employers being compelled t.
contribute toward their maintenance
but the time must come when thes'
men will feel the pangs of hunger ant
then rioting is sure to follow.