The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-24

| relief unless they can have the benefit
| OF regular treatment in hospitals. AS
| IL is, they are dying in the streets for
want of food.
According to statistics gathered from
the best official sources the number AZ
deaths in the province of Natanzas
from starvation is 59,000 and the num-
Der or starving people at present in
the province is estimated at 9S 600 ont
OF a totai population of 253.616 i'm De-
eemoer, 1881, and the number of starv-
Ing people is rapidly increasing.
In the city of Matanzas alone there
nave been about 1l.n00 deaths during
the past year and the number is in
creaslng daily, The death rate. at
present, averages A per day, as shown
~ the reports from the cemetery. The
increase in the death rate is due to the
fact that the distress is no longer CON
hned to the laboring class. most of
whom have already perished. 1t is now
extended to the people who before the
war We're in moderately comfortable
circumstances. Those now begging in
the streets We're in large part weli-to-
do people or children of the welltn-do
In addition, the citizens of the city of
Matanzas themselves are begging for
the actual necessities of life having
eAiausteu tnelr resources in supplying
lhe neeus OF the laboring class who
nave been quartered upon them.
Inc cltlzens or Matanzas have an or
gahlzed system of relief for the stary- |
ing people, but 1t is entirely Inadequate
ana Is daily becoming more glarinely |
SO for the resources of those who wera
well-to-do are rapidly diminishing
Whlle the demand for food is constantly
increasing AT one of the stations the |
board of officers found 100 starving |
TINS being the actual number of peonle /
lor Wnlcn the citizens had been able to /
provide relief there. Pans of rice and /
lsh were arranged in rows ready for |
ulstrloution among the people who were
waiting In another part of the house
but inns relief does not begin to supply
feIef for the 1900 people who are
? ata. WIG IN tne streets for three times
d DAY at each place. and then to only
ABOUT 100 at time. Consequently only
about 900 of the destitute people receive
food in a day
IL should be added that a large num-
per OF the citizens of Matanzas have
ied the starving in the streets i'm front
OF their own homes but the eitizens
themselves are feeling the pinch and
pFlVatlon ana unless assistance soon
comes to them. they will be compelled
IN self-protection to cease the work of
charity.
The only other public relief al Ma
anzas is that given to the sick chill
ifen Dy the management of the emer-
sency hospital, which is under the di
ectlon of the volunteer fire department
i Matanzas. There about so children
ire treated daily and are furnished
With nourishment under the direction
# the city physician
lHese statements are the conclusions
acts and figures arrived at py a board
! United States naval officers When
ne United states naval officers landed
ney were constantly followed by clam
ring crowds of starving men. women
.nu chlldren. who importuned them in
ne most heart -rending manner for n
title food. for the want of which they ,
Fere slowly dying.
The United States consul at Matan
as has done everything possible under ,
ne circumstances, but when the Mont
omefy ieft there in the first days of ,
'eDruary the consul had only enough !
auons remaining to last about two ,
'eeks, after which the fund appropri
ted by congress would have been ex-
austeu, and then the sufferers of Ma
inzaS would include the American
tizens at that place who have hitb :
ITO received relief through the United !
tates consulate. At that time the :
onsul had received a petition signed !
Y the American citizens OF Matanzas Z
'tting forth in detail the need in which
ley stood of immediate relief from the !
angers of starvation. :
50 far as the board of officers OF the
could ascertain, Matan- 2
Is at that time needed a supply of Y
'od for $4,000 people for at least one II
onth, in addition to supplies of con- q
,nsed milk for invalds and medicines $
all kinds. The people of Matanzas
e also in urgent need of clothing. G
ost of them being in filthy rags. h
The Spanish authorities, II may be e
ID IN conclusion, have rendered all is
e assistance which it seems possible o
r them to provide. On two occasions a
ey have given 100000 to the fund for "
e destitute. but SO far as the board p
uld learn this was all the government it
as IN a position to contribute to the c,
llei ei the lAo00 starving. dying peo-
2 in the streets of Matanzas. r