The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-21
Havana Gets Supplies to Sumptu=
BUSINESS BY Way of Batabano
and the South.
SHIPPED FROM YUCATAN
Mexican Theater Company Puts the Fringe to a
General Good Time For the City-COuld
Go on This Way For Years

Key West, Fla. June 15.-(Correspond-
ence of the Associated Press.)-A promi-
nent resident Of Havana, who left that
place the 5th instant, arrived here yester-
day on his way to New York.
His description of the situation in Ha-
--vana coniradicts widespread reports Of
famine in that city and throws new light
on the effectiveness of the blockade which,
81 appears, fails in its purpose as far as
far d scouting off all means of supplies
and communication win he outside worli
is concet aCd.
His story is entitled to full credence and
consideration, coming as il does from one
of the leading merchants of Havana, a
foreign resident unbiased in MS views or
sympathies. He reports, in the first place,
thar Havana is practically an open port,
a. it Is not obstructed on its southern ap-
proach. Batabano. on the south SIDE, is
only forty miles from Havana, with which
city It is connected by rail. BatabanO has
never been more than a shipping point and
headquarters for the sponge fishers OF
southern Cuba and a landing place for the
Isle Of Pines ferryboats, which they con-
meet with the northbound trains for Ha-
vena.
The water between Batabano and the
Isle of Pines being very shallow, nowhere
exceeding nine feet in depth, and there
fore inaccessible to any large craft, has
caused the Isle Of Pines TO be overlooked
as an entrepot or base of supplies for
western Cuba and as point deserving
of greater consideration than thSt at
Taching 10 a fifth rate and much mis-man-
aged penal colony.
Il now appear. however, that constant
traffic has been kept up between the Isle
of Pines and the YUcatan coast and that
ful cargoes Of provisions and livestock
have been regularly landed there from
steamers. schooners and other sailing YES
sells unmolested by American warships,
which rarely if ever patrol these waters.
The work Of trans-shipping these car
goes to Batabano on the first fiat bottom
ferryboats constantly plying between that
port and Nueva Guerona the principal
port of the Isle Of Pines has been an
easy matter, as also their subsequent
transportation to Havana by rail.
In the first four days of June, it is as
serted. over 500 head of cattle were land
ed at Ba-abanO, besides large quantities
of -four and grain. Not only are the
shipments not limited TO supplies of pro-
visions and the necessaries of 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.
At the outbreak Of hostilities it was re-
ported that Havana had sufficient supplies
In store to last six months. Since then.
1t is asserted, fresh shipments have been
received by way of Bata5ano and the
Isle of Pines far in excess of the con-
sumption, so apparently so far from suf-
fering from the evils attendant upon the
blockade, Havana has kept on in the even
tenor of unruffied existence with sufi-
cient stores on hand to last another half
year.
A gay and cheerful note in these war
like times is sounded by the announce !
ment that, by way of this same pro-
Batabano route an intrepid "companie /
Zarzuela" or theatrical troupe from Mex |
leo made its appearance in Havana and /
has since been playing TO full houses at /
the Alhizu theater, unmindful of the i'm /
pending fate that hangs over the doomed .
city. The daily routine Of life, it is add |
ed. continues unaltered and theater par /
ties. dances and the usual social diversions
are INDUCED as in times of peace. Con-
siderable fear. says the Havana merchant,
mas been entertained as 20 the tobacco
crop. Following the usaEes Of warfare
practiccd by Spaniards and Cubans alike.
It has been confidently expected that at
least one half Of the Vuelta Abajo crop
would be ruined and set on fire in the
field. but 20 the general surprise, almost
the entire output of the Vuelta Abaio and
Remedies district has been baled. shipped
and stored in Havana warehouses. one
firm alone. il is alleged. had 10 500 bales Of
IS tobacco stored in Havana on the first
Of June. valued at over Sl.5000JO.
The general heal.h is reported by the
merchant TO be particularly good espes-
ially for this season Of the year. and he
denies the reported ravages Of yellow
fever and smallpox in the island He
confirms the military activity noticed and
recorded by the officers on blockade duty
and considers Havana today very strong
" fortified. Work on the new batteries
and earJhworks IS kept up night and day
and judging from outward and visible
signs and from the language and tone
Of the officials and sold.cry in Havana.
the Spaniards are preparing TO defend the
city TO the las. and intend only to strike
their colors when the "derniere cartouche"
l..