The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-07
GRATEFUL CUBANS.
Our Consul at Sagua la Grande
Writes of the Suffering.
ASSISTANCE FROM AMERICANS

The Only Hope of the Sick and Starv
| ing Reconceutrados-No o w Re
lief Sent to General Lee Can Reac!
the Sagua la Grande District.
| Washington, Feb. 7.-Hon Charles W
| Russell. assistant United States attor
ney in the department Of justice. ha:
| Just received letter acknowledging
the receipt of New York draft mailed
| to United States Consul Barker at Sa
qua la Grande, Cuba, whose district
Of Las Villas embraces Santa Clara
the capital of the province Of that
name, San Domingo, Remedies and an
other city In the same province in the
eastern part OF the island.
In explanation Of his estimate of the
number of deaths from starvation up
to the time Of his recent visit. viz,
100000. Mr.. Russell says that he got
that number from the common talk in
Cuba For instance, he asked a Cuban
what the insurgents said about ac-
cepting the offer of autonomy, and the
answer was that Spain had put 10000
corpses between her and them, refer
ring evidently to the reconcentrados.
Consul Barker says in his letter:
1T is with unfeigned pleasure, as well
as inexpressible gratitude, that ac-
knowledge the receipt of your valued
favor Of the 10Th inst, transmitting
s6S as donation to the Dispensario, a
charitable institution, to care for the
destitute and sick children of this city
contributed. as you say, by certain
employees of your department
Il must tell you and the other good
souls contributing that the remittance
was most timely, as their exchequer
was empty. aud. as one remarked when
this relief was made known. We had
God, and only God, to look to in order
that our treasury be replenlshed. To
God and these charitable Americans
are due our thanks
Mrs. G.. of Boston, has notified me
that she has sent to my address case
of condensed milk for the same pur-
pose. as also for the remnants of fam
lilies of reconcentrados in an old ware
house Of whom l have heard 1 as
sumo it was you who called her atten-
ton to these poor starving outcasts."
After speaking of the good done by
Mr.. Russells visit to Cuba, the letter
proceeds:
up to date my district has received
nothing of the relief sent by our peo-
pie, except through your thoughtful
remembrance. OF course Consul Cen
eral Lee has not. nor will he ever. in
my humble judgment. have sufficient
contributions sent to Havana to share
with us, SO remote and inaccessible in
transporting supplies. In view of this,
contributions like yours, in money. will
aid in saving thousands. who must die
without sustenance and medicine i'm
mediately furnished. For instance,
this remittance from the generous EN-
ployea In your department will prove
more beneficial than ten times the sum
30 days hence.
L have certificates signed by the al
cades of the principal cities and towns
in my Sagua la Grande zone alone,
showing that my estimate Of 80 900 per- |
ishing souls was under, rather than
above the mark. To my mind and to
all Christian people, there is but one
Issue In this Cuban question, viz, des.
titution and starvation. The destitu-
ton grows and the death rate increases
hourly.
Il have-not the authorities-selected |
and named relief committee, COM
posed of women as well as men, who
will distribute all contributions received |
and render needed relief to all the des-
.itute.
Say to the generous people of Amer
ca, who have never turned deaf ear
o the cry Of the distressed, whether
1t home or in a foreign land, to send
Is food, medicine and clothing for the
lick"