The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-22
ESTABLISHED 1865.
DEATHS IN THE STREETS.

DEATHS IN THE STREETS.
"Deaths in tho streets have not
been uncommon. I was told by one
of our consuls that they have been
found dead about the markets in the
morning where they have crawled
hoping to get some stray bits of food
from tho early butchers, and that
there had boon cases where they
had dropped dead inside the market
surrounded by food. These people
were Independent and selr-support-
ing before Weylor's order. They are
not beggars even now.
"Of the hospitals I need not
speak. Others have described their.
condition far better than I can. 1t
is not within the narrow limits of my
vocabulary 10 portray it. 1 went to
Cuba with strong conviction that
the picture had been overdrawn; but
few cases Of starvation and suffer
ing had inspi.ed and stimulated the
press correspondents and they had
given free play to q strong, natural
and highly cultivated imagination.
Before starting, + received thorough
the mail leaflet published by tho
Christian Herald, with cuts of some
OF the sick and starving reconcen-
trados, and took it with me thinking
these were rare specimens got up to
make the worse possible showing.
saw plenty as bad and worse-many
that should not be photographed and
shown.
APPALLING MORTALITY.
Il could not believe that out of a
population of 100000, two hundred
thousand had died within these
Spanish forts, practically prison
walls, within a few months past,
from actual starvation and disease
caused by insufficient and improper
food My inquiries were entirely
outside OF sensational sources. They
were made OF our medical officers, of
our consuls, of city alcaldes (mayors),
of relief committees, of leading mer-
chants and bankers, physicians and
lawyers. Several Of my informants
were Spanish born, but every time
the answer was that the case had
not been over-stated.
General Blanco's order of Novem-
ber IL last somewhat modified Wey-
Ter order, but is o. little or no prac.
tical benefit. Its application is linn
tied to farms properly defended, and
the owners are obliged to build
centres of defense.' Its execution
is completely in the discretion of the
local military authorities, and they
know the terrible military efficiency
of Weyler's order in stripping the
country Of all possible shelter, food
or source Of information for an insur-
gent, and will be slow to surrender
this advantage In fact, though the
order was issued four months ago, I
saw no beneficent results from it
worth Mentioning"
THE CUBANs.
Speaking of the Cubans the SEN
ator said: ~
"There are, or were before the war,
about one million Cubans on the
island, two hundred thousand Span
iards W ich means those born in
SPAIN, and less than half a million
Of negroes and mixed blood. The
percentage Of colored to white has
been steadily diminishing for more
than fifty years, and is not now over
rs per cent. Of the total. In fact,
the number of colored people has
been actually diminishing for near
ly that time.
"One thing that was new to me
was to learn the superiority of tho
we'll. to. do Cuban over the Spaniard
in the matter of education. Among
thOsa in nnnd observation-disclosures thnro