The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-20
/: X I R A !!
DARK DAYS
IN HAVANA.
City Verging on StarVati on
and Panic and Men
Have a Fever to
Leave.
VAIN SARCASM AGAINST THEM
Rumors of Insurgent Victories
Give spaniards Fears
for the Future.
THOUSANDS OF IDLE men
Even Government Work on the
Fortifications Does Not
Keep Them Off the
Street. y
THOUSANDS or IDLE men

ICOpyright 1898, by 'The Associated 1fess-1
HAVANA, May g. 1898, via Vera Cruz,
Mexico, May 13, 1S9S-The weight of the
blockade is beginning TO be felt here.
Business is almost at complete stand
still and there is hardly any movement
in the streets. which have sort of holi-
day appearance. The parks are almost
deserted and there were very few people
to be seen last week on the Plaza de
Armas at night although the band played
there and everything possible is done to
keep up the spirits of the people.
There is a feverish desire to leave. the
island. and over five thousand people
booked their names at the office of the
consignees of the French steamer Lafay-
ette which leaves here today for Vera
Cruz, Mexico with this letter, which Will
be posted at that port. In fact, an actual
panic now prevails while when the block
ade commenced there was a feeling OF
almost serenity among all classes. But
things have changed, the grim earnest
ness of the Americans is steadily forcing
itself upon the minds of even the most
hot-headed Spanish officers, though the
latter are working vigorously at the forti-
I fcafions. which have been considerably
strengthened and improved since the war
began. The Spaniards it must be ad-
mitted, are preparing to fight as des-
perately as possible under the circum-
stances.
Many families without means are striv-
ing 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
L = ont
they do succeed in leaving the blockaded
city, for they have been rendered penni-
| less and their chance OF earning a liveli-
hood in foreign country is very slim.
There is considerable feeling against the
men who are desirous of leaving the city,
and, posted on the corners of 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 Island of
Cuba.''
There has been no disorder, however, in
this city or in the provinces, so far as
known, though it is true people here are
entirely ignorant of what is transpiring
at Santiago de Cuba, no mail having been
received from there for some time past
and the cable being in the hands of the
Government and almost exclusively de-
voted to furthering the military opera
tons, which are about limited TO evacuat-
ing 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 Province
of Puerto Principe has fallen into the
hands of the insurgents. If this is the
case the latter now have port at which
their friends can land arms, ammunition
and supplies without interference.
Other important events are said to have
transpired at Santa Cruz del Sur. The
officers of the Spanish gunboat Cuba
Espanola have reached SanctfN Spiritus
Province Of Santa Clara. by land and are
on their way to Tunas. and from there.
by coasting steamer, to Cienfuegos. One
report has it that the commander of the
Cuba Espanola burned or blew up his
vessel in order to save it from falling into
the hands OF the insurgents. Another
version of the affair says the gunboat
may have been captured by the insur-
gents.
Confirmation has been received here of
the reports that the Spanish troops have
I tNdcQdteQ JIG ue1Hl d1lO 1'ety anu, III tltC
Province of Santiago de Cuba, and that
they have been occupied by the insur-
gents. The Spaniards say the troops de-
stroyed those two towns before leaving
them, but this is not believed to be true
The troops from those places retreated
upon Manzanillo and some of them have
reached other coast towns by this time.
Although the prices of provisions here
are very high, it is calculated that there
IS food enough obtainabie to last about
FIVE months, because, It is claimed, con-
| siderable stores were laid in before the
blockade and no provisions are allowed
to be sent from here to the interior towns
Eggs cost ten cents each, a glass of milk
costs from twenty to twenty-five cents
and the size of the loaf Of bread has been
reduced one-half This however, was
done before the blockade began
There are thousands of men from the
cigar tobacco and other factories out of
work and the authorities are employing
| as many of them as possible on the forti-
acations Tho wharves are entirely
cleared OF merchandise, not a box, barrel
or sack being seen. and there the idle
people eongregate and enjoy the fresh
Hair while talking over the war.
| The number Of men idle Is matter