The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-14
Conditions Within
BeSieged Havana
Correspondence OF the sun.


n n ANANA, May The situation n
I'LL Havana continues unchanged as
IT1I far az warships and battles are
Ii Ii concerned, but the effects of the
blockade are 50 pressing az to
make 1t next to impossible to live within
the walls. Famine is near for the rich
and a reality for the poor. First-class
restaurants are guarded by armed volun-
teers and only customers are permitted
tU enter. Cheap restaurants and chop
houses have been closed to save them
from being attacked by the hungry mob.
I'm certain places food Is only served ~
those in dress uniform. Non cOmba tants
and foreigners are constantly scUrned by
the volunteers, who ask, "Why don't YOU
ioin us?" If you satisfy them you are a
foreigner they let YOU so, rcmarlinE,
keep quiet II YOU are Cuban or
Spaniard you are led to the nearest pub
lie safety committee station, where your
tate is decided.
Violence has not yet besun. but IL Is
unsafe for a civilian 10 go through the
streets, especially at night as thcre are
no street lights, and any one is likely TO
he shot down on the spot if ne fails to re-
ply TO the challenge. Friends are already
missing, aud YOU cannot inquire after
them for fear of being arrested. DIR. &.
+. FinlaY, a Cuban American well kn own
here and in New York, has been missing
for several days. Your correspondent.
fearing for him, a he had seen his name
blacklisted by the volunteers called at
the British consulate for information.
Consul Gollan as usual, knew nothing.
He then applied to the chief of police
Colonel Pagervy who warned him from
dabbling in politics" adding: 1--WE will
"a Va
responsible for the volunteers. who are
In fun power under martial law"
10
The few ships leaving Havana since the
blockade have all been packed fun of ref
ugeCs, who were compelled to pay fancy
prices for their tickets. The passengers
on the Italian cruiser Giovanna Bausan
were obliged to tip somebody at the con-
sulate $500 apiece. Those on board the
Danish schooner Rohl, without any pas
senger accommodations whatever, paid
as high as 500 each for a trip which
heretofore would have cost only so. 'rhe
spectators in Cuba's disgrace are COIN
u,g money, but they will surely pay desr
for their hearlesSnCss. The IucIirne
and Lafayette are the only ships not in
CrcaSiHG their rates. The Lafayette will
carry over LOO passengers, and there
have been 5000 applicants for tickets,
but the majority will have to remain The
French SChoolship Fulton carried also
number Of wealthy passengers.
d
Traffic in Havana streets has been
stopped. as no business is transacted. Ex-
press wagons and tow carts have been
seized by the government to carry II ate
rials to the barTiCades. The street Ca.s
and stages run no longer; their horses
and mules have been turned loose into
the streets as there Is no fodder The
few remaining bags OF corn sell for $S
quintal Havana harGor is lacking IN
Spanish warships for there are only two
useless on"s. Z he Alfonso XII has her
! boilers destroyed, and her guns have
been removed to the western fortilica-
tiOnS at the Nadado. She is az helpless
as baby. The COnde de Venadito is at
the arsenal under repairs. having suf-
| fcred considerably some time ago from
| running aground at the Colorado shoals
| There are two other small gunboats, he
! Nunez Pinzon and Marques de la Ensen-
| ada, which, Of course, dare not put to sea
To meet the Anne erican squadron.
| Nevertheless. the dailies here boldly ar
| nounced that they had gone out pre-
| pared to lick SIMPSONS fleet and that he
| dared not meet them. The QuiXotism Of
| the Spaniards is reaching the crazy limit
| II is sent officially announced that Wey-
| Ter will land in Mexico with 10000 men
| and invade the states through Texas. The
| Spaniards are elated over the alleged
/ sympathy Of P0Tfiro Dia2 with Spain ami
expect him to aid them In their proposed
! invasion of the United States. The report
/ that General Lee has been promoted to
major general, and that ne will assume
4 charge Of the United States invasion
army, has considerably enraRed the
| Spaniards, who hate him cordially. The
walls are placarded with obscene sketches
| and phrases about his appointment One
| says: I'VE will soon be infested by an
army OF pigs, headed by Hog Lee, Let ms
/ prepare to roast them The govern
ment is also proceeding against Lee and
| American interests here. All Lees be-
/ longngs and the food for the recon-
| centrados have been seized by the govern
ment, and the confscstion Of American
property has already begun. The first
! victim Is Senior Mariana G. Artiz, pro-