The age-herald., 1898-02-24
THOUSANDS DYING
 OF STARVATION Notwithstanding Story Comes From Cuban
 Sufferers. REPORT OF NAVAL OFFICERS Ol the Cruiser Montgomery HhO Made Thorough Investigation. 14,o0O DESTITUTE IN MANTANzAS Men, Women and Children, Once Wealthy, Now Much Emaciated, Follow the Sol-
 diers in Hordes Cr,ing For
 Morsel of Food :
14,ooo DESTITUTE IN MANTANzAs

Santiago de Cuba, Feb. 23.-Whle the United States cruiser Montgomery was at Matanzas recently board of officers was appointed to inquire into the condition of the people of that province. Although the exact terms of the report are not known, it may be said that in substance it sets forth that there are 14,OOO people absolutely without food and clothing within the city limits About 5000 of these live in small huts of palm branches These huts form three separate villages beyond the built-up portions of the city. The other 11,000 un- fortnnates live in the streets of the city, and are absolutely without homes or shell ter.
 These 14,OOO people are of the laboring class, who have been driven into the cities from their country homes, which have been destroyed in the war operations. Most of them are women and children and they are all emaciated. sick and almost beyond relief unless they can have the benefit of regular treatment in the hospit- als. As 1t is they are dying in the streets for want of food.
 Thousands Die From Starvation
 According to statistics gathered from the best sources, the number of deaths in the province of Matanzas from starvation Is 5000, and the number of starving people at present in the province is estimated at 98,000. out of total population of 253,616 in December, 1897, and the number of starving people Is rapidly increasing.
 In the city of Matanzas alone there have been about il ,000 deaths during the past year and the number is increasing daily. The death rate at present averages 46 per day, as shown by the reports from the committee. The increase in the death rate is due to the fact that the distress is no longer confined to the laboring class, most of whom have already perished. It has now extended to those people who before the war were in comfortable circum- stances. Those who are now begging in the streets were, in the large part, we'll to-do people. In addition, the citizens of the city of Matanzas themselves are be- ginning to suffer for the actual necessa- ries of life, and have drained their re- sources in order to supply the needs of the laboring class who have been thrust upon them.
 System of Relief Inadequate
 The citizens of Matanzas have an organ ized system of relief of starving people, but it is entirely inadequate, and is daily becoming more glaringly so. At one of the relief stations the board of officers found 100 starving people, being the actual number of persons for whom the citizens had been able to provide rations there. In room across the court yard of the build
 
 These pans were filled with cooked mess of rice and fish. and were arranged in rows ready for distribution among the famsh- ing people who were in waiting in another part of the house.
 But as already said, the three relief places in the city of Matanzas do not begin to adequately supply food to the II 900 peo- pie who are starving in the streets, for the citizens are only able to issue food three times a day at each place. and to only about 800 at a time. Consequently about 900 of the destitute receive food once a day
 It should be added that a large number of citizens of Matanzas have fed the starv- ing in the streets in front of their homes, but the citizens themselves are feeling the pinch, the prvation, and unless assistance soon comes to them they will be compelled in self protection to cease the work Of charity in which they are engaged, and is seemingly the only salvation for the starv ing thousands.
 The Sick Children
 The only other public relief at Matanzas is that given to the poor sick children by the management of the emergency hos pital which is under the direction of the volunteer fire department at Matanzas. There are about eighty children treated daily and are furnished with nourishment under the direction of the city physician.
 These statements are the copelusions. facts and figures arrived at by the United. States naval officers. When the Uniteds States naval officers landed they were con- stantly followed by clamoring crowds of starving men, women and children, who iuportuned them in the most heart-rend- ing manner for little food, for the want of which they were slowly dying.
 The United States consul at Mantanzas has done everything possible under the cir cumstances, but when the Montgomery left shere in the first days of February the consul had only enough rations remaining to last about two weeks. after which the fund appropriated by congress would have been exhausted, and when the sufferers of Mantanzas would include the American citizens at that place, who have hitherto received relief through the United States consulate. At that time the consul had received petition, signed by the American citizens of Mantanzas, setting forth in de- tall the need fin which they stood of imme- tiate relief from the dangers of starva- ton.
 For I4,OOO People
 so far as the board of officers of the Montgomery could ascertain, Mantanzas at that time needed a supply of food for 14,- 900 people for at least one month, in addi- ton to supplies of condensed milk for in- yalids and medicines of all kinds. The peo- ple of Mantanzas are also in urgent need of clothing, most of them being filthy rags.
 The Spanish authorities. it may be said in conclusion have rendered all the assistance which it seems possible for them to provide On two occasions they have given $100.000 to the fund for the relief of the destitute, but so far as the board could learn this was all the government was in a position to contribute to the relief of the 14,00o starv- ing, dying people in the streets of Mantan- gas.