The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07
THE CUBAN FAMINE.
a Multitude of Victims OF "Spanisf
Cruelty and American Indifference


Havana Letter in Leslie's Weekly.
Over two-thirds of the peace-loving peo-
pie of the Island of Cuba have died or been
reduced to a state where death is sure TO
follow. And this from hunger, and in a
country where a natural famine would new
| er occur! Even the Spanish press and Span
lion--just think of it,. 500 0O0--noncombatan
men, women and children have persisted in
Cuba during the last twelve months. Now
there are still three-quarters of a million
people left in Cuba's towns. One-third OF
| these have money. These need no assist
ance. One-third arc starving, but can be
third are even now at the point of death,
| and beyond hope These figures dwarf in
to insignihcance the wars, plaques and mas
sacres of modern history.
Hundreds of persons surround the United
States consulate here, crying for bread. The
bishop OF the city has declared that since
the beginning OF the war $4,000 bodies have
been buried in the various parishes on the
island, and the frightful mortality contin-
ues to increase. In one small town alone
S05 died in one week.
Small crowds of destitute persons can be
seen at certain parts of the city, eating
crusts Of bread or other allowances of food,
just enough to keep life in their bodies.
have seen the most horrible sights of my
life in the places where these reconcentra-
dos are in the last stages of starvation.
Two men died last evening on the public
square near Los Fosos.
Even the prisoners released from Jail
have been dying of starvation in the
streets. III some, places the people are dy-
zas the streets are full of semi-naked skel-
etons clamoring for bread. At Limonar the
better class of whites are already dead.
At Perico 275 beings are left out of 1850.
San Pedro abounds with little naked, starry
ing children, with hair gone and limbs
swollen. The victims of starvation in Cas-
car cannot be taken care of as quickly as
they die. Vultures abound all through the
country, feeding on the half-buried bodies
g, population of $500 people, Of which less
than 200 remain.
Through entire sections whole families
have been swept away. Some towns are
wiped out of existence, their whole popu-
lation being laid away under scant crust
of sun-baked earth. At Camarones, Cruces,
Lajos, Trinidad, Condado, and Juraco the
misery is Undesirable. The starvation sta
lions, or camps on the line OF the railway
have sights more horrible than the mag
ination can conceive In Caracusey the peo-
pie have died from hunger, restitution and
fevers till the cemetery there will not hold
the dead bodies.
In Sagua Ia Grande, Consul Barber was
experimenting the distribution OF rations
to Americans. The consul could not give
anything to a Cuban mother who asked
for aid. If he had done SO there would
have oeen crowd of 5000 other victims
thronging the consulate in an hours time
The woman's weakness of body had dulled
ba5T she sSoud mott mot an no Why
of milk. why won't you give me food? 1
am a Christian. have hunger just like the
Americans. I have a baby" In some places
the ravages of the famine have been so Sc
we're that nineteen out of every twenty per-
sons die, Women and children have been
seen sitting clasped in one another's arms
dead. Consul Baker, at Sagua la Grande,
recently stated
Il counted on returning from breakfast
at II o'clock this morning, three dead bodies
on the streets. / was told another was ly
ing in the market place. When the veil is
moved and the matter given to the light of
heaven, it will show q scene that no Chris
tian people can face. / sometimes fear my
reason has fed. The alcalde stated to me
that the six thousand reconcentrados in this
city, rated on his register as starving got
no relief; the city had no funds. and that
the people would soon be seen falling in
the streets like grass before a mower. The
relief fund is exhausted, and now American
the reconcentrados. Five daughters of
widow, here, were educated in the United
States, are children of once wealthy man.
used to comfort and even luxury, and are
now in pitiable state. I have been feed
ing the family for some time. She told me
they were starving: that soon they would
be laid beside her husband. Her last re-
quest to ME would be--place a wooden slab
between the graves and inscribe on 1t: Vic
tins of Spanish cruelty and American in
difference"
Eight cents a day will save a life. And
this estimate is without taking into con-
sideration reduction in price or donations.
Large food manufacturers have sent help
to these poor people The Spanish govern
ment allows the entry of American charity
free Of duty; all reports to the contrary are
untrue; The principal steamship line 70
Cuba transports American donations free
of charge. The local railroads here allow Is
per cent. off in freight rates. There are
MANY willing hands to distribute charity.