The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-03

Havana, via Key West. Fla, Feb. o.
Spanish military operations continue
almost paralyzed, the season most fav-
orable for movements against the in
surgents thus being lost.
On Friday the insurgents entered the
town of Artemisa. province of Pinar del
Rio, and plundered several stores. The
governor of Pinar del Rio sent Jose
MendOneZ Diaz as an emissary to the
insurgent leader, Perico Diaz. with pro-
posals of peace and surrender.
HANGED A RENEGADE.
The insurgents hanged him near a
railway opening with the governor s
letter on his body. On Monday night
they renewed the attack on Artemisa,
but were repulsed, leaving two killed.
At Holquin, province of Santiago de
Cuba, General Luque is making urgent
requests for provisions, as his soldiers
are without rations.
Private adviees from Gibara confirm
the report that General Luque's losses
at Afegia were more serious than was
officially given out. He lost not 20, but
40 killed and wounded.
The insurgents, under their leader,
Jose Miguel Gomez, surprised two
squadrons of cavalry on the military
trocha near Ciego de Avila and inflict-
ed considerable loss, including a Span
ish captain. The remainder OF the Span
ish force made a disorderly retreat to
Ciego de Avila.
AMERICAN MAIL MATTER.
Mail matter in the Havana postoffice
continues to be tempered with. There
are is extra men on duty opening let
tiers and reading newspapers before de-
livery.
While European mail matter gets
through all right, correspondence from
the United States, especially from Tam
pa and Key West, is most carefully ex-
amined. Letters from Madrid TO men,
bvis of the opposition party are opened.
The delivery of the mail is delayed sew
eral days. Newspapers are held much
longer, and are often not delivered at
all. In many cases letters and valuable
packages fail to reach their destina-
ton, the failure causing severe loss.
It is reported that this system of in
spection was prompted by DR.. Jose
CongoStO, the secretary of the govern
ment Great discomfort exists among
the Cubans, as most of them want to
be in the government employ, and
there are not enough positions for all.
The number of indictments is steadily
increasing.
General Blanco's expected early re-
turn is adversely commented upon.
While. some believe that he will return
with his steamer Morterea loaded with
rebels who have surrendered and rebel
arms that have been delivered up, 9TH
ers are sure that he will return alone.
PATHETIC. SCENES.
La Discussion prints the following
THE scenes Witnessed at the residence
of DR.. Castro Jesus del Monte previous
to the distribution of food to the recon- /
centrados are too pathetic to be de-
scribed. AS soon as the doors were OPP
ened, a mass of beggars. living skel- !
etons. of all races, all ages and both
sexes, invaded the places where food
was to be distributed, with outstretched
hands, almost fleshless. imploring, al
most frightful, spectral faces. at the
sight of food. Many We're not strong
enough to endure the food, and fell in I
the streets as they passed away; a few /
others, more fortunate, seemed to gain 1
some vitality.
The painful scene is daily witnessed /
wherever food is distributed to recon-
centradOs."