Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-11
MoBBED By THE SPANISH
Efforts to Land Food for the Starving
Resented.


Distributed to the Suffering.
A press dispatch from New Orleans says:
Additional facts are learned concerning the
mobbing of the American relief Utstein.
which recently took to Matanzas, Cuba,
cargo for the starving reconcentrados,
and has just returned to New Orleans.
The cargo was made up of food, medf-
cine and clothing: was valued at $4,000,
and was collected by Kansas City paper
in week. A member of the newspaper
staff, who went to Matanzas on the ship,
reports partly as follows:
'The dock at Matanzas was crowded with
people awaiting the coming of the Utstein.
The crowd was one of rags and gauntness.
which represented the starving reconcen-
trados, and gold lace and snowy uniforms
of the sneering Spanish officers and SOL
diers. Through this crowd the little party
from the Utstein passed.
1.-The reconcentrados pointed to their
mouths to signify their hunger. The party
was followed by hundreds of ragged men,
women and children, begging for food or
money. At every turn the street showed
another starving crowd. Consul Brice's
Office was full of clamoring people. The
busy writing ration tickets.
Unloading the Food.
"At o'clock Saturday afternoon the
first lighters began unloading. An effort
was made to have the unloading continued
through the night, but the Spanish au-
thorities would not consent.
1T was afterward learned that there
was rumor that several thousand rifles
for fhA clai n, 10
hold AS the magnitude Of the relief sup
ply was realized by the Spanish merchants,
a great deal of feeling was exhibited
against the Americans.
Brices office and told him that there was
much talk against the Americans who
came with the ship. The Spanish had ex-
pected fifty tons Of supplies instead OF Ioo
tens
Later in the day others came to the
consuTs office and said that Monday had
been chosen to assaSsinate the Americans,
and that the attack was to be made under
the leadership of the Civil GUARDS, the
most formidable body of soldiers in Cuba.
They reported that the consufs office was
to be stoned, and advised that the news
papers representatives be sent on ship
board.
80 many reports of this character had
been circulated that this was given little
credence by Consul BTice, who advised that
no fear be shown.
During Sunday the unloading Of the
boat proceeded rapidly, and Sunday after
noon the hauling Of the cargo to the two
large warehouses engaged oegan at once.
The hauling was continued late into the
right until the two warehouses were
crowded with the provisions
During Sunday Consul Brioe gave out
ration tickets until 14.o00 had been given
out. 1t raned hard all Sunday, but the
crowd before the consuls office did not de-
crease, nor did the consul or his clerks
cease IN their !abors.-
AT 4 o'clock in the afternoon Consul
Brice bought a lot of bread with relief
money and distributed several hundred
leaves in front of the theater. 1t was
fought for by crowd of thousand or
more.
'Iu the meartime Consul Briee had given
:. great deal of the great vests money
in twenty and forty-eent Spanish pieces
10 needy women
IEsuIted by Spanish Rabble.
Sunday evening the feeling against the
Americans intensified. Insults were offered
them everywhere Spanish soldiers crowd
ed them off the sidewalks. They were
Missed at. spat at and whistled to as IL
dogs.
THAT night they walked to their hotel
IN the middle of narrow street, making
a good bluff, followed by mob who cursed
them. Early Monday morning they were
awakened by A crowd under their window
talking about them.
They walked from the Motel to the con-
suls office, insulted on every side. Before
the consulate stood the usual great crowd
of reconcentrados. awaiting the dstribu-
ton of supplies. 1t was a pitiful sight; one
of such gadnt misery can be seen no
where else in the world.
Consul Brice advised the newspaper
representatives to go aboard the Utstein at
once. He learned from a reliable source
that the feeling was so strong that very
little might precipitatn bIoodshed. The
British consul earnestly gave the same
advice
Shortly afterward Captain Aarsvald of
the Ctstein came ashore and was advised
by the Norwegian consul to go aboard his
ship.
During the morning Consul Brice sent a
special messenger to Consul General Lee
at Havana, stating the situation and ask
ing that the State Department afford him
protection in distributing the supplies,
avowing at the same time his determine
ton to distribute the last pound of sup
plies. This message he felt he could not
trust to the telegraph.
From the consurs Office to the wharf
the Newspaper men met with renewed in
suits, but, with Captain Aarsvald, got g.
boat and went out to the ship. All through
the day the unloading progressed. 1t was
finished about o'clock and the Utsten
Immediately put out to sea-
Just before she sailed Consul Brice
came aboard. The distribution, he said,
would go on that night and until every
pound of the cargo had been properly given
nWay or he was drivaY,