New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-27
PORTO RICO IS DESPERATE.
FOOD SCARCE. PRICES HIGH AND
HUNGER RIOTS THREATENED

TAKEN TROOPS TO srPPREss-sPANIARDs
MAINTAINING A STRICT CENSOR
SHIP OVER NEWS
St Thomas Danish West Indies. April %
The strictest censorship still prevails over all
news in and out OF the neghborng island or
Porto Rico. The correspondent IF the Associ-
ated Press however. learns that battalion or
| Spanish troops has recently arrived at Porto
! Rico from Cuba and more are expected. This
is Significant as the troops have heret ofore come
/ direct from Spain. General military activity
prevais-daily drilling OF troops, forced work on
/ the Notifications Of San Juan. mining OF the
! harhor entrance. and hurried arrangements FOR
the storing Of dynamite and high explosives In
the harbor as is frankly set forth by san
| Juan newspaper.
PRICES DOUBLED.
| The situation in Porto Rico is certainly grave.
and the threatened scarcity of food in the island
and internal disorders resulting therefrom ar"
| perhaps the most serious phase ROOD prices
have about doubled The merchants AZ" SAID 10
| have already declared on the people by the
J forcing up Of prices. and Governmental attempts
| to regulate these prices have failed inc fol-
! lowing prices are quoted on staples. Poor rice.
/ formerly 6 cents pound. now ID cents orHl-
/ nary rice formerly cents. now IL cents lard.
! formerly l. cents nov 80 cents; peas. formerly
/ 1G cents now 90 cents; beans. formerly 10 cents.
now IL and l. cents It is said that in no cases
do the merchants give full weight. thirteen
/ ounces doing duty for a pound Bread is of very
poor quality. made without salt. and sold at OK
cesslve prices Doctors declare that maladies re-
sutinc from mal-nutrtion are increasing alarm
/ ingIy While there Is without doubt growing
scarcity Of food in Porto Rico, there seems to be
also little doubt that the merchants are taking
/ advantage ~ the present conditions 10 bleed the
poor and are forcing them gradually 10 despera-
tion There has been rioting I'm Interior towns
the correspondent Of the Associated Press Is IN
/ formed. to protest against these meaSures-rlot-
ing that WAS quelled only by the presence or
troops and artillery The Government is send
ing reinforcements Of troops 70 the interior.
probably fearing internal troubles. as we'll as
the dangers that threaten from the sea
A SCRAMBLE FOR READY CASH.
Those who have property that can he con-
verted into cash selling It, and the money
thus received is being kept for emergencies II
Is said that Of tho S6Oo0Ooo in circulation In
tho island about 81 OOo 600 is held in banks ana
commercial houses. and tho rate OF exchange -
increasing daily. Three months ago exchange
on American gold was at so; to-day It is be-
tween s. and so and exchange at 100 per cent
IS looked FOR in the near future
T, "a said that the residents Of the seacoast
arc going 70 the Interior in large numbers. 1h's
action can be traced TO fear Of bombardment
| and rs result. rents along the coast nave
dropped.
FOREIGNERS NOT SECURE.
United states Consul Hanna. OF San Juan de
Porto Rico who left san Juan for St Thomas
on April & following instructions from wash
/ ,ng,on ia still in St Thomas. awaiting orders
/ Much excitement WAS caused In san Juan ny
tn. United states Consuls sudden departure
,ho fact OF news being suppressed in the Island
adding materially to the alarm. AS already an
nounced. American affairs were loft In the
hands q, the British Consul at San Juan
+ American and English subjects feel that the pro-
,.ctlon extended to them in the island Is in
.lgntncant and those who have business IN
tercsts there and who would Ike To remain for
tho possible protection ~ their property cannot
do 80 with safety TO themselves 1t Is said that
tho consuls Of other countries IN Porto Rico
have advised alt their countrymcR 70 register
Immediately at their respective consulat"s
The STANDARD Oh Company has large interests
In san Juan and ia representative there was
/ advised hy high local authority 10 leave me
. country Mr. Van Syckc. the man In question:
/ was several times harassrd 10y the 'iNi Guard
7 b.f,r. his departure. and II was iutimated 10
him that the authorities were unable To give
him and his property the protection that was
his due. -
In Porto Rico. as IN cuba. there are many
naturalized American citizens. and these men,
.nioylng the citizenship az the enemy. as IL We're.
/ while they still pursue their occuptt"uS IN INC
/ island have been the object OF ill- feeling from
| go. Standards in Porto Rico. They haN" been
/ called upon To- show their true ''olors. to come
ont for the mother country or the enemy anu
I IL is suggested that the names OK All th'se OF"
mo hooks ~ the United states Consul b" pun
lished IA citizens II the United states
The newspapers II the ISLAND point out mat
importntions are decreasing. and th'} are hS
p.-sinistic as they dar" e. be concerning me
outlook. The arrest aud lining OF "a hrotn.r
editor are sorrow fully commented on 10y inc pa
pers still enjoying freedom
British subjects in Porto RICO hay" been anx-
iouslv expecting the arrival - British man OF ,
war In san Juan They have no protection or
any kind Mt the present moment. and thcir STU
ation would hc critical should internal disor-
dcrs arise or war hc suddenly declared
ST THOMAS EAGER FOR NEWS
s. Thomas has been expecting daily tho ar
rival Of the United States FLYING Squadron
The enthusiasts climb tho hot hills ana, be-
tween maps taken in the shade ~ some stone
wall sweep the horizon with field glasses for
sipns y, the fleet The schooner Ida G. South
nrd with II thousand tons u coal on board still
rides AZ anchor IN the harhor. awaiting orders
from the United States It is said that the
SQUADRON viii make connection with the South
+ ard either i'm this port. or. n war should ID"
declared. on the high seas. for In the after case.
some persons declare. 1t would he Illegal for
/ American vcsscls to coal IA this. q neutral port
Tho tclcgrams from New York are posted each
doy i'm the Office of the cable company. The
REGULAR time for this Is about noon lf IN"
rcws is ~ importance. however, IN the judg-
ncnt of the able officials. an effort Is made TO
/ ruhlish (, earlier When the news passes
| that the kilograms are posted tho town crowds
: up to the Office. and business is at standstiH
| along the main street
| PORTO RICANs TO ARM AGAINST SPAIN
New Haven. Conn. April 9Th" schooner
Omega Of Windsor. y s. reached this port late
last night from Ponce. Porto Rico. captain Nc
Lean. her master. SAYS the people OF Porto Rico