Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1898-05-17
l3l1l51l3
FAMINE IN HAVANA.
IT HAS ATTACKED THE POOR AND
NOW SeaRS THE RICH

4 NJ. MEANS fFG htOF'+
i The Few Restaurants Open Are Guarded
by Armed Men Meat IL % Pound.
| and . Cup OF Coffee Costs Is Cents-
/ stories Told About the War.
| The situation in Hay ana continues
| unchanged as far as warships and bat
| ties are concerned. but the effects of the
| blockade are so pressing as 10 make IL
next 10 impossible To live within the
walls. Famine is near for the rich and
a reality for the poor. First class res
taurants are guarded by armed yolun
teers, and only customers are permitted
TO enter. Cheap restaurants and chop
houses have been closed TO save them
from being attacked by the hungry mob.
In certain places food is only served TO
those III dress uniform Noncombatants
and foreigners are constantly scorned by
the volunteers, who ask, why don t
you join us?'' If you satisfy them you
are foreigner, they let you go. re-
marking Keep quiet" If you are a
Cuban or Spaniard, you are led TO the
nearest public safety committee station,
where your fate is decided
Violence has not yet begun, but it is
unsafe for civilian to go through the
streets especially at night, as there are
no street lights and any one is likely to
be shot down on the spot If he fails To
reply TO the challenge Friends are al
ready missing, and you cannot inquire
after them for fear of being arrested
Dr. C. f. Finlay a Cuban American
well known here and in New York, has
been missing for several days. Your cor
respondent fearing for him, as he had
seen his name blacklisted by the volun
teers, called at the British consulate for
information. Consul GoIian, as usual.
knew nothing He then applied to the
chief of police, Colonel Pagervy, who
warned him from dabbling in poll
tics, y adding. I'VE will not modest ycu
at present, but cannot be responsible for
the volunteers, who are in full power
under martial law"
The few ships leaving Havana since
the blockade have all been packed full
of refugees, who We're compelled TO pay
fancy prices for their tickets. The pas
sengers on the Italian cruiser Giovanni
Bausan Were obliged to tip somebody at
the consulate $500 apiece Those on
board the Danish schooner Rohl, with
out any passenger accommodations|
whatever, paid as high as 5000 each for
a trip which heretofore would have cost
only $40 The spectators in Cuba S dis
grace are coming money. but they viii
surely pay dear for their heartlessness.
The Luciline and Lafayette are the on
ly ships not increasing their rates The
Lafayette will carry over 1, 700 passen-
gers, and there have been 8, 600 appli-
cants for tickets, but the ma jority Will
have to remain. The French schoo1shipI
Fulton carried also a number of wealthy
passengers.
Traffic i'll Havana streets has been
stopped. as no business is transacted.
Express wagons and tow carts have been
seized by the government to carry ma
terials TO the barricades The street cars
and stages run no longer. Their horses
and mules have been turned loose intoI
the streets, as there Is no fodder TheI
few remaining bags of corn sell for IS
a quintal
Havana harbor is lacking in Spanish
warships, for there are only two useless
ones. The Alfonso XII has her boilers
destroyed and her guns have been re-
moved to the western Notifications at
the Nedado. She is as helpless as al
baby. The Condo de Venadito is at theI
arsenal under repairs, having suffered
considerably some time ago from run
ming aground at the Colorado shoals
There are two other small gunboats, the|
Nunez Pinzon and Marques de la Ense
uada which of course dare not put tOI
sea to meet the american squadron
Nevertheless, the dailies here boldly
announced that they had gone out pre-
pared to lick Simpsons fleet and that
he dared not meet them. The quixotism
of the Spaniards is reaching the crazy
limit. Ii Is semiofficially announced
that Weyler will land in Mexico with
30. 600 men and invade the United
States through Texas The Spaniards
are elated over the alleged sympathy of
Porfirio Diaz with Spain and expect him
to aid them in their proposed invasion
of the United States.
The report that General Lee had been
promoted TO major general and that he
will assume charge of the United States
invasion army has considerably enraged
the Spaniards, who hate him cordially
The walls are placarded with obscene
sketches and phrases about his appoint
ment. One SAYS: We will soon be in
tested by an army of pigs, headed by
Hog Lee Let Us prepare TO roast them "
The government Is also proceeding
against Lee and American interests here
All Lees belongings and the food for
the reconcentrados have been seized by
the government, and the confiscation Of
American property has already begun.
The first victim is Senior Mariana C..
Artiz, proprietor of the big sugar plan
tation Narcisa Caiba Rien. which is
under the management of VIII street
syndicate.
The Vento waterworks, Havana 5 on
" water supply, have been attacked by
the rebel insurgent colonel Mario Diaz.
without success 50 far. There are about
1, 600 troops guarding the waterworks.
Water so far is plentiful, but meat is
luxury and hard to get at So pound.
A cup Of coffee and milk costs 25 cents.
Eggs are no longer obtainable. Bread,
although doubled in price, is still OBJ
tainable at few places.-New York