The evening times., 1898-08-10
DESPgRATE HIvANA.
The rinia 4. Constant Fear, and
An Are Hungry.

Nc AhMAh0 ~ OOa0H0oB G8kp on0
All Are Hspgry.
The following from a letter to the Lon
don Times from Havana, was long delay
ed in its passage. 1t was written before
the fall OF Santiago and gives a picture
Of things as they were then. Famine has
advanced since that time, and the spirits
Of all have drooped. The writer says:
THE terror Of the darkness and the un-
known has fallen on the city. Wild ru-
mors float: the more timid imagine all
manners of disasters and foretell terrible
things: they know that famine Is certain
unless relief comes in some form from
without. for few doubt that there will
be a most dogged resistance to the foe
and that the Inhabitants will be put to
frfghtful straits before the flag OF Spain
Is lowered. And always a few miles OF.
are to be seen steaming to and fro, rarely
so near as to be within range Of the
Spanish guns. the vessels of the blockad-
ing squadron, armed tugs, yachts, and
other such converted craft that can
scarcely be termed fighting vessels, but
yet sufficient to close the port and grad
ually to starve Havana into submission
For that is apparently the safe and GER
tain. II not very heroic. plan Of the
<1sAASAANahs- Std4 VIC out tuls great city,
full Of soldiers. civilians. and reconcen-
trados. with a bloodless blockade in the
expectation. too. perhaps. that internal
dissensions and revolutions born of suf-
fering will bring the resistance to a more
speedy conclusion. Still the inhabitants
OF Havana. in their desperate straits.
though despair must be in the hearts of
many. display the same dogged heroism.
patient. resolute. daily drilling with the
the volunteer regiments. uncomplaining,
raising never disturbance in the town.
'"The admirable troops. too. OF the regu-
lar army. who for long time have receiv-
ed no pay. and but scanty rations.are quite
contented. their morale is excellent, but
they are eating out their hearts with
helpless dull rage because they cannot get
at that foe-so near, even in sight, but
unattainaole-and try conclusions with
him. II these men have a chance, before
they are too weakened by famine, OF en-
countering the American soId,ery on land
there will be some valorous fighting done.
But. SO far as We can gather. IL will be
lorg before the two forces can be brought
face to face.
THE government decree regulating the
sale Of provisions meets with general ap-
proval. Wholesale dealers are compelled
periodically TO return to the government
full accounts OF all the provisions In their
warehouses. and the official tariff has fix
ed a fair price on each article of con-
sumption. Apparently this decree does
not affect the sale Of such provisions as
may be imported into the country by
blockade runners and other vessels. for
another proclama ton. TO which I have
alluded in 4 former letter. permits these
to be landed duty free and TO be sold at
any price the importer may be able 10
c5tain. According to another enactment.
g. ~ <,,s., Il ha
allowed TO discharge her cargo in any
Cuban port. unless certain proportion
of that cargo consists of -four or other
provisions.
THE other day when attending a de-
bate in the newly-created autonomist par
l conversed with some of the
most prominent members on both the gov
and opposition side of the house.
They spoke strongly as to the necessity
OF giving every encouragement TO block
ade runners. and discussed a scheme
the government was to Under
take to purchase all provisions that should
be imported during the blockade at four
times their present market value. set
aside portion of these for the use OF
troops. and sell the rest to the people
At the tariff rate.
Numbers of people in Havana, SER
wants, laborers and others. are now work |
Ing for their food. receiving ne wages.
The town is full of beggars. reconcentra- |
dos and others. who are certainly treat |
ed very charitably by those who still |
have money. They also flock round hotels !
and restaurants and visit private houses |
TO receive the broken victuaIs. Indeei. !
many receive assistance who do not de- |
serve it. for 1 know numerous cases in
which healthy reconcentrados have refus- !
I'd to work in return for full rations pre-
ferring to beg for the little, they need |
and pass their days in idleness. Though /
We have had occasional thunderstorms
and heavy showers. converting the mar !
row. ill-drained streets of Havana into
raging torrents. the rainy season cannot !
be said to have set in; the temperature is !
lower than 1t generally Is at
this time of the year. and the health of !
the city is exceptionally good. there be- !
ing no yellow fever or other epidemic:
but 1t is to be feared that there will pc
good deal of sickness az the summer ac-
rances and famine tigh.ens."