The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-04-22
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CUBA'S MISERY.
Unspea' able Horrors OF the Famine In
the Wat Stricken IslaMd.

Unspea' able Horrors OF the Famine In
the Wat Stricken Island.
Over two-thirds of the peace-loving peo-
pie of the island of Cuba have died Or
been reduced to state where death is
sure to follow. And this from hunger,
and in country where natural famine
would never occur! Even the Spanish
press and Spanish officials have admitted
that a half-million-just think of it, $780,
OO0-non- combatant men, women and chill
dren have persisted in Cuba during the
three-auarters of million people left in
Cuba's towns. One-third of these have
money. These need no assistance. One
third are starving, but can be saved if
assistance comes quickly. One-third are
even now at the point of death, and be-
yond hope. These figures dwarf into ill.,
significance the wars. plaques and massa-
cres of modern history.
Hundreds of persons surround the Unit
ed States consulate here, crying for bread.
The bishop of the city has declared that
since the beginning of the war $4,000
bodies have been buried in the various
parishes on the island, and the frightful
mortality continues to increase. In one
small town alone 400 died in one week.
Small crowds of destitute persons can
be seen at certain parts of the city, eat
food, just enough to keep life in their
bodies. l have seen the most horrible
sights of my life in the places where
these reconcentrados are i'll the last stages
of starvation. Two men died last even
ing on the public square near Los Fosos.
Even the prisoners released from Jail
have been dying of starvation in the
dying at the portals of the houses. In
MatanZas the streets are full of semi
naked skeletons clamoring for bread. At
Iimonar the better class of whites are
already dead. At Perico 275 beings are
left cut Of 1900. San Pedro abounds
with little naked, starving children, with
hair gone and limbs swollen. The VIC
TINS of starvation in Cascar cannot be
taken care of us quickly as they die.
Nultures abound all through the country,
feeding on the half-buried bodies of the
fever victims. In Cruces there was a
population of 23OO people, of which less
than POO remain.
Through entire sections whole families
have been swept away. Some towns are
wiped out of existence, their whole popu-
lation being laid away under a scant crust
Cruces. Lajos, Trinidad Condado and
Jurace the misery is Understandable. The
starvation stations, or camps, OH the line
of the railway through Havana and Ma
tanzas provinces, have sights more hor-
rib.e than the imagination can conceive.
In Caracusey the people have died from
hunger. destitution and feyers till the
cemetery there will not hold the dead bod
les.
In Sagaua In Grande. Consul Baker was
experimenting the distribution of rations
to Americans. The consul could not give
anything to Il Cuban mother who asked
for aid. If he had done so there would
have been crowd Of 5000 other victims
thronging the consulate i'll an hours time.
The womans weakness of body had dulletl
her brain. She could not understand why
her baby, too, should not receive its bottle
of milk. why won't you give ME food
l am Christian. l have hunger just like
the Americans. | have baby" In some
places the ravages of the famine have
been so severe that nineteen out of every
twenty persons die. Women and children
have been seen sitting clasped in one an
others armS-dead. Consul Baker, at
Sagua Ia Grandc, recently stated:
counted, on returning from breakfast ut
II O'Clock this morning. three dead bodies
on the streets. l was told another was ly-
ing in the. market place, When the veil is
heaven, it will show scene that no Chris
tian people can face / sometimes fear my
reason has fed The alcalde stated to me
that the 5000 reconcentrados in this city,
rated on his register as starving. got no
relief; the city had no funds, and that the
people would soon be seen falling in the
streets like grass before Il mower The re-
lief fund is exhaused, and now American
citizens are in the same pitiable plight as
the reccncentrados. Five daughters Of a
widow, here, were educated i'll the United
States, are children of a once wealthy man.
used to comfort and even luxury, and are
now i'll Il pitiable state. 1 have been feeding
the family for some time. She told me they
were starving: that soon they would be laid
beside her husband. Her last request to me
would be-place wooden slab between the
graves and inscribe on it: ''Victims of Span
ish cruelty and American Indifference"
Eight cents a day will save life. And
this estimate is without taking into con-
sideration reduction in price or donations.
Large foou manufacturers have sent help
to these poor people. The Spanish gov
eminent allows the entry of American
charity free of duty; all reports to the
contrary are untrue. The principal
steamship line to Cuba transports Ameri-
can donations free Of charge. The local
railroads here allow 45 per cent. off in
freight-rates. There are many willing
hands to distribute harity.-Havana Let
ter to Leslie's Weekly