Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-25

description. We visited warehouse
IN which we found large number OF
these reconcentrados-starv women
and children. Through the efforts OF
Consul Barker. they had had food, but
only sufficient as would keep them alive
Here In this warehouse lying on the
ground. we would see mothers with little
starved ones, lying at their side. too
weak to raise their hands, and the
mothers too emaciated TO raise them up
None OF these people held out their hands
for aims but looked through sunken
eyes pleadingly for something to eat. The
alcalde told me that during the year IT
had been no unusual sight to see women
and little children lying dead about the
streets, and that many had died while
crawling to the market places where
they hoped to find something to sustain
life. Each day, at IL o'clock. in Consul
Barker's office. rations were given out
to American citizens
100 much praise cannot be awarded
TO Consul Barker for his work and eff
forts TO represent his country at this
point. He has expended twice the
amount OF his salary in charity and from
his own home, In Mississippi, has raised
quite a large amount, which he has dis
tributed among the poor.
CONSUL IN SYMPATHY WITH SPAIN.
FROM SdEud went 10 IltnlutbOS, vi
the eastern coast of the island. The
same conditions existed here as at Sagua,
with this exception: The American Con-
sui was intensely pro-Spanish and en-
tirely in sympathy with the Spaniards.
He asserted that the instruction would
have been put down two years ago had
IL not been for the United States; that
the order of General Weyler was humane
and would have been issued by Grant
4 or Sherman, and that on the whole
island probably not more than 5000 had
died Of starvation. 1t is proper TO state
that this Consul has been removed.
1--WE ascertaned that the relief supplies
sent there had been given by him to the
alcalde and the Spanish merchants, and
he admitted that he had no knowledge
as 10 whether or not the starving people
had received any Of them. a boat-ioad
of supplies was expected in few days,
and he was told by Miss Barton that
their distribution would be made by one
of her own men, who would see that
starving Cubans, instead of healthy
Spaniards, would get the benefit OF them.
"My trip TO Matanzas was one OF the
most interesting made on the island. we
had gotten about fifteen miles out of Ha-
bana when, about daybreak, our inter
prefer discovered that the telegraph
the train slowed up and moved for seve-
raj miles at a very slow rate. On our
return we were told that the insurgents
attacked the Spaniards about fifteen
minutes after we had passed, and quite
a skirmish ensued. At all events, we
brought in several of the wounded Spa
niards / mention this to show you how
easy it is for the insurgents to approach
the very gates Of Habana.
"The city OF MatanZas lies on the north
coast of Cuba, about eighty miles east
Of Habana, and has population OF about
10000. 1t has fine harbor. from which,
prior 20 the war, over Sl20,0CO,OOO worth
of sugar was annually shipped.
Such was the town, such its surround
ings. before the adoption of General
Weylers policy of Recommendation. The
nature of that order and its result is n
tale oft told. 1t meant war by star
walton. It's purpose was the extermina-
ton of the Cuban people and laying
waste the island.
A DREADFUL ORDER.
at was a dreadful order in it's concep-
ton and horrible in its execution. De-
Tended upon the theory of military neces-
sty. it has thrust into hunger's grave
during the last year certainly not less
than 100000 non-combatants. They were
compelled TO meet death through the slow,
agonizing process of starvation.
zone gets some idea of this policy Of
Recommendation during the railway jour
new from Habana to Mantanzas. The trip
consumes about two and a half hours
time over a fairly good road. IL goes
through the most fertile part of the
island No sugar estates are grinding,
only blackened ruins stand to mark the
spots where they once existed. one sees
miles and miles of burned cane. While
making this trip smoke was constantly
rising beyond the hills, evidence OF the
fact that the work Of destruction was
still going on. In this short journey we
naesad through six little country villages.
sJn VIEWERS order the people from the
surrounding country had been driven into
those towns like cattle into pens. In the
ovacution of this order the soldiers went
40 tbeir homes. burned them over their
hoads DESTROYED their growing crops,
- down their beautiful trees, conls-
oated their cattle, and In many instances
100 the Young girls to the Spanish SOL
diers Indeed. they utterly lald waste
the holdings Of these people ana uIoNe
them into the towns IKE sheep' IHooo
- not the able-bodied Cubans; on the
WEI ~ thew were only old, decrepit
80 tbe women. and helpless children
WI fathers and their brothers We're
debting for the independence OF Cuoa.
Tbare these reconcentrados, as they are
aoiIad were herded behind Darped-"ire
sences Trochas, or trenches were
thrown up around them Iney MeIe
eliarded by Spanish soldiers Ihey were
Sudden under penalty of death 10 go
n',+ ard cultivate the soil. They were
I;,,on neither food, employment, nor
shoIter They built huts Tor theiiisei W,
snel'' Tho bark taken from the royal pain''
i'o'i' Wv STARVING TO-DAY.
.,,or time they were supported by the
,.n,ooars VINO shared with them their
si'netance as long as it lasted. rms was
Son exhausted, and in the very oo sun
-, ~ most pounteous land on the Iace
- nc Garth they were compeheu u
storve Under just such conditions tney
ere starving to-day. Under just suen 'oH-
otttons they will continue 10 staise, ~
,ess relef comes from this government,
MI, the last one is dead. They nad ohiy
e,,cn ciotnIng as covered them AT the
Inc tnev were seized by the soluiers'
1rneir chtldren are naked. Such are MoiA
,nera Of this policy of recommendation.
.Srbese country towns between l,s'n,l
ard Matapzas give the lie to the Spanish
assertion that the policy has peeh "OD-.
,.u.----~-----u-z4-~xss.-z,.sss.s $3.50.
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