The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-21

feotlye. Numbers or them which did
not explode have since been buried IL
is quite certain that not q life was lost.
nor was any masonry displaced In the
affair.
Tho country between Matauxas and
Havana is splendidly rich. but has been
terribly devastated by tbs three ycnrs'
war. Cattle arc still abundant nn,. lid
crops are profuse. The line 10 eua,ssed
by forts throughout. and cavalry patrols
and infantry posts were seen continr.
ously from tho train. We could also see
frequent cavalry diminishing with in
surgents who were concealed in tho
bush.
"At Matanzas u week ago there was
no sign Of starvation. Ihe prices at the
hotels. cafes and shops were tho same
a. in America. and there were no beg
gars. Re~concentrados with pigs tethcrcd
to their huts and chickens running
about were numerous We gave & fat
child a penny, and tho youngstcr III.
stantly ran and bought candy from e
negro camp peddler. The citizens OK
pocted that the supply of -four would be
exhausted In ten days and that the sup
ply of wheat would fail in about =
month. The supply Of fish and vegcsa-
bles, of course, will never fail.
Upon reaching Havana we were es-
corted directly to the headquarters Of
the police, where we were most kindly
treated. The next day, upon u signing
q promise 10 leave Cuba at the earliest
opportunity we were released. Three
days later tho British cruiser Talbot At
rived. and we were deported TO Jamaica.
During the voyage here we were tha
guests Of Captain Gamble, from whom
we received every courtesy. Reasons for
| our expulsion were refused, bat General
Blanco's order f~orbidding correspondents
| to land in Cuba, which was issued Z
week after u arrival, was made retro
active. Upon applying to the British
consul general for an explanation we
were treated impertinently. Meanwhile
Knight Of the London Times is allowed
to remain. Perhaps it is because he was
i 30 nearly drowned in trying TO land, but
our expulsion was unjust and illogical
and disgraceful to the epanish govern.
ment.
"As seen a week ago IL would be Inn.
possible for a stranger to imagine that
Havana was starving or that the city
was blockaded. The band was playing
ON the Prado and a merry crowd WA
promenading. Every seat in the cafes
was filled, and the theaters, considering
the fact that not q woman was present,
had good houses nightly. The hotels
and shops were charging their usual
prices, and we only saw q dozen prufez'
sional bcggars. Daily when the Ameri.
can ~blockading vessels were sighted
great crowds would rush of TO the 500,
shore. Every available cab was engaged
70 take tho people to the beach, where
they spent their time in jeering tbs
Yankees aid daring them to come with
in reach Of the Spanish guns. TEsr
they would return home chattering and
laughing as though the blockading ol
the city were a comic opera.
1.-THE city was tranquil and abnormal
ly free from crime. Havana has 20. 00(
volunteers, all Spaniards, and respcusi'
BILE men are providing for them. They
wore uniforms and were provided witi
horses. They are armed by the govern
ment. These volunteers assure tic tran
quillity of the city, as they ovesswe th<
Cuban canallle. Tho food supplies wer'
generally sufficient Today there is .
two months supply Of coal in port. A
week ago there were 90. 900 tons
Captain General Blanco recently
issued several socialistic orders. limit
ing the prices Of staples, reducing rents
so per cent and aholishing payments 81
interest on loans aud mortgages. hopin;
thereby 10 enable the poorer classes
who are chiefly Cubans, 10 tide over CHI
war. No starvation exists. but tn,
thrifty ones content themselves viii
one economical mcal daily. Tho poorel
classes arc paid for their labor Gu thu
old basis, but arc paying for their yrr
chascs ON the new basis. Upon this plan
they can only buy one-half what the,
used to get. Tho citizens and tho arm,
alike arc eager for a fight, the otliocr
fercely dcnourcing all idea of ccin
promise"