The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-26
CUBAN APPEAL FROM CIENFuEGos.
Natives Claim 10 He Starving and
Ask Sampson to Save Them.


Copyright, 1885, by the Associated Press.
Guantanamo Bay July 25, Il a m.-The
following pitiful appeal has been address
ed by the starving people of Cienfuegos to
Rear Admiral Sampson:
Honorable Sir-The Cubans, old men.
women and children, resident in the town
of Cienfuegos and this neighborhood are
all dying of hunger. The young men are
all in the field with the Cuban troops and
have neither shoes nor food.
"An the provisions in this town are in
the hands of the Spaniards. Cubans can
not obtain a piece of bread, as it is neces-
sary to send everything to the field. The
Weyler system is in the way.
"The situation is terrible. If you, hon
orable sir, do not come quick with your
squadron to our help and take possession
of this town we shall be lost.
I'VE beg you to pFecipitate your opera
tion. About 5000 old men, women and
children shall die of hunger in
this town. Some of these old
men have four or five sons
lighting for his freedom. If the great peo-
pie of the United States do not come quick
TO our help we are yost For Gods sake
come quick. (Signed Suffering Cubans.'
Nothing can be done for the people of
Cienfuegos until that place is captured
This viii not be for some time.
The following is a translation from a
newspaper of Cienfuegos of the loss of
the Spanish steamer Alfonso XII which
was driven ashore on the coast of Cuba
by the auxiliary gunboat Hawk:
Yesterday" says Eel Correo of Havana,
there arrived the survivors of the fine
Atlantic steamship Alfonso XII, which
was scuttled in the waters of Mariel.
with a natural desire TO obtain in
formation which would calm the anxiety
of the public we interviewed the survivors
and found they were rendered nearly in
sensible by fatigue and anxiety. Their
feet were sore from walking from the
head of the valley of Mariel to Guiana bay,
and their hands were badly lacerated in
their efforts TO save the cargo
I'VE will fs sthfully relate that which
occurred, reserving what, in our judg-
ment, is not permitted to give the public
and which might serve as advice TO our
enemies
THE Alfonso XII was fitted out in Ca
diz with six cannon the necessary crew,
three companies of marines and other nee
essary articles In twenty days 1 hoped
to make port and land the cannon and
troops Immediately. 1 navgated the AL
! fonso XII with hope in God and the valor
of the crew. l ran with all possible speed
to the nights of Cienfuegos, where came
out three cruisers of the enemy. Seeing
them, the Alfonso XII took flight toward
the Isle of Pines, in which waters l lost
sight Of our pursuers.s
Believing myself now free fronnpursuit.
I laid my course directly toward Havana
with full intention of making that harbor.
| When eight miles distant my course was
| intercepted by three other cuisers, which
l was unable to encounter The American
| cruisers took position on my starboard and
| port and head.
Il then steered the Alfonso XII toward
Mariel, where l hoped to enter with the
exclusive object of disembarking. I de-
| cided TO save the cargo as the object i'm
coming was to land provisions and the
cargo on the island.
Il saw an embarrassing situa ton. The
Yankees began throwing shells. which
landed in all directions around The shin.
which proved what he had said thousand
times that the Americans are no ardller-
lists and the Christs of the earth.
or the hundreds of proieetiles thrown
at the Alfonso XII, only eight struck the
ship.
This corroborates our opinion of their
bad training.
Then Capt Moret ordered the cargo to
be thrown overheard in order that some
portions might float to the shore. which
was only pistol-shot distant We got out
a Doat ana prepared to torpedo the shin
81 saw the Americans would not delav
destroying the fine ship and therefore.
placed an explosive bomb between the two
tunnels of the Alfonso XII. and Instantly
blew up the ship in column of smoke so
dense and so black that 1t appeared like
an immense cloud, obscuring the atnos-
/ pherc and making breathing difficult
In this moment of detection corrisive
| liquid fire enveloped the ship and Tapped
up the wood like a hungry serpent. The
crew, being hopeless, had only time 10
jump into the water and escape the fiery
furnace.
THUS has been consumed the best shin
of the Transatlantic Company and the
pride of the fleet"
Corn and flour have been sent by Rear
Admiral Sampson to the suffering citl-
zens Of Guantanamo
Information has been received of the
withrawal of the Spanish troops from Jib-
ara, from which place there Is a railroad
TO Holzuin.
The auxiliary cruiser Prairie is off Jibara
to keep order
A bulletin from Admiral Sampson saws
that this is one Of the commanding points
in eastern Cuba.