The Indianapolis journal., 1898-09-24
RELIEF is NEEDED.
Commissioners Ask Aid for American
New Barracks Necessary.

mmissfOners Ask Aid for Americans
New Barracks Necessary.
HAVANA, Sept. 23.-The British consul
last night paid a long visit to the American
military commission at the Trocha Hotel.
He conversed at length with General Wade.
General Bates and Rear Admiral Sampson.
The authorities have forbidden music in the
park of Vedado, the suburb where the
Trocha Hotel is situated. 1t is understood
that they did so in order to prevent crowds
of people from gathering in the neighbor-
hood of the hotel.
The American commissioners, in view of
the great number of American citizens in
the island who require aid and having no
American consul here to distribute relief,
have, according to report, asked the Wash
ington government for a special credit to
attend to these urgent requirements. Ac-
cordng to information received the COM
missioners have advised the government
that it will be very dangerous to bring to
Havana troops to be housed in the existing
barracks, as they have become infected by
overcrowding with sick Spanish soldiers
and because of the bad sanitary condition
of the whole town. 1t is, therefore, pro-
posed that frame barracks, ready to be put
together, shall be shipped from the United
States before the American troops are
brought here.
Silver is rising, owing to the fact that
bankers are buying large sums of silver
coin. To-day silver was quoted at STA
cents on the dollar. During the blockade
it was as low as 81 cents.
General Blanco has conferred decora-
ton upon a colored woman named Barbara
Gutierrez for bravery displayed during the
bombardment of Manzahillo, where she
fought side by side with the regular troops,
displaying the utmost courage.
Chief Francisco Peraza, of the Guelta
Abajo division, has arrived at General
Coilazos's camp-ats- MeienT der Sur in
Havana province, leaving the command of
his division to Jose Castillo, the next in
command.
The American commissioners continue in
active spending their days at the Trocha
Hotel, where, as far as can be learned, no
official business is being done. All are in
good health. No cases of fever of any kind
are reported among the members Of the
commission or it's staff.
Among the passengers who arrived yes
terday from Key West on the steamer Mas
cote was Sonora Luz Noriega, widow of
DR.. Hernandez. She was known as the
Queen of Cuba" and figured in the in
surrection enlisting in General Maceos
command, III WIllCIl IlSI uuSDdLO was stan
surgeon Her husband was killed in the
war and she was taken prisoner by the
Spaniards near Sancti Spiritus and deport-
ed. She returns to the island with the in
tention of actively resuming work in the
cause Of the freedom of Cuba.
Reports from all points of the island, be-
sides confirming the statements regarding
the want and destitution among the Cuban
soldiers, say the health in their camps is
very bad and that dysentery and malaria
|. are decimating the forces. Official returns
as to the mortality in Santa Clara province
during the month of July show 1870 deaths,
of which lis resulted from smallpox.
Free soup kitchens are still open in twelve
wards here all the others being closed.
Advices from Pinar del Rio, the great
Vuelta Abajo tobacco district, arc encour-
aging. The Cuban troops stationed in the
province have been behaving we'll, and la
bor in the fields has been resumed, most
of the planters sowing as much tobacco as
possible in view of the scarcity of oxen,
most of which animals were confscated
during the war for the maintenance of both
armies Several important sales of tobacco
of previous crops reported as being at
good prices. The general tone of the dis
trict is healthy and confidence is mani
tested on every hand.
The battalions of Seville and Burgos are
concentrating at Cienfuegos, in readiness
for embarkation for Spain. The soldiers
are suffering greatly owing to the intense
heat, which has caused atmospheric dis
turbances, and severe storms are of daily
occurrence
Sales are held every day at the public
wharves in this city of damaged fruits and
vegetables already in a state of decay.
which constitute a serious menace to the
public health. Yellow fever, which has
hitherto been of a very mild type, and COM
paratively few cases of which have been
reported has lately assumed a more dam
gerous form and is increasing.
General Blanco has ordered all sick SOL
diers who are still in the field in the interior
to go to the seaport towns nearest their
position and to be prepared to be shipped
by the end of the month. Instructions have
been given that preparations shall be made
to have vessels ready to embark them for
Spain.