The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-14

longer left room for hope. Gloom set
tied upon the city, all the gaieties were
stopped, and every public and many
private buildings were hung with crepe
and other black draperies.
Blanco was in the palace when the
Intelligence reached hin, and. he be-
ed with his staff and Gen. Arolas, Of
the Spanish forces, discussing the news
when he made the attempt on his life.
After struggle he was subdued and
disarmed, but the shock was so severe
that he was Frustrated and compelled
to keep to his bed for several days.
When he arose his first order was to
prohibit any food supplies leaving Ha-
vana for interior towns, where the dis
tress is most poignant and where many
are starving daily.
BEARS BLANCO'S NAME.
This and other valuable information
was brought by Jose Pauline Blanco,
who Indignantly repudiated sugges-
ton Of kinship with the governor gen.
eral. He says he is loyal Cuban and
escaped to avoid the necessity Of fight
ing against his cause as every male in
the island who is able to bear arms is
being pressed into the Spanish service
He obtained a fisherman's permit to go
outside Of Moro, and at o'clock Mon
day morning put off in small boat
The United States gunboat Bancroft
was stationed six miles out, and ne
rowed to her, the Cojimar batteries
cast Of Havana firing two shots at him
when he was observed passing beyond
the prescribed limits. The Bancroft
transferred him to another vessel, and
he was brought here, where the local
junta will care for him.
The sailors Of two American ships
made up a liberal money subscription
for him and gave him some new cloth
ing.
Blanco says the living conditions in
Havana are constantly growing worse
the greatest distress necessarily falling
upon the Cubans, because nearly all
the food Is seized for the troops. Of
consisting of volunteers, modified
troops, militia and regulars. Their ra-
tions are largely rice and beans, with
out even bacon. Jerked beef, Blanco
says, sells for 30 cents a pound, bread
Of poor quality, so cents; lard, 81; meat.
IS cents; cornmeal, rs cents, and rice,
so cents. Shark food is eagerly sought.
and the day before Blanco left the city
one shark caught in Havana harbor
sold for $3.50.
STARVING IN THE STREETS.
The concentrates, who have sufficient
influence with the dispensing authori-
nfJv, ,kr;xy %
wretched meal a day, but the others
starve, and it is not an uncommon
thing, Blanco says. to see persons drop
dead in the streets.
Even among the Spaniards, starva-
ton is rapidly sapping their loyalty,
and large numbers Of men are banding
together awaiting the first American
attack on Havana as a signal for re-
volt. The provision stores are empty,
and the only articles on the Havana
wharves are about 1000 barrels of ce-
ment, wet and useless. Only liquor is
to be had cheaply
Work on the defenses continues with
tireless vigor. Two lines of cables
bearing torpedoes have been strung
across the harbor from the city side to
Moro castle, and the same has been
done in the bay of Mariel, where, it
was reported in Havana, American
troops are to be landed.
Sand battery No. 2, east Of Havana,
has lately mounted six-inch guns in
the extreme eastern side of the battery,
commanding the coast line, and few
days ago sent two shots at the May
flower, which had been cruising close
to the shore. New masked batteries
are also being built along the shore.
Blanco further reported that three
weeks ago the Spanish steamers Monte
video and Santo Domingo crept out of
the narbor at midnight with all lights
out and safely got through the block