The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-21
BLANCo RECEIVING SUPPLIES.
Food and Coal Landed on Isle of
Pines and Ferried to BatabanO.

FOOO ana Coal Lanue0 on Isle Oh
Pines and Ferried to BatabanO.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.
KEY WEST, Fla, June IA prominent
resident of Havana who left that place on
the 5th inst arrived here yesterday on his
way to New York. His description of the
situation in Havana at the tine he left con-
tradicts widespread reports of famine and
suffering in that city and throws new
light on the effectiveness of the blockade
which, it appears, fails in its purpose as
far as cutting off all means of supplies and
communication with the outside world is
concerned His story is entitled to full cred
ence and consideration. coming as it does
from one of the leading merchants of Ha-
vana, a foreign resident. unbiased in his
views or sympa thies. He reports, in the
first place, that Havana is practically an
open port as it is not blockaded on its
southern approach. Eatabano, on the south
side, is only forty miles from Havana. with
which city it is connected by rail- Bata-
bano has never been more than shipping
point and headquarters for the sponge fish
cries of southern Cuba and a landing place
for the Isle of Pines ferryboats, which there
connect with the north bound trains for
Havana.
of Pines being very shallow nowhere ex-
ceedng nine feet in depth and therefore in
accessible to any large craft, has caused the
Isle of Pines to be overlooked as a possible
entire port or base of supplies for western
Cuba and as a point deserving of greater
consideration than that attaching to a
fifth-rate and much mismanaged penal col
ony. 1t now appears, however that con-
-,
Isle of Pines and the Yucatan coast and
that full cargoes of provisions and live stock
have been regularly landed there from
steamers schooners and other sailing YES
sells unmolested by American war ships.
which rarely, if ever, patrol those waters.
The work of transshipping these cargoes
to Batabano on the fiat-bottom ferryboats
constantly plying between that port and
Nueva Guerona, the principal port of the
Isle of Pines is an easy matter, as is also
their subsequent transportation to Havana
by rail
In the first four days of June it is asserted
that over eight hundred head of cattle
were landed at Batabano besides large
quantities of flour and grain. Not only are
the shipments not limited to supplies of
provisions and the necessaries of life, but
our our informant reports coal in large quanti--
ties is also brought over. This statement
practically confirms the reports that the
Spanish government has established large
coal depotS on the Yucatan coast
AT the outbreak of hostilities it was re-
ported that Havana had sufficient reserve
supplies in store to last six months Since
then. 1t IS asserted. fresh shipments have
Deen received by way of Batabano and the
Isle of Pines far in excess of the consump-
tlon, so that, apparently, so far from suf-
Ierng the evils attendant upon the block
ade. Havana has kept on in the even tenor
of an unruffied existence with suficient
stores on hand to last another half year.
I,i A gay gay ana n cheerful note in these war
that by way of this same Progresso- Bata-
bano route an intrepid ''Companie de Ear
zuia. or theatrical troupe, from Mexico
made its appearance in Havana and has
since been playing to full houses at the
Alplsu Iheater unmindful of the impending
i Ia that hangs over the doomed city. The
. daily routine of life. it is added continues
unaltered and theater parties dances and
the usual social diversions are INDUCED in
as in time of peace
Considerable fear saws the Havana NOV
chant, has been entertained as to the TO-
bacco crop. Following the usages of war.
Iare practiced by Spaniards and Cubans
ailke, 1t has been confidently expected that
at least one half of the VueIta Abaio cron
would be ruined or set on fire in the field
Dull out much to the general surprise almost the
entlre output of the Vuelta Abaio and Rem
edlos districts has been baled, shipped and
stored in Havana Warehouses one firm
1 asSne, IL IS alleged had 10000 bales of the
1898 TOBACCO stored in Havana on the LET
OF June. valued at over $150000O
The general health is reported by the noer
chant to be particularly good. especially for
TINS season of the year and he denies the
reported ravages of yellow fever and small
pox on the island. He confirms the military
actiylty noticed and recorded by the officers
on on blockade duty and considers Havana to-
DAY very strongly fortified Work on the nav
oatterles and earthworks is kept I'D night
ana ana day and judging from outward and Vis
lple signs ana to use the language of the
oIncers and soldiers in Havana the Snan
lars are preparing to defend the CITY to the
IaSt ana intend only to strike their colors
When the dernier cartouche has been fred