The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-30


your request for Information as 10 the
best method % sending relief 10 Cuba, l
have TO say that the following articles are
reported BY Gen. Lee as being greatly
needed: Summer cIotaing for women ard
children: medicines for fevers, principally
ouintne; hard bread. corn meal. bacon.
rice. lard potatoes beans. peas. salt nsh.
any canned goods and especially large
quantities Of condensed milk, as many
persons are al first too feeble Tor otafF
notrishment Money. If course, is useful
for many purposes. I have further TO say
that the department Is In receipt OF COM
m1inscarlon from the Ward Line Of steam
err plying between New York ana ha-
vana TO the effect that all goods OF TINS
character. designed for the suffering peo-
pie OF Cuba and consigned To Consul Cen
eral Lee. will be transported free OF
charge.
Il IN noped and believed that ready
and generous response from the American
people will serve 10 promptly relieve the
condition of the suffering people In the
island OF Cuba. JOHN SHERMAN.
Secretary Of State.
The above communication, written es-
uecialIy by the secretary of state for the
readers of this newspaper. shows that the
benevolent heart OF the American nation
In urgently needed to respond quickly 10
the appeal from Cuba, or send US 1000.
or we die of hunger. There has been no
exaaueration Of facts In the case. The
writer made n trip to New York for the
express purpose OF interviewing the Cuban
tunta on the subject. and was eourteously
received By Senior Estrada Palma. the
Cuban delegate to this country
81 will show you" said Mr. Palma. as
soon as the subject OF starving natives in
Cuba had been preached. Il Will show you
that the reports have been rather under
than over estimated. have letters from
All rarts Of the island describing the most
heart-rendlng condition OF affairs. / can
not give you the names OF the writer's. But
let me select one from Guynes, in the
province OF Havana.
The writer begins with a pitiful appeal
for help and goes on 10 describe the con-
ditlon OF the town as being worse than that
Of a besieged city In its last extremity.
Take this one sentence from the letter:
1T IL like "A city OF the dead. We listen IN
vain for the voices OF our children. Ihey
are silent In the grave. The young and
delicate were the first TO so. We Older
ones have managed To live through 1t.
That is a few OF us have. Many, and
among them myself wish they had been
less fortunate for We envy the dead.
Not a child under years OF age is left
alive. and thousands are dying In the
country all around rs.
Take another letter" continued Mr..
Palma Here is a specimen from batch
received from a priest in the city of Ha-
vana:
~ never saw 80 many funerals during
the whole time of my stay on the Island.
There is continual procession of car
riages. All the collins are filled by vic
tins Of starvation. Can nothing be done
to help? In your favored land. viii rot
the people stretch out a hand 10 keep us
from dying OF lack Of food?'
II could show You others, continued
Mr.. Palma but those viii suffice. The
crying needs Of the people have not half
been told An incident that came under
the notice Of n man who has Just returned
from Cuba is pathetic enough TO arouse
the Americans To renewed exertions. In
one starving city a little condensed milk
had been secured, and child was brought
in the Hast stages Of starvation To receive
its portion OF the milk The poor mother
just gave IL one mouthful OF milk. when
tho child gasped and died. l could multi
ply those instances by an indefinite num-
Der IL IL We're necessary"
The cry of the starving Cubans is be-
ing heard and answered in America. The
same charity that sent a shipload of food
10 aid the starving natives of India is
coming forward now that people are dying
Of hunger at our very doors In Wash
iryfor the writer bear witness that
most active measures are being taken.
and money and promises or food are COM
ing In rapidly. Communications are pass
Ing TO and fro continually be,wetp: the
state department officials and Consul Cen
erai Lee. ana arrangements have been
made by the latter for the prompt and
systematic delivery and distribution of
any relief food that Is sent from America
The steamships OF the Ward lire. plying
between New York ana Havana. have Of
fered To take free Of charge any contri-
buttons OF food or clothlng TO the starry
ing Cuhans. and The American railroads
are coming forward with similar Offers
In the general pity for those who perish
of hunger grim wars mailed hand IS hid
der: the Spanish authorities are forget
fiDg their animosity against the peunIe OF
this country, and are not only permitting
all supplies for the ADMINISTRATOR people
20 PASS through the usually harricadea
routes 20 the country. hut are actually
Joining IN the petition that America send
hcip 10 the people.
Flour can he sent from this country free
of duty. by special agreement Of the span
ish aulhcrjties ana IL has previously
ueCessit8ted fet per cent outlay in or
der 20 get -four through the custom nause
a. Havana. g 6 desirable that door should
l. purcha sed in America ana forwarded
60 Cuba as IL the money is sen, 70 Con-
sui General Lee i VII cost him more To
purchase the flour IN Havana than IL Wiz
10 ship i1 duty free from this country
According 30 TIE state department.. mon
~ expended ln this country can he made
- go twice as far AZ though IL was sent
% Cuba - Ia expended there The money
destined for the relief q the Cuban sif-
ferers had better therefore Re forwarded
direct 70 the state department II Wash
inetou. ana he expended bv them In rur-
chasing supplies lr this country 20 be for
warded through the channels new opened
The children aTe the principal suffer
eTs Condensed milk IS therefore the
most desirable thlog 20 purchase ~ or
der thar 1he starving ONES may be saved
TIE state department. showed l;S wisdom
recently by purchasing ssss woryh - can-
GcDsrd milk 80 be- forW 3tfea by the next
lsoa'- The money Wa donated rs the
charitable 20 Montana ARA $50 wei has TIE
state Department sNNteuaattzea TIRE work
ing ~ the relief bureaG that tho money
WIS exc hanged for condensed mia and
tse miiS on the Wy n save she lives ~
taa Cuhan babies wilhin enc day after i1s
Fcrcipt
There are fcW COWS IN Caba. ana mix
s. al a high preH3Uw Ear tao h.Sn for
f4e helpless children - Cutan pactt. -a.s
20 expect to get auy f~am tne regular