Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-07-14
STARVING REFUGEES.
Great Distress Prevails Among the Thou
sands of People Who Left Santiago to
Escape the Bombardment-Gen.S Shsfter
Extends Aid.

Extends Aid.
FL Caney, Near Santiago de Cuba,
July S.-More than $1,000 innocent vic
Tins of the war have fled here to es-
cape the terrorS of the threatened
bombardment of Santiago and they
are now confronted by the horrors OF
starvation. They are appealing to
Gen. Shafter for succor Most of them
are foreigners, principally French, or
with an admiXture of foreign blood,
and their interests are being looked
after by their consulS. When they
were informed that Gen. Toral refused
to consider the question of surrender
ing they swarmed out of the north
gate of the city and trudged over the
road, which in places was ankle deep
in mud
The French and Portuguese consuls
continued their conference looking to
the relief of the refugees from San
tiago. On Wednesday they called on
Gen. Shafter and begged for American
aid. The general promised to afford
the refugees limited daily supply of
food at FL Caney and other towns in
Spanish territory, where they get
nothing from Spain.
The consuls were very guarded in
their references to the situation at
Santiago, but they painted it worse
than reported by the refugees. They
claimed that the garrison only num-
bers 5000 men. The accuracy of this
is doubtful.
Gen. Shafter explained to the con-
suls the impossibility of caring for
these poor people out of the army sup
plies, but he did spare some rations
which were given out with sparing
hands to the women and feeble old
men. Miss Clara Barton and George
Kennan, of the Red Cross society, Of
fered to provide 5000 rations if Shat
ter would transport them. After con-
sultation with the French consul,
Shafter agreed to do so.
The first pack train arrived heSnes-
day afternoon and was unloaded in the
village square amid the clamoring
cries of thousands. The better class
held back, while the ignorant, es-
pecially the negroes, pressed forward,
frantically appealing for bread. Capt.
Finlay, who commands the garrison in
town. saw that enough food was re-
served to supply those whose delicacy
and good breeding restrained them
from begging. Many of the better
class have offered to pay almost any
price for transportation to Juragua
and thence to go by our transports to
some foreign port. 1t appears likely
that some arrangements can be made
to get them out of the country.
New York, July S.-The following
cablegram was received Thursday by
Stephen Barton from Miss Clara Bar
ton:
''Siboney, July 6.-Came from Shat
ter's front in the night for food and
clothing for refugees who are leaving
Santiago by the thousands. starving
and naked. The State of Texas has
gone to Port Antonio for ice to save
her meat will return tomorrow. Are
sending supplies to refugees, all we
can from bO'h camps, by army wagons
and pack mules. 1t is nearly impossi-
Bile to land pplies-high tides, no
docks. surf terrific. Our ship yawls
cannot stand in the surf. Have mend
ed one old broken fiat boat which our
men drag ashore in the surf, waist
deep. No transportation. Horses and
packers tents would be helpful.
Wounded men taken from our ope-
rating tables are laid on the ground,
often without blankets or shelter from
rain or sun. AS others die their cloth
ing is taken to put on the naked, to
get them down to Siboney, ten miles
over roads that upset army wagons.
Mrs. Gardner, myself and the whole
working force of the Red Cross at the
front are in direct range of the sharp
shooters Lesser and the nurses are
doing splendid work at Siboney. The
men are as brave as lions. Shafter is
acting wisely and humanely, doing
all he can. We return to the front
at once"