The herald., 1898-05-23
DAMAGE At CARDfNAS
BONN wHzn TIE w1Ns1ow wAs
T1AR11D
FAMINE PREVAILS IN CUBA
The insurgents IN Dire Distress for
Lack Of Eocd-No News From
the Fleet


Associated Press Special Wire
< KEY WEST. Fla. May q. 6p. m.-(Copy-
rixht, 1883, by the Associated Press) Senior
Hrnesto Castro. . well known lawyer and
Iessidsnt Of The revolutionary junta Of
cardenas, arrived here today on the United
states gunboat Annapolis. During the re-
cent bombardment at Cardenas Senior Cas-
tro was IN the bay In q small boat trying to
reach the American vessels and get trans
psrtation to the United States on an i'm
portant mission. He was compelled to re-
turn to the shore. where he saw and heard
Of the results Of the bombardment.
The Spanish gunboats that lured the
United States torpedo boat Winslow into
the death trap were the Antonio Lopez.
lssaltad- and Ligsra. During the fight the
former two retreated behind the wharves
ana the Ligera behind the key. 1t was
IL Antonio Lopes that opened fire on the
Winslow and dscoyed her into the trap.
The Spanish troops formed on the public
square. not daring to 60 to the wharves;
III the Spanish flags were lowered. as they
furnished targets. and the families all fed
70 Jovellanos.
senior Castro says an American shell ex-
pleled In the very entrance to the Spanish
casino, shattsrlng the building and setting
Il o. lrs. The casino. which had been used
a. . military headquarters and infantry
barracks. and which was the largest struc-
tuTs in the town. was utterly destroyed.
Other buildings were wrecked. Some Of
the shots went a. far az the Trienta sugar
plantation. two miles in the interior. The
Iess Of nfe. Senior Castro believes to have
been heavy. 1t was 20 reported, After the
nombardment ceased the military COM
SANDER pressed all able-bodied men into
the work Of carrying sand to build new bat
tsries, and the next day LOO men were
brought from Matanxas and Havana to
continue the work.
Senior Castro. after passing four days on
the Piedras key, signaled the United States
gunboat wilmington and was taken on.
He says famine prevails everywhere In
Cuba. In Cardenas rice IL Is cents a pound,
condensed milk sells at $3.50 per can and
horsenesh brings Is cents pound. There
u no beef nor bread.
The insurgents are in dire distress. For
nsriy provisions were smuggled from the
cities. but that relief il now impossible.
since the cities themselves are starving
The insurgents are trying to subsist on
peppery wood and palm buds. Senior Cas-
tro tasted meat today for the first time in
I'VE weeks.
News From the Fleet
F, The tranquility Of q tropical Sunday has
been undisturbed by definite information
from any quarter. A few naval uniforms
ON the streets are the only signs Of the
proximity of this languid town to the thea
ter Of war. There are only one or two
ships In the harbor and they ara coaling
with all haste to get away to join their
fellows In an action which oil are convinced
Il only q matter of days. perhaps hours.
Speculation is still concentrated on the
whereabouts Of Admiral Cerveras squad
ron. the general opinion favoring some
point on the southern coast. AS both sides
Of the island are now patrolled by United
States warships. the naval authorities will
not admit the possibility Of Cervera's es-
cape without the most desperate conflict
IN the history Of naval warfare.
Reports from Admiral SIMPSONS squad
ron say that all is quiet on the northern
coast Of Cuba. Nothing from Commodore
echley is expected before Monday or Tues
day. A rumor reached here that four
American warships, while bombarding
Santiago de- Cuba. had been driven of by
the Spanish feet. but the story Is gener-
ally discredited.
Gustave Arangueren, a brother Of the
lAte Cuban insurgent general. Nestor
Arangueren, today received letters from
Havana via Vera Cruz. dated May !, stat.
Ing that General Blauco's orders irnpress-