Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-14
Take :: w., s; ,:.: =.
a YEa1S
Pills
TRIED SUICIDE.
General Blaneo Upset by the News of
Cervera's Defeat---Living Condi.
lions in Havana Growing Worse.

tioAs in Havana Growing Worse.
KEY WEST, Fla, july 13-According
to advices from Havana received here to-
day, Governor General Blanco attempt
ed to commit suicide when he learned be-
You'd doubt that Admiral Cervera's
squadron had been annihilated.
Long before the Spanish admiral's gall
I liant dash out Of Santiago harbor all Ha-
vana had been boasting of his ability
to outwit the Americans, and when mis-
leading dispatches gave the impression
that he had eluded the American fleet,
the demonstrations of joy in the Cuban
capital partook of the nature of a festi-
val.
When the true story of the defeat came
1t was discredited until definite confirma-
ton from Madrid no longer left room for
hope. Gloom settled upon the city, all
gaities were stopped and every public and
many private buildings were hung with
crepe and other black draperes. Blanco
was in the palace when the Intelligence
reached him and he became almost fren-
zied.
He was closeted 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 sub
dued and disarmed, but the shock was so
severe that he was Frustrated and COM
PEELED to keep his bed for several days.
When he arose his first order was to pro-
hibit any food supplies leaving Havana
for interior towns where the distress
is most poignant and where many are
starving daily.
This and other valuable information
was brought by Jose Pauline Blanco, who
Indignantly repudiated a suggestion of
kinship with the Governor General He
says he is a loyal Cuban and escaped to
avoid the necessity of fighting against
his cause, as every man in the island who
is able to bear arms is being pressed into
the Spanish service
Blanco says the living conditions in
Havana are constantly growing worse,
the great distress necessarily falling on
the Cubans, because nearly all the food
! is seized for the troops. Of those there
are about 70,000 in the city. consisting of
volunteers, modified troops, militia and
regulars. Their rations are largely rice
and beans without even bacon. Jerked
beef, Blaco says, sells for 30 cents
| pound, bread of poor quality for 80 cents,
| lard 81, meat IS cents, corn meal % cents
and rice 80 cents. Shark food is eagerly
| sought and the day before Blanco left
| the city one shark caught in Havana har-
Dor sold for $3.50,
| Those of the reconcentrados who have
| sufficient influence with the dispensing
authorities sometimes contrive to get one
wretched meal day, but the others
| starve, and 1t is no uncommon thing,
Blanco SAYS. to see persons drop dead in
! the ststsessC1 sEe,: among the Spaniards
starvation Is Rapidly sapping their 10y
! atty. and large number of men have
banded themselves together awaiting the
| first attack on Havana as a signal for re-
! volt
| The grocery and provision stores are
empty and the only articles on the Ha-
vana wharves are about a thousand bar
/ rels of cement, wet and useless. Only
| liquor is TO be had cheaply.
| Work on the defenses continue with
! ceaseless 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 1T was reported
| in Havana. American troops are to be
! landed. Sand battery No. 9 east of Ha-
vana, has lately mounted six-inch guns
/ in the extreme eastern side of the bat
! terry commanding the coast line, and a
| few days ago sent two shots at the
| Mayfower which had been cruising close
| to the shore, supposedly out of range
| 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 harbor at midnight with all lights out
| and safely got through the blockade.
| The Spanish ships now in the harbor. he
says, are the gunboats Condo Venadito.
| Marquise de Ia Ensenada, Neuva Espana,
| F'ilipinas and Nanez Pinzon, several of
| which are unfit for service. The guns
| have been removed from the cruiser Al
| fonso XIII. and used for shore batter
| les, and the cruiser has been converted
| irto a hospital ship. There are also in
the harber a number of smaller war
ships of the nature of converted yachts.
! including the Flecha. Aguilla MaguEla-
nos and two others. All of these vessels
except the Alfonso XIII. are always
| ready to move on short notice.
| The merchant steamers Josefa. Adolph
and Maria Herrara are also in the harbor.