The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-14
BLANC0 TRIED TO
COMMIT SUICIDE.
His Chagrin at Cervera's Attempt
Rendered Him Desperate.
TOLD BY JOSE PAULINE BlANC0.
Not a Kinsman Of the General How
everything Conditions i'm Havana
are Daily Growing Worsc-Food
is Scarce and Expensive.

KEY WEST. FLA. July 13.-According
to advices from Havana received mere To-
day. Governor General Blanco attempted
to commit suicide when he learned De
yond doubt that Admiral CerVefd
squadron had been annihilated.
Long before the Spanish AdmiraTs gal
liant dash out OF Santiago harbor, all
Havana had been Boosting OF his abhity
TO outwit the Americans and wheh ms
leading dispatches gave the impression
that ne had eludcd the American meet
the demonstrations of JOY In the CuOaii
capital partoOk OF the mature OIL Iesu-
val
THE STORY D1SCREDITED.
When the true story OF the defeat came
IT was discredred until definite conirma-
ton from Madrid no longer LETT room LOT
hone. Gloom settled upon the city, all
saieties were stopped and every public
and many private buildings were hung
with crepe and other black draperies.
Blanco was IN his palace when the intel
ligence reached him, and he became Al
most frenzied. He was closeted with MS
staff and General Arolas, of the Spanish
forces. discussing the news When ne
made the attempt on his lift.
THE SHOCK FRUSTRATED HIM.
After a struggle he was subdued ana
disarmed, but the shock was So severe
that he was Frustrated and completed 10
keep TO his bed for several days. Wnen
he arose his first order was 10 prohibit
any food supplies leaving Havana for in
terror towns. where the distress Is most
poignant, and where many are starving
daily.
This ard other valuable information
was brought by Jose Pauline Blanco.
who Indignantly repudated 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 male i'm the island
who Is able to bear arms. IS being press
cd into the Spanish service.
He obtained a fshermans permit TO go
out. and at o'clock Monday morning he
put of i'm a small boat. The United
states gunbOat Bancroft was stationed
six miles out. and he rowed to her. the
Coiimar batteries, east OF Havana, firing
two shots at him when he was observed
passing beyond the prescribed limits.
The Bancroft transferred him 10 another
vessel, and he was brought here, where
the local junta will care for him. The
sailors OF two American ships made mp
a liberal money subscription FOR him. and
gave him some new clothing.
HAVANA IN SORE STRAITS.
Blanco says the living conditions IN
Havana are constantly growing worse.
the greatest distress necessarily falling
on the Cubans. because nearly all the
food is seized for tn, Troops or those
there are about TO- 600 " the city consist
ing OF volunteers. modified troops. milf
tia and regulars. Their ratiOns are large
" rice and beans. without even bacon.
Jerked beef, BlancO says. sells for thirty
cents a pound, bread OF poor quality for
~ cents. lard ST. meat - cents. corn
meal % cents, and rice 80 cents. Sharks
food D. eagerly sought. and the day be-
fore BlancO left the city one shark caught
IN Havana harbOr sold for $3.50. Those
Of the reconcentradOes who have suffi-
cient influence with the dispensing au-
thOrites, sometimes COntrive to get one
wretched meal a day, but tho others
starve. and it is no uncommon thing.
says Banco. 20 see persons drop dead
I'm the streets. Even among the Span
iards starvation is rapidly sappins their
loyalty. and large numbers of men are
banding together awaiting the first Anne
rican attack on Havana as a signal for
revolt. The grocery and provision stores
are empty and the only articles on the
Havana wharves are about a thousand
barrels OF cement. wet and useless. Only
liquor is to be had cheaply.
STRENGTHENING THE DEFENSES.
Work on the defenses continues with
tireless vigOr. Two lines Of cables bear
ing torpedoes have been strung across
the harbror from the city side 10 MORO
Castle and the same has been done on
the Bay of Mariel. where It was reported
i'm Havana American troops are to be
landed Sand battery No. .. east of Iia-
vana, has lately mounted six inch guns
IN the extreme eastern side OF the battery
commanding the coast line and a few
days ago sent ,wo. shots al the Maynow-
err which had been cruising close 20 the
shore supposedly out OF range. New
masked batteries are also being built
along the shore.
RAN THE BLOCKADE.
Blanco further reported that three
weeks ago the Spanish steamers Monte
video and Santo Domingo crept ont of
the harbor at midnight with an lights ONT
and safely got through the blockade.
The Spanish ships now In the harhor,
he says. are the gunboats Condo Nena-
ditto Marquise De la Ensenada Neuva
Espana. f1lipinas and Nanez PinzOn, sew
eral OF which are unfit for service. The
guns have been removed from the cruiser
Alfonso XII and used for shore batteries
and the cruiser has been converted into
a hospital ship. There are also I'm the
harbor a number OF smaller warships OF
the nature of converted yachts, including
the Flecha, Aguila MagallanOs and two
others.
All Of these vessels except the Alfonso
XII are always ready To move on short
notice. The merchant steamers Josefa
Adola and Maria Herrera are also in the
harbor