New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-06
FOOD STOLEN FROM THE SICK
A NURSES STORY OF SPANISH CUPIDITY
IN HAVANA
To the Editor OF The Tribune.


tee here ceased giving food to the poor in Ha-
vana l found the distress very grievous among
Cubans. Spaniards, Americans, English and Chi
nese. | therefore determined open a small
mission on my own account for giving food 10
the starving women and children. In thirty days
gave SI3O worth Of food and clothing, and
soon found out that Spanish and Cuban women
and children Of the highest position We're suf-
ferng from the pangs OF hunger in their houses
and apartments
This state OF things has arisen account OF
the long continued war through the death Of
husbands and fathers. through the absence OF
friends, who had fed away from the siege Of
Cuba, and from the fact that no one. not
the shops. required needlework to be done or
professors Of languages. music or painting. so
that a considerable number Of families 1.-TWO
hundred were suddenly thrown into poverty.
On April i announced through the papers
that would help women and children OF all ma
toralltes with food and clothing as long as !
could. The food and clothing came to an end,
and going 10 the custom house for "A supply
i was Informed by the official custodian that
the English Consul who acted American
Consul had verbally given his consent al the
Cafe Angleterra that the two hundred tons OF
provisions in his charge should be looted for
military purposes, as the soldiers were suffering
Tor the want or 1000. Inc authorizes went LOT
the goods al 10 o'clock at night, but the Gus
todian would not give them up unless General
Blanco consented. Therefore. early the ncxt
morning the order came him. and he
obliged to comply
FEEDING AMERICANS HER CRIME.
then wrote to General Blanco for some Of
the goods for sick and poor women and chill
dren who were suffering. I went to the Palace
81 ,,,+ cont
me his secretary to say that l had fed and
clothed and given medicine to the American
women and children in Havana. who were the
enemies Of Spain. and had not confined myself
10 Spanish poor l could have no food or clothing
sent to the non-combatants by the Americans.
but all the food would go for military purposes.
and the children's clothing would be burned at
the docks.
This was done. and had the pain OF seeing
the smoke. l may say here that nothing could
be cleaner better more appropriate than
the clothing sent from America to the poor here.
particularly that which came from Portland.
Me but that did not save IL from destruction.
The result of this was that l besleged
by hungry women and children. including
twenty American children whose mothers are
native born Americans and whose fathers are
dead. Fortunately ] had nedicine-that is.
quinine-from England, which cost 100 III gold.
One large pot Of this sent to Los Foses and
the other remained with me.
Now IT turned out that they had not sufficient
money to pay the carriage on all these goods at
the custom house, they determined TO sell
some for money. l bought one thousand pounds
OF meat the same OF -four. the same OF meal and
coffee and gave S1o7 in sold for las tins Of con-
densed milk. In all.
POLICE SEIZE FOOD AND MEDICINE.
AS soon as the goods were stored In my house
! sent an announcement to the "Diara de la
Marina" informing the women and children on
my list about five hundred. that l had now
food for them. and would distribute il on the
ODD This announcement was sent on the morn
ing OF the 10Th. and at 3 o'clock the same day
a detective policeman. who gave the name OF
Puri together with FIVE other policemen. came
and demanded the whole OF the goods and med-
cine in General Blanco's name, as the police
had not been paid for eleven months. and
wanted food.
Fortunately had a woman with me. who was
a witness TO one Of the most disgreceful raids
that was ever made. These vulgar men even
entered my bedroom. stole from thence my tea
and coffee bread and butter etc. and even with
their sacrligious hands. raised the Virgin from
her pedestal to see II had placed anything OF
value underneath.
I'd 10 this moment have not received one
penny from the United States or from England
or Spain for these charities or for my services
for the year | have been here, though must
say the United States offered TO pay me for
nursing the Maine boys, which declined The
money have spent is from my own poor purse
shared with my sisters. the non-combatants or
this unhappy city and comprises not only my
six months income. but my savings besides
Now I have only a few dollars al Iaughton
Childs: this I will share with the American
women and children whom the Government re-
fuses 10 allow to embark We will buy lit
lie food with II and II we perish we perish to-
gether.
There is no appreciation here OF sef-sacrlhce
and nobility OF character. but God sees the heart
and will succor in our hour OF peril
They have looted the 100 worth Of quinine'
and / am weak for the want OF a little.
1t was difficult TO maintain my womanly dig
nifty during this raid, for have three hundred
sick little ones on my hands. and could not
helm dropping silent tears on their account.
visited the prisoners Of war yesterday. They
are all we'll Mr.. Edwards. secretary Of the
Young Mems Christian Association OF Reading
Penn unIawfuly imprisoned as Spy, has gone
out Of his mind Poor boy. pity him
SISTER MARY W1LBERFORCE
Havana, May "a 1898.
This letter was received In an envelope
marked "IJ S. Consulate General at Habana.
hut postmarked Vera Cruz and bearing Mexi-
can postage stamp and registered. The ADDRESS
read The New-York Tribune from the Doomed
City Of Havana. The letter was headed
"c,atement Of Mary Wiberforce. IL years
neuber Of the r. b. y. A., Of London" II was
evidently sent out OF Havana on one OF inc
steamers that have been permitted 10 pass the