The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-21
SITUATION IN HAVANA.
Business Para1yzed by the blockade
and People Anxious to Leave.

Business Paralyzed by the Blockade
and People Anxious to Leave.
Copyright 1898, by the Associated Press)
HAVANA, May g. via Vera Cruz, Mexico,
May 13.-The weight of the blockade is be-
ginning to be felt here. Business is almost
at a complete standstill and there is hard
ly any movement in the streets, which have
a sort of holiday appearance. The parks
are almost deserted and there are very few
people to be seen on the Plaza de Armas
at night although the band plays there and
everything is done to keep up the spirits
of the people,
There is feverish desire to leave the ISL
and and over five thousand people booked
at the office of the consignees of the French
steamer Lafayette, which leaves here to-
day for Vera Cruz, Mexico, with this letter,
which will be posted at that port. In fact,
an actual panic now prevails while when
the blockade commenced there was a feel
ing almost Of serenity among all classes.
But things have changed. The grim earnest
of the Americans is steadily forcing itself
upon the minds of even the most hot-headed
Spanish officers, though the latter are work.
ing vigorously at the Notifications, which
have been considerably strengthened and
improved since the war began. The Span
iards, 1t must be admitted. are preparing
to fight as desperately as possible under the
circumstances.
Many families without means are striving
to efnigrate, trying to borrow money from
more fortunate people in order to be able
to pay their passage money. But it is hard
to see how their condition will be improved
to any great extent, even if they do sue
coed in leaving the blockaded city, for they
have been rendered pennileSS and their
chance of earning livelihood in a foreign
country is very slim.
There is considerable feeling against the
men who are DESTROYS of leaving the city
and posted on the corners of houses all over
the town you can see such notices as the
following: Here are sold women's shirts
for the men who are abandoning the Island
OF Cuba
There has been no disorder In this city or
In the provinces, so far as known, though
it is true people here entirely ignorant
of what is transpiring at Santiago, no mail
having been received from there for some
time past and the cable being in the hands
or the government and almost exclusively
devoted to further the military operations,
which are about limited to evacuating the
interior towns and concentrating the Span
ish forces at or about the large cities
1t is reported here that Santa Cruz del
Sur; on the south coast of the province Of
Puerto Principe, has fallen into the hands
of the insurgents. IT this is the case, the
latter now have port at which their
friends can land arms, ammunition and sup
plies without interference. Other important
events are said to have transpired at Santa
Cruz del Sur.
The officers of the Spanish gunboat Cuba
Espanola have reached Sancti Spiritus,
province of Santa Clara, by land and are
on their way to Tunas, and from there by
coasting steamer to CienfuegoS. One report
has it that the commander of the Cuba
Espanola burned or blew up his vessel in
or to it from ng n th d hands Ss
affair says the gunboat may have been
captured by the insurgents.
Confirmation has been received here that
the Spanish troops have evacuated
Jiguni and Bayamo. in the province of San
tiago de Cuba. and that they have been
occupied by the insurgents. The Spaniards
say the troops destroyed those two towns
before leaving them, but this is not be-
treated upon Manzanillo and some of them
have reached other coast towns by this
time.
Although the prices of provisions here are
very high, it is calculated that there is
food obtainable to last five months and it
is claimed, considerable stores were laid in
before the blockade and no provisions are
allowed to be sent from here to the interior
towns. Eggs cost 10 cents each; a glass of
milk costs from 20 to % cents each, and the
size of loaf of bread has been reduced
one-half. This, however, was done before
the blockade began.
There are thousands of men from the
cigar tobacco and other factories out of
work and the authorities are employing as
many of them as possible on the fortifica-
lions. The wharves are entirely cleared of
merchandise. not box, barrel or sack be-
ing seen. and there the idle people congre-
gate and enjoy the fresh air while talking
over the war The number of men idle is a
matter which causes the authorities consid-
cradle anxiety. Up to the present they have
been provided with food in one way or an
other, mainly by their former employers
being compelled to contribute toward their
maintenance. but the time must come when
these men will feel the pangs of hunger and
then rioting is sure to follow.
People here are looking forward with APP
prehension to the eventual triumph of the
insurgents. as 1t is believed that they will
wreak terrible vengeance upon the Span
iards and upon those who have sympathized
with the latter. The bulk of the Spaniards.
and are looking forward with confidence to
an eventual triumph over the American
forces They have have ish great a faith 4, in the
of the Snanish soldiers and are looking for
ward hopefully for the blockade being raised
by the naval force sent from Spain AS soon
forts. the shores of the bay. San Iazaro
avenue and the roofs of the houses are i'm
mediatelv crowded with people. who cheer
wildly when a shot is seen to fall anywhere
near the American war ships
The Spanish officers say all the strategic
points about the coast have been occupied
by troops and that it will be difficult TO ef-
feet landings. Ambuscades have also been
prepared at various points and they say
5000 men will be needed to reduce the place.
New entertainments have been thrown up
and more heavy artillery has been mounted
but it Is difficult to obtain any accurate de-
tails of such work. Any inquiries on the
subject are liable to cause the arrest of the
person putting the question and newspaper
tinuaily under suspicion. They are care
fully watched and il Is only with the great
est difficulty that ma man ,TTtters can be snug
exacting than ever and any news which he
allows to be cabled is strictly officiaI The
going out in a small fishing boat with mail