Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-05-27
Effects Of the Blockade
Are Being Felt.
FEVERISH DESIRE TO LEAVE


Havana, May 23.-The weight of the
blockade is beginning to be felt here,
Business is almost at a standstill, and
there is hardly any movement in thu
streets, which have a sort of holiday
appearance. The parks are almost de.
serted, and very few people are to be
seen on the Plaza de Asamas at night.
although the band plays there and
everything possible is done to keep up
the spirits of the people.
There is a feverish desire to leave
the island, and over 5000 people are
booked at the Office of the consignees of
the French steamer Lafayette, which
leaves here today for Vera Cruz, Mex.
leo, 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 of serenity pervading all classes.
But things have changed, and the grim
earnestness OF the Americans is steadily
forcing itself upon the minds of even
the most hot-headed Spanish officers,
though the latter are working vigor.
ously at the Notifications, which have
been considerably strengthened since
the war began. The Spanish, it must
be admitted, are preparing to fight as
desperately as possible under the cir.
cumstances.
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 notices as
follows:
Here are sold women's shirts for
men who abandon 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 are en-
tirely ignorant of what is %transpiring
at Santiago, no mail having been re-
ceived from there for some time past.
The cable is in the hands of the govern.
ment, and is almost exclusively devoted
to furthering military operations, which
are limited to e%vacuating the interior
towns and concentrating the Spanish
forces at or near the large cities.
1t is reported here that Santa Cruz
del Sur, on the south coast of Puerto
Principe, has fallen into the hands of
the insurgents. If this Is the case, the
latter now have a port, at which their
friends can land arms, ammunition and
supplies without interference. Other
important events are said to have trans
piIed at Santa Cruz del Sur.
The officers of the Spanish gunboat
Cuba Espanola have reached Sancti
Splrltus, province OF Santa Clara. by
land, n are on their way to Tunas.
and from there by coasting steamer to
Clenfuegos. One report has it that the
commander of the Cuba Espanola
burned or blew up his vessel to save it
from falling into the hands Of the in
surgents. Another version of the affair
says the gunboat may have been cap
tured by the insurgents.
Confirmation has been received here
that the Spanish troops have evacuated
Jlquani and Bayamo, in the province
OF Santiago de Cuba. and that they
nave beer occupied by the insurgents.
The spaniards say the troops DESTROYED
these two towns before leaving them,
out this is not believed. The troops
from these places retreated upon Manza-
nillo' and some of them have reached
otheI coast towns by this time.
Although the prices OF provisions
mere are very high, it is calculated that
there is food enough obtainable to last
about i've months, because it is claimed
considerable stores were laid in before
the blockade, and no provisions are all
lowed to be sent from here to interior
towns. Eggs cost 10 cents each; a
glass OF milk costs from 20 to 25 cents,
and the size of the loaf of bread has
been reduced one-half. This, however,
was done before the blockade began.
There are thousands of men from
cigar tobacco and other factories ont of
and the authorities are EMPLOYING
many as possible on the fortified.
lions. The number of men idle causes
anxiety Up to the present thev have
been provided with food in one way or
another mainly by their former am.
pioyers being compelled to contribute
TO their maintenance, but the time
must come when these men will feel
the pangs of hunger. and then riots is
sure to follow.
People here are looking forward with
apprehension to the eventual triumph
the insurgents, as it is believed they
VIII Wreak terrible vengeance upon the
spanlards and upon those who have
sympathized with the latter. The
oulk OF the Spaniards, however. are
niled with warlike enthusiasm. and are