The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-12
SUFFERING IN MATANZAs.
Terrible State of Affairs Reported
by Consul Brice.


by Consul Brice.
The communications from Mr.. Brice consul
at MatanZas, number only seven or eight
! and most of them are brief. The cores
pondence from him begins with Nov. II, last
and closes with the 9Th Of February, 1898.
Probably the most striking feature of Mr.
Br1ce's communications is a distinct article
written on the 18th Of January last and de-
voted to Cuban restitution. In this he notes
the receipt of circular letter of the state
department dated ten days before.
This" he says, minated that help Is te
be extended by the United States to the
starving people of Cuba. The news of this
the past two weeks and has extended all over
the province This consulate has been over
whelmed with people of all classes asking tt
be remembered when this relief comes.'
Mr.. Br1ce then gives number Of facts
illustrating the suffering in the province. He
says there are in Matanzas province alone
80 600 people who are in actual starving condi-
ton and require food, clothing and medi-
cines
Continuing he says: I'm addition to the
above are thousands Of families Of the better
classes and formerly well to do, who today
are living on one meal a day and that very
scant. They have sold or pawned furniture
jewelry, clothing. ETC., to exc out an ex-
lstenee until all is gone. or nearly SO. Toe
die of starvation.
Compelled to Beg.
The daughters of a former governor of this
province were seen begging on the streets
QEcognito) Of this city.
Many OF these people call on me privately
at my residence, asking and praying for
Gods sake to be remembered when this re-
lief comes from the United States
lone has to be here, know and mingle with
these people to fully realize the terrible
restitution and misery existing in Cuba II
Is to be hoped that this relief from the
United States will come quickly. for hun
dreds are dying daily Of starvation. Con
dttions are dreadful and no relief afforded nv
the Spanish authorities"
Writing on the 18th ofDecember, Mr.. Brice
says that the relief offered to reconcentrados
is Intellectual. Il have" he says, personal
ly visited the head masters of distribution
stations. Two thousand rations were given
out for a few days only to 5000 persons.
this city today One out of four or six re-
celve two ounces of rice, one and a half
ounces of jerked beef and sometimes a small
piece OF bread per diem. Even this ration of
1000 mas been discontinued since the 18th
instant. Mr. Brice mentions several in
stances OF distress, among others the follow
ing: ''0"
In a family of seventeen living in an old
lime KIN all were found dead except three
and they barely alive"
He says again that Gen. Blanco's order al
lowing reconcentradoes to return and cuIti
vate the crops is imperative and of no avail
writing on the Sth of January, he saws:
The people are shut up in the cities and
towns like rats to starve We have fifteen or
eighteen families of American reconcentrado "a
VINO own property In the country and. were
they allowed to go to their homes. could
MAKE COCA living. All these have begged
Blanco's order to go and were in every asa
refused" Ease