The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-24
Hunger R(g5S d Grim HgIVeSI OF
CuD0D ReCODGeRh0dOS.
HAT NAVAL OFFICERS SAW IN HATANZAS
Deaths from Starvation ira Tho Pro>
vinco Number 50,0OO-Pcople Res
Gently Amucnt Reduced TO Beg
gnry-AuthOritics Unable 80 Sups
ply the Needs of the Multitude.


Santiago de Cuba, Feb. 90, 1898.
While the UnMed States cruiser Mont
gomery was at MatanZas recently a
beard of officers was appointed to in
quire into the condition of the people
OF that province. Although the exact
terms of the report are not known,
it was be said, that In substance, 1t
sets forth that there are $4,000 people
absolutely without food and clothing
within the city limits. About 5000 of
these live in small huts of palm branch
es. These huts form three separate
villages beyond the built up portions
Of the city. The other il, 900 unfortu-
mates live i'm the streets OF the city
and are absolutely without homes or
shSlter.
These $4,000 people are of tho labor.
ing classes who have been driven into
the cities from Their country homes,
which have been destroyed in the war
operations. Most 'gf them are women
and children and they are emaciated,
sick and almost beyond relief, unless
they can have the benefit Of regular
'tratment in the hospitals. AS it is,
they are dying in the streets for want
OF food.
According to statistics gathered from
best official sources, the number of
deaths in THE. province of MatanZas
1rcm starvation is $4,000, and the num-
Der of starving people at present in
the province IS estimated ilt 9S. COO out
OF n total population of 253.Gl6 in De
ccmDer, 1897, and the number of starry
ing people is rapidly increasing, In
the city OF Aatanzas alone there have
b:en about 1l,000 deaths during the
past year, and the number is increasing
daily. The death rate at present av-
efaScs i6 per day, as shown by the re-
ports from the cemetery. The increase
i'll the death rate is due to The fact
thah the distress is no longer confined
to the iaboring class. most CT wl.m
haN@ already DeriShcd. 1t has now
extended TO those people who before the
war were III moderately comfortable
circumstances. Those who are now beg
SlhS IN the streets were in n large
part, well to do people or the children
OF me well to do. And in addition,
the citizens Of the city OF NaIanzas
themselves are beginning to suffer ro,
fhe actual nec.ssarics of life, having
GRAINED their resources in l.l.dcr 10
supply the needs OF the lavorinr class
VINO nave been quartered upon them,
Inc crizens of Matanzas have an or
gan!zed system of relief for the starry
ing people. but ii is entirely made
qnatc and is daily becoming more
SiailhEiy so, Tor the resources of those
VINO were well to do are RAPIDLY dimin-
ishing. while the demand for food is
constantly increasing, in spite of the
enormous and constantly increasing
death rate rs
At the city Of Matanzas the citizens
nave three places fi-:nn which they
issue rItiuns.
one or these places was visited bv
ne officers Of the Montgomery. and
Mhlis 'nsE We're there the Stree: in
'front.' ol The house was packed with y
ciamof!ng mass Of ragged. cmaciatnd
| men women and children, und tho
hoard OF officers with difficulty man
aged to reach the door through which
they We're admitted to the relief sta
tion. There they found 100 staryin,.
people TINS being the actual number Of
'@tS'HS iof whom the citizens had
pceh anlc 10 provide rationS there In
room across the court yard of tho
building were 100 tin pans and os many
spoons These pans We're filed with a
cooked mess of rice and fish, and were
arranged in rows ready for distribution
among the famishing people who were
| III wanting in another part of the house.
hut as already said, the three re-
iicl places in the city of MatanZas do
not begin to adequately supply food
10 lhe 1900 people who are there
starving in the streets, for the citizens
are only able to issue food three times
a day at each place and then TO only
about 100 at q time
1t should be added that n large nu,n
Der OF the citizens Of AIntanzas have
fed the starving in the streets in from,
or their own homes, but the citizens
themselves are feeling the pinch Inc
privation and unless assistance sb0n
comes to them they will be compelled
In self-Drotection TO cease the work of
charity in which they are now engaged
and which is seemingly the only saliva
t!on for the starving thousands.
The only other public relief al Ma
tanZas is that given to the moor sick
children by the management of the
Emergency Hospital. which IS under
the direction Of the Volunteer Fire De-
partmert of Matanzas There are
about eighty children which arc
treated daily and are furnished Win
nourishment under tie direction of the
city physicians.
These statements are the conclusions
facts and figures arrived at by n board
of United States naval officers. There
fore IT will be readily seen that there
Is urgent necessity for the Immediate
relief OF the starving thousands of
MatanZas TO say nothing of those who
are similarly suffering IN other cities.
When the United States naval oG-