The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-14
BLANCO TRIES TO DIE
On Hearing of the Destruction
of CerVera's Fleet.

Key West, Fla, July 14=According
to advices from Havana received here
today Governor General Blanco at
tempted to commit suicide when he
learned beyond doubt that Admiral
Cervera's squadron had been annihiIa-
ted. The earlier misleading dispatches,
which gave the impression here that
Cervera had eluded the American fleet,
caused the greatest joy in Havana, but
when the truth became known, with
meagre details showing the utter de-
structiOn of CerVera'S squadron, all
Sayeties were stopped and every public
and many private buildings were hung
with Grape and other black draperies.
BlancO was in the palace when the in
telligence reached him, and he became
almost frenzied.
He was closeted with his staff and
Cen ArOlaS of the Spanish forces, dis
cussing the news when he made the at
tempt on his life. After a struggle he
was subdued and disarmed, but the
shock was so severe that he was pros
trated and compelled to keep to his bed
for several days When he arose his
first order was to prohibit any food
supplies leaving Havana for interior
towns, where the distress is most pOig
nant and where many are starving
daily. This and other valuable infOr-
nation was brought by Jose Pauline
BlancO, who Indignantly repudiated
suggestion of kinShip with the governor
general He says he is a loyal Cuban
and escaped to avoid the necessity of
fighting against his cause, as every man
in the island who is able to bear arms
is being pressed into the Spanish ser
vice. He obtained a fisherman's permit
to go outside MORO and at 6 o'clock
Monday morning put off in a small
boat. The United States gunbOat Ban
croft was stationed six miles out and
he rOwed to her, the Cojimar battalion
east of Havana firing two shots at him
when he was observed passing beyond
the prescribed limits. The Bancroft
transferred him to another vessel and
he was brought here, where the local
junta will care for him The sailors of
two American ships made up a liberal
money subscription for him and gave
him some new clothing.
BIanco says the living conditions in
Havana are constantly growing worse,
the greatest distress necessarily falling
on the Cubans, because nearly all the
food is seized for the troops. OF those
there are about 10000 in the city, con-
SiSting of volunteers, modified troops,
militia and regulars. Their rations are
largely rice and beans, without even
bacon. Jerked beef, BlancO says, sells
for 80 cents a pound, bread of poor
quality for so cents, lard 81, meat rs
cents, corn meal 25 cents and rice so
cents. Shark food is eagerly sought
and the day before Blanco left the city
one shark caught in Havana harbOr
sold for 1880
The concentrates who have sufficient
influence with the dispensing authOri-
ties sometimes cOntrive to get one
starve and it is no uncommon thing,
Blanco says, to see persons drop dead
in the streets. Even among the Span
iards starvation is rapidly sapping their
loyalty. and large numbers of men are
banding themselves together awaiting
the first American attack on Havana
as a signal for revolt. The grocery and
provision stores are empty and the
only articles on the Havana Wharves
are about a thousand barrels of cement,
wet and useless. Only liquor is to be
had cheaply- Work on the defenses
continues with tireleSS VigOr. The lines
of cables bearing tOrpedOes have been
strung across the harbOr from the city
side to Moro castle, and the same has
been done in the bay of Mariel, where
it was reported in Havana, American
troops are to be landed.
BlancO further reported that three
weeks ago the Spanish steamers Mon
tevideo and Santo Domingo crept out of
the harbor at midnight with all lights
out and safely got through the block
ade. The Spanish ships now in the
harbOr, he says are the gunbOatS Condo
VenaditO, Marquise de La Ensenada,
Neuva and Pana, Fflipanas and NuneZ
PinzOn, several of which are unfit for
service. The guns have been removed
from the cruiser Alfonso XII and used
for shore batteries and the cruiser has
been converted into a hospital ship.
There are also in the harbor number
of smaller WarshipS of the nature of
converted yachts.
The merchant steamers Josefa, Adola
and Maria Herrera are also in the har-
Dor.