The record-union., 1898-06-21
VERY DIFFERENT STORY.
A Resident Of Havana Who Says
the Blockade is Not Effective.


ence of the Associated Press.)-A prom
inent resident of Havana who left that
place on the 9th inst. arrived here yes
terday on his way to New York. His
description of the situation in Havana
at the time he left contradicts wide
spread reports of famine and suffering
in that city, and throws a new light on
the effectiveness of the blockade, which,
| it appears, fails in its purpose as far
as cutting off all means of supplies
and communication with the outside
world is concerned
| His story is entitled to full credence
and consideration, coming as it does
from one of the leading merchants of
| Havana, foreign resident unbiased
IN his views or sympathies. He re-
ports. in the first place, that Havana is
practically an open port, as it is not
blockaded on its southern approach
Batabano, on the south side, is only
forty miles from Havana, with which
city it is connected by rail- Batabano
has never been more than a shipping
/ point and headquarters for the sponge
fisheries of Southern Cuba and a land
ing place for the Isle of Pines ferry
boats, which there connect withoth
northbound trains for Havana.
The water between Batabano and Isle
of Pines being shallow, nowhere ex-
ceeding nine feet in depth. and there
fore inaccessible to any large craft. has
caused the Isle of Pines to be over
looked as a possible entrepot. or base
of supplies, for West Cuba, and as a
point deserving no greater consideration
than that attached to a fifth rate and
mismanaged penal colony
traffic has been kept up between the
Isle of Pines and Yucatan, and that full
! cargoes of provisions and livestock
have been regularly landed there from
steamers, schooners and other sailing
vessels unmolested by American war
ships, which rarely if ever patrol those
waters.
The work of trans-shppng these car
goes to Batabano on the fiat bottom
ferryboats constantly plying between
that port and Nueva Gueron. the prin-
cipal port of the Isle of Pines, has
been an easy matter, as also their sub
sequent transportation to Havana by
rail. In the first four days of June,
it is asserted, over 800 head of cattle
were landed at Batabano, besides large
quantities of flour and grain. Not only
plies of provisions and the necessaries
of life. but. our informant reports, coal
in large quantities is also brought over
The statement practically confirms the
reports that the Spanish Government
has established large coal depots on the
Yucatan Canal.
At the outbreak of hostilities it was
reported that Havana had sufficient re-
in CT fn
months. Since then, it is asserted.
fresh shipments have been received
by way of Batabano and the Isle of
Pines far in excess of the consump-
| ton, so that, apparently, so far as suf-
fering from the evils of the blockade
is concerned, Havana has kept up the
even tenor of an unruffled existence.
with sufficient stores on hand to last
another half year.
A gay and cheerful note in these war
like times is sounded by the announce
ment that by way of this same Bata-
bano route, an intrepid "companyia de
searse qua" or the troupe from Mexico.
made its appearance in Havana and
has since been playing to full houses at
the theaters, unriindful of the impend-
ing fate that hangs over the doomed
added, continues unaltered and theater
parties and the usual social diversions
are INDUCED in as in times of peace.
Following the usages of warfare
practiced by Spaniards and Cubans
alike. ii has been confidently expected
that at least one-half of the Vuelta
Abajo crop would be ruined or set on
fire in the field, but much to the gem
eral surprise, almost the entire output
of the Nuelta Abajo and Remedies dis
trict has been shipped and stored in
Havana warehouses. One firm alone il
is alleged, had 10000 bales of tobacco
stored in Havana on the 1st of June,
valued at ST 500. 900.
The general health is reported by the
merchants TO be particularly good, es-
pecially for this season of the year, and
he denies the reported ravages of yell
low fever and smallpox on the island.
He confirms the military activity
ticed. and recorded by the officers on
blockade duty. and considers Havana
to-day very strongly fortified. Work
on the new batteries and earthworks
is kept up night and day and. judg-
ing from outward and visible signs and
from the tone and language of the Off
Gals in Havana. the Spaniards are
preparing to defend the city to the last
and intend only to strike their colors
when the "Derniere Cartouche" has
been fired