The evening times., 1898-03-17
CUBA LIKE An INFERNO
A COngreSsman's Vivid DeSerlp-
tion of The Awful Horrors.
CRUELTY OF THE WEYLERITES
Cuban women Weak, wan-Eyed, Few
erish Living Skeletons-1he Chh-
dren i'm Worse Conditloh-re
of the Men 5 rong Enough to Use
Hoe.

CONGRESSMAN Amos ]. Cummings, OF
New York. writes to the New York Jour
nal from Havana as follows:
Dante apparently stood on the border
of Inferno on his way out ana looked
backward He has accurately eNpressea
his feelings. After visiting a score oil the
camps of the recOncentrados in CUBA
YOU feel like one who stands on the edge
of Inferno at Havana and looks back
ward.
"Dantc's victims were living. but liV-
ing in torment and misery; the most OF
the victims of the Cuban Inferno are
dead. vet enough live to accurately por-
tray the former sufrerings of those now
in the other world
..Tho richest country under the sun
now absolutely uncultivated. There are
a few cases where cane fields and patches
of tobacco are found. the owners paying
for the privilege of protection but no
gardens are growing to feed the starving.
That they have died by thousands Is be-
vond question The Official figures. which
1 have seen, prove this beyond doubt.
Tho governor of Matanzas told me that
when he entered office on November j.
1881 twenty-three persons starved 10
death the same day in the palm-shaded
park fronting his palace. Matanzas mas
about ~ 600 inhabitants In November
last l50O reconcentrados were the VIC
Tins of starvation in that city; in De
cember. / 500 more crossed the river OF
death: in January, 200 died, and in Feb
ruarN. 800.
.aThe starving still remain. fearing
butcherv by the Spanish soldiers if they
slip beyond the limit There are Few, IL
any men among them able to use the noe.
The women are weak. wan-eyed. feNeflSh,
living skeletons. The children are even IN
n worse condition. 4 few weak tots. un-
clothed and unfed. gather at the railroad
stations and around the reStaurahts'
plaintively asking for aid. Their into
nation is weak and as plaintive as the
cry of the pee-wee in Northern meadows.
The accent is the same in every case, al
WAYS winding up the word, 'Caballero.'
'The civil officials under the autonomist
government show a keen appreciation OF
the work Of DR.. Klopsch and Miss Bar
ton.
Not so. however. with many Of the
military officials. They usually carry out
the fun spirit Of General Weylcr's orders.
In one case where the reconCentrados
asked permission 10 go without the line TO
gather wood for cooking purposes they
were refused. the army officer saying. If
The Americans furnish YOU food, let them
furnish YOU wood to cook it
In Matanzas I saw an American citi-
zen who two years ago was worth $780,
90. lie had a plantation within six miles
of the city. where he raised vegetables and
cattle for the market. With others he
was driven within the line. Today he Is
peuuilesS. hardly knowing where 10 OBJ
tain the next meal for his family.
by the favor Of the governor. indorsed
by the military officials. he was allowed to
return to his home. He borrowed few
dollars and began TO make charcoal As
soon as he had fairly prepared and fully
developed the raw industry the Spanish
soldiers swooped down upon him and de-
str0yed his works, driving him again with
in the lines.
Il verified this statement at the office
OF the American consul. who told me that
The State Department at Washington
ought to be thoroughly conversant with
the facts. as they had been accurately re-
ported So much for Matanzas."