Evening star., 1898-10-05
Thousands at Matanzas Urgently in
Need of Food.
SITUATION DESCRIBED as FRIGHFFUL
The Poor Pick Up Living in the
Streets Like Dogs,
EVERY WHERE IS MISERY
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

MATANZAS Cuba, September -. 1893
On the morning of August II the Comal
steamed into Havana harbor: on the morn
ing of September - she steamed into Ma
tauzas harbor. still carrying the same old
cargo. but what a difference there was in
cur reception. n: Havana the government
was determined that nothing should be done
to Interfere with the harvest of their mer-
chants. and every possible obstacle was
thrown in our way. Not an official came
near us: if we wanted one We went to hunt
him up. usually found him III and were
requested to come again ''manana. The
second trip we would generally capture him
and be would politely refer us to some one
e.se as the proper official to see about this
particular thing. Now, under United States
pressure tine colonial cabinet have discov-
cred a precedent" under which they can
re.ax one of their ninc months old laws
enough 10 allow us to distribute our cargo.
not at Havana tthe precedent did not ex-
tend that far. apparently. but az some
other point. And Matanzas having been
selected as the point and the authorities
notified. it is probable that angels would
not have been well received.
The captain of the port and governor at
once called and threw everything wide
ready 10 take our simple word about every
thing. a major and a captain were at once
appointed 70 aid>u in any way possible,
and to surprise they. one and all heart
ties in Havana in refusing to allow our
landing there. At the same time they
very glad that we had brought our
supplies here, for they are greatly needed
mere than at Havana
description of Natanza..
Ma-arzas lies at the far end of a beauti-
full bay. three miles long and mile wide
The town is reported as being founded in
1893. and is just about that far up 20 date.
All round It. on three sides, the hills rise
TO a distance of some 3D feet. These hills
with their natural drainage and sanitation
are let severely alone. The Spaniard EVIL
IDENTIFY reflected that if he built up there
and left the water front for wharvs he
would have to walk up The hills well as
down them. so he placed the town On some
rice low land nea- the water. in some cases
CTly three and four feet above it. He didn't
put in any sewer system, for when there is
a good storm the sea comes up and the wa
ter from the hills comes down and -ogether
they give things a pretty fair cleaning up.
What the use?
The town is now divided by two little
rivers that cut through tie hills into thirds.
Originally there were but two parts and
the town stopped at the east bank of the
second river. for il was low and Swanpy
beyond After q while, however, he town
grew until houses had to he put up. either
IN the hills or beyond the river There
was nothing to hesitate over OF course. and
the marsh was promptly settled. This
choice helps the mortality rate somewhat,
uGt II LIl1htS ucIlS mum lcNt-l "dIhiiIS.
There is just one wharf in the town. and
but eight feet of water at it. The harbor
has never been dredged at all Consequent
ly all large vessels have to anchor half a
mile from shore and load and unload with
lighters This gives more people in the
town something to do than they would have
otherwise The don't seem to have figured
on the amount of trade they lose to Hav
ana on account of this slow and laborious
method.
Half d mile down the harbor the channel
Fea Of he Sh.ra
II has not occurred 10 any to build
wharf out there and to connect it to town
with 4 trarnway- The man who finally does
II will increase the trade Of the town -
Per cent and make a good fortune himself.
FriGhtful Situation.
The situation. as we learn it from the
English consul. is rigttfuI-almost Beyond
words. When in 1sB Weyler issued MS
''%tCOncentradO'' order there were brought
into this city twenty-th-ee THOUSAND men,
women aGd children. They Were taken
from their country homes and farms and
practically dumped into the streets here,
without homes. friends or money. The re-
suits can be- imagined From the medical
reports NE got the en- c,al figU-es-ten thou
sand deaths eighty out of one hundred o.
these being set down 10 starvation. And
the streets are still! full Of them. We meet
tWic- many as AT Havana, and Havana
i four tiuIss as large
AM the local Inhabitants have suffered.
700. ] NJ uIr OF the eastern portion or tne
Islands seems "a have been conferred Ha-
VaEa. and there ...rythi9g possible has
h.eL tJk,1. Fcod was much scarcar ans
ri-h-r H~Te than there. sixty miles away
only Rice wes 80 ccHts a pound here:
al higher Butter they have not seen
for months / saw Just one chicken in the
Who'll market today We assured that
JE-r, ar il D. town alone fifteen thOG-
sand persons IN urgent need of food, and
many m0E- close at hand. 50 il seems prob
able THAT w. can distribute all of our cargo
without mpvirG from this harbor.
AImost Deserted Town.
Matauzas in 1S.6 was thriving city of
9"'rI' inhabitants: now it is almost a de-
serted town. Fifteen thousand of it's peo-
I,Ie have lied to escape The horrors of a
losing war many others have died The
streets are quiet and almost deserted
Some stores are closed. others have a dis
play OF goods that barely covers One-nfth
Of their shelving. others are well stocked.
hut with only one or two clerks and no
customers. even the cafes empty. Food OF
al kinds IS still very scarce ana high The
lowe market has for sale only tomatoes,
corn. sw--t potatoes. bananas and fish.
The IT eat stalls have from two to ten pi -ces
Of meat displayed. II is pitiful-
ana eNerywher. we meet the poor, all
with Tin cans or pals 20 hold possible food.
Sene W. wandering foriorniy from
door 70 door. others sitting on the curbing
with chin or forehead in hand. oblivious
TO everything but their woes: others
stretched on the sidewalks asleep in the
sun. children tucked under the shade of
projecting balconies. and all with such pitt
fully hopeless expressions. Many seem 10
h4v. given up the weary struggle for ex-
ls'euCt and are only waiting for the re-
lease of death. They do not even lift their
eyes - you pass hold out their hands
with the bgs.eching humble that others
greet uS with. How horrible it is! We
cannot GHds rstand their talk. but misery
has an universal language that speaks all
around Us, and We only bear to Look
at all th~ misery by thinking that tonor-
rCw W. hall begin relieving it.
Living in Streets Like Dogs