Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-03
peStilence

She had numerous conferences with
the State Department on the subject,
and the Government officials recogniz-
cd the necessity for food, clothing and
medical treatment on the war-cursed
island.
Then Central Relief Committee,
consisting of Stephen L. Barton, neph-
CIV of Miss Clara Barton, and repre-
senting the Red Cross; Charles A.
Schieren and Louis klopsch of the
Christian Herald, were appointed TO act
under the direction of the Department
of State.
the Governors Of the different States,
Mayors OF cities and other officials for
money and supplies to be distributed
In Havana under the supervision of
General Fitzhugh Lee.
The response, both on the part Of in
dividuals and organizations, was i'm
mediate and generous. Railroads and
steamship lines co-operated with the
contributors, and from all parts OF
the country provisions and articles OF
clothing were transported free OF
h,
central depot for supplies, although
few things were sent by way of Fori-
da. Free transportation was also fur
nished from New York to Cuban ports
by the steamship lines
Miss Barton went to Havana to es-
tablish hospitals, and to carry relief
to the sick and starving Cuban mothers
and their children. She carried with
her letters Of introduction and com
mendation from the Department of
State and from President Mckinley to
Consul General Lee, also Il letter from
the Spanish Minister at Washington
expressing the full approval of her mis-.
sion by the Spanish Government.
The Christian Herald had already, at
General Lees request, sent 100 beds for
children suffering from the effects OF
hunger and neglect. and had authorized
the Consul General to hire twenty-five
nurses al a. 1er month. So that when
Miss Bar arrived she found that
good start had been made toward def
mite and systematic relief
The Sranards have great respect
for &c Red Cross, the Queen Regent
heiso eng member, and Miss Bar
ton ;.!.u lei! assistants can go in safety
anywhere on the island.
1t is none too soon, if any CuDans are
to be left alive on the island. Almost
half million are known to have per-
ished already, and the case of. many
yet alive is more deplora:le than that
of their brothers and sisters who have
given over the struggle and have end
ed their sufferings in death.
The United States sanitary inspector
in Havana is authority for the state
ment that all home products were
consumed months ago." In their ex-
tremty the people have lost all sense
Of delicacy or sensitiveness. They
will eat anything that will appease
their craving for food. Cats are
much sought after as an article of food
In some districts, but even they are too
expensive for the poor, a cat having
market value Of about thirty cents.
The relief committee has been send
Ing beans, rice, condensed milk, flour
and potatoes. The latter are especial
ly priced by the famished Cubans and
lard is a delicacy which they seize
| upon with eager RELISH AS soon as 1t
Is known that help is being given at
any place haggard. listless, bony wo-
men come with their starving, sad
eyed babies in their arms, hundreds
and thousands Of them at time.
Sometimes they faint or die before
their turn comes. Sometimes there is
not enough to go around, and they 60
away despairing. Those who have not
| died of actual starvation are now fall
Ing victims to smallpox, malaria. fever
and other diseases produced by lack Of
sufficient food and deplorable sanitary
conditions, and the greater number of
these victims are the unoffending wo-
men and cbildren Y 81 81 s;S m 81 ~.