The record-union., 1898-08-29
CIVIL employees ASK TO BE
PAID THEIR SALARIES.
Several Engagements Reported to
Spaniards and Insurgents.

SPAIN ana the United states an aggre
gate of about 10000 tons of provisions
was imported monthly at all the ports
OF Cuba, but that since the commence
ment of the war, the loss in volume of
these imports has amounted to 226 600
tons.
The Mendez line of coasting steamers
has lost five vessels since the Ameri-
cans invaded the islands, as follows:
The Argonauta, captured by American
warships at Cienfuegos; the Reina De
Los Angeles, seized at Santiago de Gu
ba, after the capitula ton of that place,
and the Jose Garcia, Gloria and Puris-
sima Conception, burned during the
bombardment of the port of Manzanillo.
On the night Of July 9th the insur-
gent leader Juan Hernandez was killed
in a fight with a Spanish guerrilla
force, which had ambushed the party.
The Spaniards had one soldier wound
ed.
On the 9th, the insurgents had an
encounter with Spanish troops near
Plactas, in the province of Santa Cla-
"a, which resulted in the killing of an
insurgent and the, wounding of nine
teen others. A Spanish Captain was
badly wounded
On July 2Sth committee represent
ing the guards and Jail employees of
this city presented request to the Civ
IL Governor that they be paid at least
a portion Of their long overdue salaries.
Reports received here on July 18th
from the province of Puerto Principe
show that the situation throughout
that section of the island was very bad.
Provisions were quite scarce and the
little to be had were had at exorbitant
prices. The civil employees had re-
ceived no salary for eight months and
most Of them had resigned their places.
Special efforts were being made to
maintain the efficiency of the civil hos
pital and the Civil Governor had CIV
en- orders that everything possible be
done in this direction.
According to the data furnished by
the civil Government the deaths in
Santa Clara City during the month of
May numbered 2,265, and during the
month of June 1856 From July 26th
to August LIST, many persons arrived
at Havana and Caibarien from Puerto
Principe, NeuvitaS and adjacent places
which had been abandoned by the
Spanish forces.
The village of Jibaro, near Sancti
Spiritus, province of Santa Clara, was
recently taken by the insurgents, who,
it is said, captured eighteen Cuban
guerrillas, whom they macheted in a
most savage manner, merely because
they were natives of the island.
Later advices from Jibaro, say on
July LIST, the place was attacked by
insurgents under Brigadier Jose Murt-
eel Gomez, who employed cannon in the
assault upon the forts. which We're de-
Tended by Spanish forces. The attack
was successful and the insurgents cap
tured the place. Of the Spanish forty
were killed. seventy wounded and nine
ty taken prisoners.
The Governor Of Matanzas on August
Sd. issued a bando establishing the
contribution "to be levied on every
person who brings viands and other
products to the Matanzas market for
SALE"
The contribution is to be given in
the form of a certain portion Of each
of the various products brought by the
vendors, as follows:
For every twenty-five pounds OF ba-
nanas, ~ pounds to the municipality
for every twenty pounds of pumpkins,
2 pounds; every ten pounds or bread
one pound, and for every twenty-five
pounds Of each of the other products
two pounds.
The dealers will be allowed 10 seno
their goods to other parts Of the prov
ince only when the local consumption
is satisfied and when this is done, an
extra contribution is to be levied.
On the night of August I'd, detective
in the city of Matanzas, visited kitch-
en- where food was prepared for sale.
and discovered trunk containing 3io
pounds of horse meat. The owner OF
the kitchen, Ramon Ortega, and his son
were arrested and have been sent to
prison.
Reports from Caibarien say that on
July 22d an American ship captured at
Cayo Fances the Norwegian steamer
Franklin and the launches Dos Amigos
and Remedio. The last named, being
empty, was abandoned by the Ameri-
cans. but the Franklin and Dos Amigos
were held by their captors.
La Union Constitutional" referring
to the capture by American vessels of
the Spanish steamer Humberto Rodri-
guez, asks In its issue of August It'll:
How would Spain have been judged If
an American ship, hosting a flag OF
truce, had approached the port of Ha-
vana and the city's batteries had fired
at it?" :
1.-The same judgment" the paper says,
ought to be pronounced regarding the
capture of the Humberto Rodriguez,
which was effected by the American
fleet in the high seas, while the steamer
was towing two schooners with sick
and wounded under the Red Cross So
ciety's flag"
La Constitutional further says: