The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-06-21
GAY HAVANA
A Prominent Foreign Resident
Says Things Are Not So
Bad There.
Little Port on the South Coast
That Has Been Overlooked
by Blockaders,
And Through 1t Plenty of Proyi.
sions Have Been Shipped to
the Capital.
Mexican Theatrical Troupe Doing
Good Business 49, General
Health Good.

KEy WEST. Fla, June 2l.-A prom.
ineut resident OF Havana, who lett that
place on the 9Th instant, arrived here
on his way to New York. His descrip.
hon Of the situation in Havana at the
time he left contradicts widespread re-.
ports Of famine and suffering in that
city, and throws q new light on the ef.
tec,ivcness Of the blockade, which, II
appears. fails in its purpose as far as
cutting of all means Of supplies and
cJmmunication 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
ln his views or sympathies. He re.
ports in the first place that Havana is
practically an open port. as 1t Is not
tIockaded on its southern approaches.
batabano. on the south side. 40 miles
irom Havana, with which city it is
connected by rail. Eatabano has never
been more than IA shipping port and
leadGuarters for the sponge fisheries Of
outhcrn Cuba and q landing place for
he Isle of Pines ferry boats. which
Mere connect with the nor,hboand
saIns for Havana.
Has Been Overlooked.
He water between Batabano and the
ls.e u Pines being very shallow. no
Where exceeding feet i'll dcpth. and
Aerotore inaccessible TO any large
Pratt, has caused tho Islo Of Pines to be
Verlooked as u possible entrepot or
ase OF supplies for Western Cuba. and
Is point deserving OF greater con>id.
Frauon than that attaching TO a fifth
rate and most mismanaged penal col
Phy II appears, however. that con'
'ant traffic has been kept up between
he Isle Of Pines aud the lucatan
cast, and that full cargoes OF provl'
lens and livestock have been regularly
anded there from the four steamers
ND other sailing vessels. unmolested
y American warships. which rarely
ever patrol those waters.
lhe work Of trans.shipping these
afg es to Batabano ON the HAT bot.
oMed ferry boats constantly plying be-
"ecn that port aud Neuva Corona, the
finclpal port of the Isle Of Pines, has
'eeh an easy matter, as also their sub
equcnt transportation to Havana by
all.
III the first four days OF June. 1t Is
serted. over 500 head Of cattle were
srcd at Batab abano. besides large guam
'cs Of flour aud grain. Not only are
Nc shipments not limited to supplies
provisions and the necessaries OF
We but our informant reports coal III
urge quantities is also brought over.
MS statement practically confirms the
eports that the Spanish government
aS established large coal depots on
uc lucatan coast.
st"res 20 Last Six Months.
AT the outbreak Of hostiities it was
eported that Havana had sufficient re-
'''e supplies in store to last SIN
on'hs. Since thon. it Is asserted
.eSh shipments have been received by
"y OF Batabano, and the Isle OF Pines
i IN excess Of the consumption, sc
aa' apparently, SO far from suffering
o'n the evils attendant upon the
ockade, Havana has kept on III the
oh tenor Of an unruiiled existence
''h sufficient stores on hand to last
A''her half year.
gay and cheerful note IN these
'fllke times is sounded by the an
0uhcement that by way OF this same
.oHresso. Batabano route an intrep'e
'ompania de Zarzuela." or theatrica