The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-04-27

torily. The work, ho says, has been well
! organized and systematized under the SUI
! pervision and direction CT Miss Clara Bar
ton, president cf the Red Cross society Of
| the United States. and her active, able and
experienced assistant.
He says that the number Of the poor end
destitute is so large that it is impossible
to relieve large numbers in each locality,
but that he can state with confidence that
under the present system Of distribution
the supplies are rot lost or wasted, but
reach those for whom they are intended
March II he incloses letter from Coz
sui Barker of Sagua, who requests him to
transmit the following letter, which is id
dressed to him General Lec):
s'DEAR SIR viii thank you to COM
municate to the department. Us quickly as
possible the fact that tho military COM
1nander and other military officers posi-
tivcly refuse to ALLOW the rcconcentradcs
to whom l am issuing food in its raw
state to procure fuel with which to cook
the food.
'sIn addition, they prohibited this class
of people, am only giving food to about
one fifth of the destitute, tho authorities
have quit altogethcr--from gathering veg
etables cultivated within the protection Of
the forts, telling them, 'The Americans
propose to feed you, and to the Americans
you must lcok.' ***
ssWALTER B. BARKER, Consul" !"
March "a General Lee cables that the
work of relief is progressing, and gives
details about the distribution of supplies,
and adds, "Have been greatly assisted by
Mr. Klopsch.
March 90 General Leo reports that 'in-
structions ha>e been given by tho civil
government CT Havana that the alcaldes
and other authorities shall not give out
any facts about the reconcentrados, ard If
any Of the American relief committees
should make inquiries concerning them,
all such inquiries must be 1eferred to
him. -
General Lees dispatches conclude with
dispatch under date Of April 1. trans
mitting the decree of tho governor general
terminating tie concentration order.
From NcGarr and Br.ce.
There is one communication from Oven
McGarr, consul at Cienfuegos, under date
of Jan. 10. informing the department that
grinding since tho 1st of the month. He
| says the utmost diligence is required to
prevent the firing of the canetields and
concludes:
'The sugar crop Is tho support Of all
classes, especially tie laboring class, and
should it be destroyed q famine would be
inevitable
The communications from Nr. Brico,
consul at Matanzas, number only seven
or eight, and most Of them are brief. The
! correspondence from him begins with tho
18th of November last and closes with tho
Sth of February. Probably the most strik-
ing feature of AIr. Brice's communication
is q distinct article written on the 18th OF
January last and devoted to Cuban desti-
tuition.
In this he notes the receipt Of circular
letter Of the state department dated ten
days before. 'This," he says, "intimates
that help is to be extended by the United
States to the starving people Of Cuba.
The news Of this relief has been known, y
he continues, ''for the past two weeks and
has extended all over the province. This
consulate has been overwhelmed with
people Of all classes asking to be remem-
bered when this relief comes"
Mr.. Brice then gives number Of facts
illustrating the suffering in the province.
He says there are in Matanzas province
90, 900 people who are in an actual starv-
ing condition and require food, clothing
and medicines. Continuing, be says:
'sIn addition to the above are thousands
of families of the better classes and for
merly we'll to do who today are living On
one meal day, and that very scant. They
have sold or pawned furniture, jewelry,
clothing, etc., to cke out an existence, un-
til all is gone or nearly so. Too proud to
beg, they suffer in silence, and many die
Of starvation. The daughter of former
governor of this province was seen beg
ging on the streets Of this city.
"Many of these people call on me pri-
vatcly at my residence asking and praying
for Gods sake to be remembered when
this relief comes from the United States.
One has to bo here, know and mingle
with these people to fully realize the terri
BILE destitution and misery existing in Gu
ba. 1t is to lie hoped that this relief from
tho United States il, como quickly, for
hundreds are dying daily of starvation.
SOuQ1tlONof O10 0ACdoA04, o11N ~ ASA-S@ ~
afforded by the Spanish authorities.
Dead Before His Door.
In his 1rss communication Of the series,
dated Nov. II, Mr.. Brico stated that nei-
ther the Spaniards nor Cubans Of that sec
tion were in sympathy with the proposed
autonomy and reforms. He noted the is
suance of the order to municipal authori-
ties to give out rations, and clothing but
says that no attention was paid to it. In
this communication he places the death
rate at over 80 persons daily, nearly all Of
whom were dying for want of food, medi-
cines and clothing. GAS write this, !" he
says, ga dead negro woman lies in the
street within 200 yards Of this consulate
starved to death. She died some time this
morning and will lie there maybe for
days
Mr. Brice also notes the issuance of an
order allowing the reconcentrados to re-
turn to tho country, but he says tho re-
strictions in the order are such as to prac-
tically prohibit. ''1f they went" he says,
"what can they do without money, food
or shelter?" adding: "Only those who can
obtain employment on sugar plantations