The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-04-14


previous to 1897, which included 1,4S7 in one
year from all Epidemic of yellow fever, there
we've in -, 1897, ewing to the concentration
ORDER G,S91 deaths out of the total population
Of $4,000. Jan. -, 49, IA and Is Gen Lee
Sc 1t cablegrams to the department with regard
to the rioting and the demonstrations against
autonomy and Rlanco and three newspaper
offices. jar. 10 he said some of the rioters
threatened to go to the United States con-
sulate." .'Ships," he said, 'ta,.e not now
needed; may be later. If Americans are in
danger ships should move promptly for Havana
Uncertainty and excitement widespread The
rioting ceased the next day, and Gen. Lee
reported all quiet. <
On the 18th Gen. Lee sent a dispatch marked
confidential. regarding the rotins. It follows:
''Sir: The recent disorders in this city are
to be primarily attributed to group Of
Spanish officers who were incensed at articles
appearing in three of the newspapers of Ha-
val a, Ell Reconcentrado. La Discussion and Ell
Diaro de La Marina. The first was very pro
nounced against Gen. Weyler and his methods.
La Discussion had been suppressed by Weyler
but its publication permitted to be resumed
by Blanco and the last had been an nltra-
Spanish organ. but had been converted by the
able that the Spanish officers were first pro-
vol ed by the denunciations of Weyler in the
columns of one of these papers. and deter.
mined to stop it, and afterwards, being sup
ported by the mob. turned the demonstrate ton
into an ulti-autonomistic affair. a D.. g-
II send to-day an analysis of the autonc-
mistic plan. The intense opposition on the rart
OF the Spanish arises from the fact that the
first appointments of the officers to put into
side of their party in order to show the
Cubans in arms that autonomy was introduced
for their benefit and protection. :
The Intelligent 'Spaniards See no
prosperity i'm the future, but rather wars and
more confusion in the same old attempts to
make the waters of commerce flow in unnatural
channels. The lower Spanish classes have
nothing in mind when autonomy is mentioned
except Cuban local rule, hence their onpo-
Insurgcnt Victories. ,.,
Jan. n Cen. Lee transmitted a copy of the
decree which established the autononlitic regime
On Jan. 1922 Gen. Lee reported by cable
daily that all was quiet in Havana and that the
recent riotlng had caused some delays, but
that no difficulty appreherrded as to the
landing of supplies.
Feb he reports the receipt of moneys from
various sections of the United States for re-
lief purposes and the manner in which it is be-
ing distributed. Feb. 10 he telegraphed the
state department follows:
Captain general returned yesterday; met
with no success of any sort. Spaniards every
where unfriendly; rumors OF coming demon
stration against him here. think him an ex-
cellent man but in an unfortunate position;
three serious combats reported within a week,
lack of physical STRENGTH
The same day he sent to the state department
statement of the condition of the towns in
the neighborhood of the city Of Havana made
by person he had sent to those places for the
purpose Of inspecting the number and condition
towns in the neighborhood of Havana and is
largely a repetition of the awful tale of suffer-
ing which came from the old people of the
island.
At Melina Del Suras the statement saws that
1t is impossible for the mayor, owing to the
unhealthy conditions prevailing and the want
OF resources, to relieve the miserable people,
who die in great numbers from starvation,
fever and smallpox. There are other towns in
the same condition, for example, Gunes, Cata-
INA and Nadduga, whose situation could be in
some degree relieved if the country people were
allowed to leave the town freely in search of
food In some towns this is, entirely prohibited:
in others they are obliged to pay a tax! In
every town the first thing noticed is the I'M
healthy condition of the men and their total
lack of physical strength
At Catalina de Guines the statement reports
the condition of the reconcentrados sad and
desperate. There are, it says, "no zones of Gull
tlVation,' and the reco1centrados not al
lowed to leave the town in search of work OF
food even with a military pass. Food is so
scarce that one must walk four five miles
before finding a sweet potato. In these dis
tricts the relief given to the reconcentrados by
Gen. BlancO is a farce
The land near the town comprised in the zone
for cultivation, the statement says has been
rented by four Spaniards who have wealth and
influence. and they employ the few reconcen-
trades who able to work, at 30 or 10 cents
per day, but nobody leave the town with
20 cents. The wcrqrleTl have to leave at
o'clock in the morning, and not being able tc
take meals with them obliged to work until
u O'Clock In the evening without food The
women who go in search of vegetables are
sometimes deprived of them their way back
by guerllas In fifteen days 200 reconcentrados
nave died in Gulnes from starvation.
| "One Of the few protectors of the reconcen.
trados, IN fact, heroic one,'' says the state
ment' lis a young man named Jose Amohedo
whose father and mother died attending the
suffering people and who himself has given ur
eight houses belonging to him as DWELLING
places for the reconcentrados all the contents
OF grocery store which he possessed and who
is as destitute they are but always attend
Ing to those who suffer-
Systematic Relief
March I Gen. Lee reports that the distribu-
ton of food. medicines and clothing to the des.
titute is proceeding satisfactorily
The work. he says, "has been we'll organ.
lied and systematized under the supervision
and direction of Miss Clara Barton, president
of the Red Cross of the United States, and he1
active and experienced assistants"
He says that the number of poor and
destitute is so large that it is Impossible to re-
leve large numbers in each locality but tina
he state with confidence that under the
present system of distribution the supplies are
not lost or wasted but reach those for whom
they intended.
March IA he incloses letter from Consul
Barker of Sagua, who requests him to trans
NIT the following letter, which is addressed tt
him (Gen. Lee): =
Dear Sir I will thank you to communicat e
to the department as quickly as possible the
fact that the military commander and other
officers of the military positively refuse to al
low the reconcentradcs to whom I am issuing
food in its raw state to procure fuel with syhicf
to cook the food. In addition, they prohibited
this class of people q only giving food to about
one-ifth OF the destitute the authorities hav-
ing quit altogether) from gathering vegetables
within the protection of the forests telling
them the Americans propose to feed you. and
to the Amer n; you must look! - yours
very truly. Walter B. Baker, Consul -
March 10 Gen. Lee informs the department
that the governor general by decree March !
prorogued in all parts to March 81, 1890. the
decree of the general government of April 49,
1897, relative to the suspension of legal pro-
ceedings against real estate what reservation
Of what may be agreed upon by the insulal
chambers in due season. D..
March "a Gen. Lee cables that the work Of
relief is progressing and gives details about the
distribution of supplies, and adds: Have beer
greatly assisted by Mr.. Klopsch --s
March % Gen. Lee reports that instructions
have been given by the civil government OF
Havana that the alcaGces and other authorities
shall not give out any facts abou, the rtconcen-
trados, and if any Of the American relief com
1nttees should make inquiries concerning them
such inquiries must be referred to him.
Gen. Lees dispatches conclude with dis
patch under date Of April transmitting the
decree Of the governor general terminating the
concentration order. =
.s@. HORRIBLE SAMENEsS. f
Death and Devastation in All Sec