The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-17
Havana
Suffering From
Hunger

next to impossible to live within the
walls. Famine is near for the rich and
q reality for the poor. First class res
taurants are guarded by armed volun-
teers, and only customers are permitted
to enter. Cheap restaurants and chop
houses have been closed to save them
from being attacked by the hungry mob.
In certain places food Is only served to
those in dress uniform. Noncombatants
and foreigners are constantly scorned by
tho volunteers, who ask, why don't
you join us?' If you satisfy them you
are foreigner, they let you 90. re-
marking, keep quiet" If you are
Cuban or Spaniard, you are led to the
nearest public safety committee station,
where your fate is decided.
Violence has not yet begun, but it is
unsafe for civilian to 60 through the
streets, especially at night, as there are
no street lights and any one is likely to
be shot down ON the spot il he fails to
reply to the challenge. Friends are al
ready missing, and you cannot inquire
after them for fear Of being arrested
DIR. O. Il. Finlay, Cuban American
well known here and in New York has
been missing for several days Your cor
respondent, fearing for him, as he had
seen his name blacklisted by the volun-
teers, called at the British consula~ for
information. Consul Gollan, az usual,
knew nothing. He then applied to the
chief Of police, Colonel Pagervy, who
warned him from dabbling in "poli-
tics" adding, "We will not modest you
at present, but cannot be responsible for
the volunteers, who are in full power
under martial law"
The few ships leaving Havana since
the blockade have all been packed full
of refugees, who were compelled to pay
fancy prices for their tickets. The pas
sengers on the Italian cruiser Giovanni
Bausan were obliged to tip somebody at
the consulate $500 apiece. Those on
board the Danish schooner Rohl, with
out any passenger accommodations
whatever, paid as high as 5000 each for
q trip which heretofore would have cost
only $40. The spectators in Cuba's dis
grace are coming money, but they viii
surely pay dear for their heartlessness.
The Luciline and Lafayette are the on
ly ships not increasing their rates. The
Lafayette will carry over I, 700 passen-
gers, and there have been 8, 900 appli-
cants for tickets, but the majority will
have to remain. The French schoolship
Fulton carried also q number Of wealthy
passengers
Traffic in Havana streets has been
stopped, as no business is transacted.
Express wagons and tow carts have been
seized by the government to carry ma
terials to the barricades. The street cars
and stages run no longer. Their horses
and mules have been turned loose into
the streets, as there is no fodder. The
few remaining bags of corn sell for %
q quintal.
Havana harbor is lacking in Spanish
warships, for there are only two useless
ones. The Alfonso XII has her boilers
destroyed, and her guns have been re-
moved to the western Notifications at
the Vedado. She is as helpless as
baby. The Conde de venadito is at the
arsenal under repairs, having suffered
considerably some time ago from run
ming aground at the Colorado shoals.
There are two other small gunboats, the
Nunez Pinzon and Marques de la Ense-
NADIA, which of course dare not put to
sea to meet the American squadron.
Nevertheless, the dailies here boldly
announced that they had gone out pre-
pared to lick Simpsons feet and that
he dared not meet them. The quixotism
of the Spaniards is reaching the crazy
limit. 1t is semiofficially announced
that Weyler will land in Mexico with
80, 600 men and invade the United
States through Texas. The Spaniards
are elated over the alleged sympathy of
Porfirio Diaz with Spain and expect him
to aid them in their proposed invasion
Of the United States. .ai
The report that General Leo had been
promoted to major general and that he
will assume charge of the United States
invasion army has considerably enraged
the Spaniards, who hate him cordially.
The walls are placardcd with obscene
sketches and phrases about his appoint
ment. One says: eve will soon be in
tested by an army of pigs, headed by
Hog Lee. Let us prepare to roast them. "
The government is also preceding
against Lee and American interests here.
All Lees belongings and the food for
the rccmcentrados have been seized by
the government, and the confiscation Of
American property has already begun.
The first victim Is Senor Mariana @.
Artiz, proprietor of the big sugar plan
tation Narcisa Caiba Rien, which is
under the management of Wall street
syndicate.
The Vento waterworks, Havana's on
ly water supply, have been attacked by
the rebel insurgent colonel Mario Diaz,
without success so far. There are about
1900 troops guarding the waterworks.
Water so far is plentiful, but meat is n
luxury and hard 20 get at 50 a pound.
A cup Of coffee and milk costs 20 cents.
Eggs are no longer obtainable. Bread,
although doubled in price, is still OBJ
tainable at q few places New York
Sun.