The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-18
Suffering Of ReconcentradOes Told By
Senator Proctor.
SENSATI0NALISM IS AVOIDED
Except So Far as Bare Recital OF the
Terrible Facts is Sensational-Too
Late Now for Autonomy as
Measure of Reliet-Armies.

sunday from al tAleHutu AtAp 70 anu
through the island of CuUa. this afternoon
made a statement In the Sena1e or ma
observations on the island.
From many viewpoints the statement
was remarkable. IL had esidenuy been
most carefully prepared. Every element
OF sensatiCnailsm had been stu1iOusly
eliminated from II. and. except so far
as the facts reclted were sensational, II
bore not The slightest evidence OF an enort
20 arouse the public mind. already keenly
alive 20 the condition OF affairs on the
island Every statement made by Sena-
tor Proctor was with that clearness ana
precision which characterlzes the hand
ling or a problem in mathematics.
\ CAREFUL STATEMENT.
The utterances OF the Senator aroused
breathless interest. Every person WITHIN
the sound OF his voice was convinced that
no was putting mis- observations into care
ful terms. lest he might subject himself
10 the criticism OF being emotional one
Of the best characterizatons Of the
statement was made by senator Frye (of
Alane) a few minutes after TIA delivery.
1T is" said he. Just as II Proctor had
held up his right hand and sworn TO
It,"
That was the impression the statement
made upon tho Senate
The scene in the Senate just preceding
and during the delivery Of the speech
was almost dramatic IN the Intensity Of
It's interest. The occasion Of the address
arose very unexpectedly. The ma
tional quarantine bin was under discus
sion. and Senator Mallory, (of Florida)
had bpen recognized for a speech In OPP
position 10 the pending measure. Mr.
Frye entered the chamber, and. interrupt
ing Mr.. Mallory. requested him to yield
20 Alr. Proctor. who desired to make
statement concerning his observations IN
Cuba. Of interest 10 the Senate AMI 70 the
country. Instantly there was a COM
motion on the floor and IN the galleries.
II had been announced that Mr.. PROCTOR
would soon make statement but II was
not supposed that he would make II on
the floor Of the Senate A call Of the
Senate was demanded hy Mr. Chandler
OF New Hampshire. IL q few minutes
every senator IN tho Capitol was IN his
seat. and. tho word having been passed
through the corridors. people Hooked into
the galleries until they were packed
Senator Proctor was accorded tho clos
est attention Throughout; his speech. lie
confined himself TO his manuscript and al
the conclusion while there was no demon
stratlon he was cordially congratulated
by many OF his colleagues
ENTIRELY UNOFFICIAL.
Mr. Proctor In beginning stated that
his trip was entirely unofficial and was
not suggested by any ore.
Mr. Proctor said In part:
"Of General Lee. I need say little. His
valuable services 20 his country In his
trying position are too well known 20 all
his countrymcn TO require moatlon Be
/ side hts ability. high character and cour-
age. he possesses the important requlsi-
tcs OF ulfailing tact and courtesy anc
with all his military education and train
/ ing. and his scldierly qualities, are inval-
/ liable udiuncts In the equipment Of our
! representative in a country go complete
ly under military rule as il Cuba
Senator Proctor also eulogized Consuls
/ Brlce and Barker.
1T has been stated that I said there
vas no doubt the Maine was blown uP
4 from the outside. he continued. This
, ls a mistake. / may have said that such
/ was the general impression among
Americans In Havana In fact / have no
opinion about II myself and carefully
avoided forming one"
Senator Proctor mentioned the places
hs had visited on tho island outside Ila-
vana. where the order Of concentration
| has produced desolaticn. lie told OF
| Weyler's order for concentration and Of
the effect II had had upon concentrates.
Continuing be said:
PROPERTY ALL STOLEN.
Ths execution OF this order was lef.
largely Il the gucrillas TO drive in all
that had not oheyed and | was Informed
! that I'm many cases a torch was applied
! 20 their homes with no notice and the in
mates fed with such clothing as they
might have on. their stock and 9th r
/ belongings being appropriated by the
euerilias When they reached the towns
oil 10
leaves IN the suburbs and vacant places
within the trocha and left TO live II they
/ could.
I Their hrfs are about ten by fifteen feet
! IN SIZE and for want OF space are usually
crowded together The have no moor
I but the ground and NJ furniture and after
I wears wear. hut little clo'hing excepi
such stray substitutes as they can eN-
fempcTiZc. In the large families In this
/ Uttla space the cOmmonest sanitary pre-
/ cautions are impossible.
"Torn ncm their homes with fonl
/ earth foul air. foul water and foul food.
I or nona. what wonder that onc-half have
died and that one-quarter Of the lyinF
/ are 40 diseased that they cannot be
B saved
/ A form OF dropsy Is common disease
! and arises from these conditions. L'ttie
Children are still walking about with
arms end chest terribly eTaoiated ane
abdomen bloat1d 20 three times the nat
/ ural size. The physicians say these case
7 are hopeless. Deaths from starvation
i are not uncommon.
/ ct was told hy one Of cur conspls thai
neonIe have been found deed about IN
MARKETS.. where thev had crawled hopinf
/ 10 get sore stray hits Of food from th'
! early hucksters and that there hid her
/ cases where they had dropped dead inside
tho market surrounded by food. Thesf
peorle were Independent and seli-sun'
portlng he-Jre Weyler's order They are
not heggars even now.
"Of the HOSPITALS I need not speak
/ Others have described their condition IA
I better than ! can. II Is not within tn
| narrow limits OF my vocabulary 20 de-
scribe f. But a few cases OF starvatio'
I and sufferings had insDiref and s'imu'at
ed the press spondonts AM thew ha
given free play 10 a strong, natural ant
highly cultivated IMAGINATION.
NO EXAGGERATIoN.
II have seen n leaaet published by the
board OF missions showing cuts OF case
IN the hospitals and took II With ne
! thinking these were special cases. Blu
from my own observations later. ] founc
! the cases were not uncommon. Within 2
few months past from actual starvation
! and diseases caused by insufficient an,
! improper food q large number died.
My inquiries were made Of our medlca
| officers. OF our cOnsuls. OF city alcade
! fmavors). Of relief committees. OF leadln
| merchants and bankers, physicians anc
lawyers. Several Of my inform ants wer'