The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-29


Men, Women and Children Dying lof
Hunger. While all the Food i. Held
for the Army-Spanish Account Of h
Wreck of the Alfonso Mi TO Prevent
Her Capture.
Copyright by Associated Press.)
Guantanamo Bay, July %, II a. m.
The following pitiful appeal has
been addressed by the starving people
Of Cienfuegos to Rear Admiral Samp-
son:
Honorable Sir:-The Cubans, old
men, women and children, residents
in the town of Cienfuegos and this
neighborhood, are all dying of hun
ger. The young men are all in the
field with the Cuban troops and have
not shoes, neither food. All the pro-
visions in this town are in the hands
of Spaniards. Cubans cannot obtain
a piece of bread, as it is necessary t
send everything TO the field. The
Weyler system is in the way. The
situation is terrible. If you, Honor
able Sir, do not come quick with your
squadron I o our help and take posses
sion of this town we snail be lost. We
beg you to precipitate your operation.
About 5000 old men, women and chill
dren shall die of hunger in this town.
Some of these old men have four or
five sons fighting for his freedom. If
the great people of the United States
do not come quick to our help We
are lost. For Gods sake come quick.
(Signed) SOME CUBANS."
Nothing can be lone for the people
of Cienfuegos until that place is cap
tured. This will not be for some time.
The following is a translation, from
a newspaper Of Cienfuegos, of the loss
of the Spanish steamer Alfonso XII,
which was driven ashore or the coast
of Cuba by the United States auxiliary
gunboat Hawk:
yesterday, says Ell Correo, of Ha-
vana, there arrived here the survivors
of the Transatlantic steamer Alfonso
XII, which was scuttled in the waters
vi V1Cl y IL " NSoAi Y
obtain information which would calm
the anxiety of the public we interview
ed the survivors and a~scertained that
they were rendered nearly %insensible
by fatigue and anxiety. Their feet
were sore from walking from the head
of the valley of Mariel to Guantanamo
bay and their hands were badly LAGER
ated in violent and futile efforts to
save the cargo.
eve will faithfully relate that which
occurred, reserving what in our judg-
ment it is not permitted to give to the
public and what might serve as advice
to our enemies.
"The Alfonso XII was flied out in
Cadiz with six cannon, the necessary
crew, three companies of marines and
other necessary articles. In twenty
days 1 hoped to make port and land
the cannon and troops Immediately.
I navigated the Alfonso XII with hope
in God and in the valor of my crew.
l ran with all possible speed to the
heights of Cienfuegos, where came out
three cruisers of the enemy. Seeing
them, the Alfonso XII took fight to-
ward the isle of Pines, in which
waters l lost sight of our pursuers.
Relieving myself now free from
pursuits, l laid my course directly to-
ward Havana with the full intention
of making that harbor. When eight
miles distant my course was interrupt
ed by three other cruisers, which |
was unable to encounter. The Amer
lean cruisers took positions on my port
and starboard and ahead. I then
steered the Alfonso XII taward Mariel,
where / hoped to enter with the ex-
elusive object of disembarking. l de-
cided to save the cargo, as the object
in coming was to land provisions and
the cargo on the island.
Il saw an embarrassing situation.
The yankees began throwing shells,
which landed in all directions around
the ship, which proves, what we said
a thousand times, hat the Americans
are no artillerists and the christs Of
h earth. Of the hundreds of pro-
~jectiles thrown at the Alfonso XII, on
ly eight struck the ship.
This corroborates our opinion Of
their bad training. Then Captain
Moore ordered the cargo to be thrown
overheard in order that some portions
might float to the shore which was on
ly a pistol shot distance. We got out
a boat and prepared to torpedo the
ship. l saw the Americans would not
delay destroying the fine ship and
therefore, | placed and explosive bomb
between the two tunnels of the AL
fonso XII and instantly blew up the
ship in a column of smoke so dense
and so black that it appeared like an
immense cloud, obscuring the atmos-
phere and making breathing difficult.
In this moment of detection cor
rosive liuqid fire enveloped the ship
and Tapped up the wood like a hungry
serpent. The crew, being hopeless,
had only time to jump into the water