The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-28
CEvERA At SANTIAGO
Continued from Page ona)

~'o
old The limited supply now there is
being guarded j~ealously, and at night
the city is in complete darkness. The
electric plant has been hut down, all
factories where coal is used as fuel
are stopped and the gas and water
works are forced to get along with as
little coal as possible. For his reason
water is scarce.
When the Lafayette sailed for Vera
Cruz there was a stampede to get out
of the city. Fully Ia. 900 Spaniards
and Cubans had obtained passports to
leave. but exorbitant prices for pass
age were in demand and only a part of
them gould afford the rate demanded.
As 1t was. the Lafayette took 100
men. women and children way from
Havana, all that she was able TO carry.
There were thousands left who, though
willing to pay the price asked, could
not get passports, and they ran about
like madmen. Offering the fortunate
ones twice the amount they had paid
for tickets.
A passenger named Xiaues paid ST.
400 for passage for himself. wife and
two children. Many others paid as
high as $1,000 each, and then they were
compelled to sleep on the decks CT
wherever they could find room II lie
down. Three miserable days were
spent on the Lafayette with only a
scant allowance of food for zach pass
enger. Nearly all the passengers were
wealthy merchants in Havan and
other Cuban cities.
Jose Otero, who brought his wife
and three daughters to this city, was
formerly connected with the city gov
eminent In Havana. He said:
When l left Havana 1t was said
that the insurgents were only Is
miles from the city, and at night the
lights of their campfires could be seen
burning in the hills. From fear OF
bombardment by the United States
warships and attack by insurgents, the
city Is panic-stricken and q combined
attack Is locke for every hour. Food
is scarce and fresh meat a scarcely
be bought at any price. The blockade
is felt more by the poorer classes, n
as they are the ones who have been
most loyal to Spain the suffering
among them is the worst"
Mr.. Otero would say little about the
Spanish troops In Cuba under General
Blanco. but from other passengers IL
was learned that the army is about az
badly demoralized and panic-stricken
as the civilians. Ammunition Is scarce
and many Of the troops are clothed in
rags and without shoes. Rations are
being doled out to them sparingly. but
the soldiers watch carefully all places
where provisions are known to be
stored. and the authorities will not al
low private families to purchase sup
plies for more than one day at a time.
Senior de Later is a Cuban Of French
descent, who owns a large plantation
near Havana. He said he had brought
his family here for safety until the war
Is over. but at the outbreak of the re-
bellion Edward Garcia, the manager Of
his plantation, had raised a regiment
of 1000 men from his and n~eighboring
plantations and Joined the insurgents.
When the Spanish soldiers heard Of
it, said Senior Later, they marched
upon my plantation. burned and de-
stroyed everything bov ground. We
only got away with our lives"
Senior de LATER said he did not
think IL was true that the ear La
fsyette had unloaded any arms or
ammunition at Havana or that some
of her passengers were French gunners.
He said the forts around Havana Will
be able to make a poor reply to a bonn
bardment. Although some of the guns
are modern and in good condition. the
supply Of powder and projectiles Is
short.
All the refugees were met at the
Ward line pier by Cuban friends living
in his city and given q Joyous well
] come