The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-04-19
HORRORS OF LOS FoSoS.
Mrs. Lily Pullman Tells of Things
Saan uI.,fIa .;a;ur the Sforviu,-


Mrs. Lily Pullman. friend of Miss
Clara Barton. who has been engaged in
the relief of the reconcentrados in Ha-
vana. and elsewhere in Cuba. sends 10
the New York World the following ac-
count of her experiences:
ION the day when Blanco issued his
order forbidding any Americans but the
Red Cross nurses TO view the Fosos,
Miss Annie Goodyear asked me to go
with her TO help her feed two poor old
reconcentrados. We took a bottle Of
water and a can of condensed milk, a
glass and a spoon, and proceeded down
the Prado 10 Los Fosos.
'In the yard were about fifty men for
whom there was no place inside. They
lay on the ground with their coats rolled
up under their heads for pillows. and in
spite of the objections of the attendants.
we entered the building and found per-
haps one hundred men sleeping on the
bare floor in their clothes with their
heads resting on their cOats-no beds, no
bedding, nothing but the protection of a
roof which only served to condense into
a loathsome fetidness the breaths of so
many human beings and the odor of IN
washed clothes and bodies. Here and
there lay a little naked orphan child
snuggled on a corner of a coat which
some man better hearted than the rest
had half grudgingly extended.
Walking around in the places where
we could find a footing. and climbing over
others assisted by the dim light of a
candle kindly handed US by an attendant
as the mems quarters is unlighted. We
found in the farthest end the woman We
came to assist. They were attired only
in chemise and skirts, the only articles
they possessed in the world. which
served as their only covering by day or
night. Emaciated almost to shadow
with trembling hands they reached up
and took the milk which Miss Goodyear
handed them. after she had diluted it by
pouring the water from the bottle into
the glass which l held.
From there We proceeded 20 care for
an old man whose piteOus means were
simply heartrending- He had eaten moth
ing for two days. When we tried to feed
him he could hardly swallow and sobbed
like a baby who has had too much to
eat.
Never mind feeding me, he said. DO
me the favor TO do something for my
feet. they pain me So They were
swollen to twice their natural size. and
water was coming out of them. l supposed
it was infiammatory rheumatism. bur
nave since learned II was caused by star
walton.
Il went back to the hotel and got some
salve which Miss Goodyear had and was
sure would relieve the poor creature; but
despite my entTeaties in Spanish, as the
doctor was there, although l showed
them it was only an external remedy
and could do no harm if it could do no
good. permission TO use ii was stubbornIy
refused until he should be removed to the
hospital, which they assured us should
be done next day, and we were compelled
reluctantly to abandon him TO his fate.
The women's quarter, which we took a
peep at next, was better as there was
an oil lamp burning there. and there
We're cots without sheets or bedding other
than an old blanket. still it was better
than the floor. Some of the women were
naked. | cannot say that they were not
sleeping that way on account of the heat
The floor was filthy. but time and pa
thence will, L suppose. remedy that
The most grewsome part of the Fosos
are collins prepared for the reconcentra-
dos, and stored in full view of the sick
The Cubans even go so far as to say that
some have been hustled into them before
they bre2thed their last. but | can't
guarantee the veracity of this state
ment.