Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-24
STARVATION IN CUBA
TERRIBLE CONDITION OF PEOPLE
OF MATANzAs ALONE.
FORMERLY WELL-TO-DO NOW BEGGING
Utter Inadequacy OF Local Relief
Me"sures-spanish Authorities at
the End of Their Resources
American Citizens In Need.

| Nhhe the United States cruiser Mont
gomery was at Matanzas recently board
oi officers was appointed to inquire into
the condition Of the people of that pro-
vince. Although the exact tera,- Of the
| report are not known, it may be said that.
in substance. 1t sets forth that there are
l1Ol0 people absolutely without food and
clothing within the city limits About
three thousand Of these live in small huts
| or palm branches. These huts form three
square villages near the built-up portions
Of the city. The other 1900 live in the
streets Of the city. and are absolutely
without homes or shelter.
These 14,OOO people are Of the laboring
classes. who have been driven into the
city from their country homes, which
have been destroyed in the war opera
tions. Most Of them are women and chill
dren, and they are all emaciated, SICK
and almost beyond relief. unless they can
have the benefit Of regular treatment in
the hospitals. AS 1t is. they are dying
in the streets for want of food.
According TO statistics gathered from
the best official sources, the number of
deaths in the province OF Matanzas from
starvation is 5000, and the number of
starving people at present in the province
is estimated at $4,000, out of total popu-
lation Of 253,6l6 i'm December, 1897, and the
number of the starving is rapidly in
creasing.
In the city of Matanzas alone there
have been about II 200 deaths during the
past year, and the number Is increasing
h. 70 AZ eya-
forty-six per day, as shown by the re-
ports from the cemetery. The increase in
the death-rate is due to the fact that
the distress is no longer confined to the
laboring class. most Of whom have al
ready pershed. 1t has now extended to
those people who before the war were in
moderately comfortable circumstances
Those who are now begging I'm the streets
are, in large part well-to-do people, or
the children OF the we'll tO-do: and, in ad-
dition the citizens of the city Of Matanzas
themselves are beginning 10 suffer for
the actual necessaries OF life, having
drained their resources i'm order 10 sup
ply the needs of the laboring class, who
have been quartered upon them.
RELIEF SYSTEM INADEQUATE.
The citizens of Matanzas have an or
ganized system of relief for the starving
lrNt'Nf
is daily becoming more glaringly so, for
the resources of those who We're well-to-
do are rapidly diminishing, while the
demand for food is constantly increasing
in spite of the enormous and constantly
increasing death-rate.
At the city of Matanzas the citizens
have three places from which they issue
rations
One of these places was visited by the
officers of the Montgomery, and while
they were there the street IN front Of the
house was packed with a clamorine mass
of ragged. emacieted men, .7anen. and
children. and the Board of Officers with
difficulty managed TO reach the door
through which they were admitted to the
relief station There they found 100
starving people. this being the actual
number of persons for whom the citizens
had been able to provide rations there.
In a room across the Ourt-yard Of the
building were 100 tin pans and as many
spoons. These pans were filed with a
cooked mess of rice and fish, and were
arranged i'm rows ready for distribution
among the famishing Neople who were In
waiting i'm another part Of the house. But,
as already said the three relief places in
the city of Matanzas do not begin 20
adequately supply food 10 the 1900 peo-
ple who are there starving in the streets,
for the citizens are only able 70 issue food
three times a day at each place, and then
IN only about one hundred at a time.
II should be added that large num-
bar Of the citizens OF Matanzas have fed
the starving in the streets IN front OF
their own homes. but these citizens them
selves are feeling the pinch OF privauon,
and unless assistance soon comes 10
them they will be compelled In sen-protec-
tion 10 cease the work or charlly IN
which they are now engaged ana "hlen
is seemingly the only salva'ioh TOT the
starving thousands. ,,..,-uos
The only other public relief at Mataazas
T., not even 10 the poor sick children py
the management Of the Emergency nos
Ill which is under the direction OF the
Vol,,nteer Fire Department OF Malanzas'
,rhars about eighty are treated uaiiS'
"a fnrpished with nourishment uhuer
tbe direction Of the city physicians
URGENCY OF NEED.
n,hase statements are the conclusions. |
facts and figures arrived at by podru
,f limited States naval oflcers' lhoi
fore il will be readily seen that there 10
Urgent necessity for the immedlate reNel
,f the starving thousands or Ma1aiizas'
to saw nothing Of those who are similarly
suffering in other cities.
When the United States naval orlcers
landed. they were constantly 1oilowed Dy
,la moring crowds of starving men, Wo-
mon and children. who importuned them
N the most heartrending manner Tor 1000.
,rbe limited States Consul at Matanzas
,as done everything possible under the
but when the Montgomery /
eft There. i'm the first days Of February |
he Consul had only enough rauons re-
naining TO last about two weeks, aIter
which the fund appropriated by congress
IND have been exhausted. and then the
" y, ssara,.e of Natanzas would include the
, ,,oarican citizens at that place, who have
,ifberto received relief through the
.rnfred states consulate. At that time the
consul had received petition, signed Dy
he American citizens OF Matanzas, set
ing forth in detail the need IN when
hev stood OF immediate relief from the
hangers Of starvation.
60 far as the board OF officers Of the
Montgomery could ascertain, Matanzas
- that time needed a supply Of food for
4 o00 people for at least one month, in
Iddition to supplies of condensed milk for
nvalids. and medicines OF all kinds.
The people OF Matanzas are also In
,rgent need Of clothing, most OF them |
icing in filthy rags.
The Spanish authorities. I. may be said
n conclusion, have rendered al the as
istance which II seems possible for them
O provide. On two occasions they have
-iven 100000 to the fund for the relief or
he destitute. but so far as the board
ould learn. this was all the government
vas i'm position to contribute TO the
elief fund.
THE WILIS EsBARRE TRIAL.