The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-03-03
DYING IN THE STREETS
Condition of ReconcentradoS
in Matanzas.

Condition of Reconcentrados
in MatanZaS.
RELIEF FUND is EXHAUSTED
Fourteen Thousand Persons in the City
Absolutely without FOod-The
Autonomists' Latest Move.
Santiago, de Cuba, Feb. 25.-While
| the United States cruiser Montgomery
was at Matanzas recently board OF
officers was appointed to inquire into
the condition of the people in that
province.
Although the exact terms of the re-
port are not known, it may be said
that in substance it sets forth that
there are $4,000 people absolutely
without food and clothing within the
city limits. About 5000 of these
live in small huts of palm branches.
The other II 900 unfortunates live in
the streets of the city and are absolute
ly without home or shelter. These
$4,000 people are Of the laboring class
who have been driven into the cities
from their country homes, which have
been destroyed by the war operations.
Most of them are women and children,
and they are emaciated, sick and al
most beyond relief, unless they can
have the benefit of regular treatment
in the hospitals. AS it 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 $4,000, and the
number of starving people at present
in the province is estimated at 1000,
out of total population of 253, 616i in
December, 1897, and the number OF
starving people is rapidly increasing.
In the city of Matanzas alone there
have been about 900 deaths during
the past year and the number is increas-
ing daily. The death rate at present
averages 46 per day, as shown by the
reports at the cemetery. The in
creased death rate is due to the fate
that the distress is no longer confined
to the laboring class, most of whom
have already persisted. 1t is now ex-
tended to the people who before the
war were in moderately comfortable
the streets were in large part well-to-do
people or children of the well-to-do.
The citizens of the city Of Matanzas
themselves are begging for the actual
necessities of life, having exhausted
their resources in order to supply the
needs of the laboring class who have
been quartered upon them.
The citizens of MatanZas have an
organized system of relief for the starv-
ing people, but it is entirely inadequate
and is daily becoming more glaringly
so, for the resources of those who were
well-to-do are rapidly diminishing,
while the demand for food is constantly
increasing. At one of the stations the
board of officers found 100 persons
starving, this being the actual number
of people for which the citizens had
been able to provide relief there.
Pans of rice and fish were arranged in
rows ready for distribution among the
people who were waiting in another
part of the house. But this relief does
not begin to supply the $4,000 people
who are starving in the streets, for the
citizens are only able to issue food
once daily at each place and then to
only about 100 at time. Consequent
ly only about 900 of the destitute peo-
pie receive food in day. 1t should be
added that large number of the citi-
zens of Matanzas have fed the starving
in the streets in front of their own
homes, but the citizens themselves are
feeling the pinch and privation, and
unless assistance soon comes to them,
they will be compelled, in self protec-
ton, to cease the work of charity in
which they are now engaged and which
is seemingly the only salvation for the
starving thousands.
The only public relief at Matanzas is
that given to the sick children by the
management of the emergency hospital,
WHICH, Is UIlucI ulICCblOA VI IIC
teer fire department of Matanzas.
There are about 80 children treated
daily, furnished with nourishment, un-
der the direction of the city physicians.
These statements are the conclusions,
facts and figures arrived at by board
of United States naval officers. When
the officers landed, they were constant
ly followed b, clamoring crowds of
starving men, women and children,
who importuned them in the most
heartrending manner for little food,
for the want of which they were slowly
dying.
The United States consul at Matan-
zas has done everything possible under
the circumstances, but when the Mont
gomery left the consul had only enough
rations remaining to last about two
weeks.
Work at League Island.