Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-07-16
DISTRESS IN HAVANA
Nearly All the Food Supply Seized
For Use Of the Troops.
BLANoO ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

Whom the story of Cevera'a Defeat
Was Confirmed From Madrid Gloom
Settled Upon tho City and Public and
Private Buildings Hung With Grape.
Key West. Fla, July l4-Accordfng
to advices from Havana Governor
General Blanco attempted to commit
suicide when he learned beyond doubt
that Admiral Cervera's squadron had
been annihilated Long before the
Spanish admirals gallant dash out Of
Santiago harhor all Havana had been
boasting Of his ability TO outwit the
Americans. and when misleading dis
patches gave the impression that he
had eluded the American fleet the de-
monstrations of JOY in the Cuban cap
itai partook Of the nature of festival
When the true story of the defeat came
IL was discredited until definite con-
firmation from Madrid no longer left
room for hope. Gloom settled upon
the city, all gaieties were stopped and
every public and many private build
ings We're hung with crepe and other
black draperies. Blanco was In his
palace when the intelligence reached
him. and ne became almost frenzied
He was closeted with his staff and
General Arolas. of the Spanish forces,
discussing the news, when he made the
attempt on his life. After struggle
he was subdued and disarmed, but the
shock was so severe that he was pros
trated and compelled to keep to his
bed for several days. When he arose
his first order Was to prohibit any food
supplies leaving Havana for interior
towns, where the distress Is most
poignant and where many are starving
daily.
This and other valuable information
was brought by Jose Pauline Blanco,
who Indignantly repudiated sugges-
ton of kinship with the governor gen.
eral. He says he Is loyal Cuban ana
escaped to avoid the necessity OF fight
ing against his cause. as every male
in the island who is able to bear arms
is being pressed into the Spanish SER
vice. He obtained fisherman's permit
to go outside MORO and at o'clock
Monday morning put off In small
boat The gunboat Bancroft was sta
toned six miles out and he rowed to
her, the Cojimar battery, east OF Ha-
vana, firing two shots at him when he
was observed passing beyond the pre-
scribed limits. The Bancroft trans
ferred him to another vessel and he
was brought here.
Blanco says the living conditions In
Havana are constantly growing worse.
the greatest distress necessarily falling
on the Cubans, because nearly all the
food is seized for the troops. OF those
there are about 10000 In the city. con-
sisting of volunteers, mobilized troops,
militia and regulars. Their rations are
largely rice and beans, without even
bacon. Jerked beef, Blanco says. sells
for 30 cents a pound. bread of poor
quality for so cents, lard ST. meal 70
cents. cornmeal 25 cents and rice 30
cents. Shark food is even eagerly
sought, and the day before Blanco left
| the city 81 shark caught In Havana
| harbor sold for $3.50.
Those of the reconcentrados who
have sufficient influence with the dis
pensing authorities sometimes con-
trive to get one wretched meal day,
hut the others starve, and 1t is no I'M
common thing, says Blanco, to see per-
sons drop dead in the streets. Even
among the Spaniards starvation Is
rapidly sapping their loyalty, and large
numbers of men are banding them
selves together awaiting the first at
tack on Havana as a signal for re-
volt The grocery and provision stores
are empty. and the only articles on
the Havana wharves are about 1000
barrels of cement, wet and useless.
Only LIQUOR is to be had cheaply.
Blanco further reported that three
weeks ago the Spanish steamer Monte
video and Santo Domingo crept out OF
the harbor at midnight with all lights
out and safely got through the block
ade. There are five Spanish gunboats
in the harbor he says. most of them
converted yachts and unfit for use. The
merchant steamers Josefa. Adola and
Maria Herrera are also in the harbor.