The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-07
PROVISIONS AXE NOW SCARCE
Government Is Unable to Keep Down
the Prices.
SISTER MARY ORDERED TO ENGLAND
No Longer Allowed to Aid the Suf.
fering--AutonOmist Efforts Have
All Proven Failures.


June 6.--The Spaniards are rejoicing great
ly at the reported small amount OF damage
done by the American bombardments ana
they also pretend to be happy over the
seeming delay which they claim is giving
Srain the opportunity TO prepare q more
vigorous defense than otherwise could
have been made. Indeed the Spanish
military and naval authorities are begin
ming TO nurse themselves with the belief
that the naval and military power of the
United States has BEEN exaggerated by the
newspapers and they are comforting them
selves With the idea that Spain is showing
herself able TO fight such giant as the
United States.
1t Is maintained there Is no real inter-
ruptlon OF railroad traffic. the telegraph
lines are working well and the insurgents
in this province are not giving any signs
Of life. In fact. were 1t not that the Guy
Is hlockaded, people would hardly be aware
that the war was in progress, at least so
far as as the western provinces OF Cuba
ore concerned. This inactivity of the in
surgents, in view of the concentration of
the Spanish troops in the coast towns, can
not be accounted for by the Spanish com
manders.
Another matter which the spaniards are
freely discussing is the allegation that very
many OF the American shells do not explode
ana 1t is further claimed that very little
damage Is done when they do explode. On
this assumption the Spanish officers are
pokng fun at the American gunners, claim
ing that they know little about the han
ding of cannon
Eggs, corn meal, flour, etc. are becoming
| more scarce in Havana, and the prices of
all articles OF food are doubling, though
| LII
large numbers OF houses are 10 let Nearly
all the houses about the bay and along the
shore from La Punta to San Lazare and
| the suburbs of Vedado and Carmeio are
unoccupied, their former occupants having
moved to Ell Correo. Jesus Del Monte and
to the outskirts of the city. being in fear
| OF the bombardment OF Havana by the
| American fleet. On the other hand. fam
| lilies from Mariana are coming to Havana
owing to the withdrawal of the garrison
| from that place and the extension Of the
| cultivation zone.
AT Esperanza a rich coal mine has been
discovered. 1t Is to be Immediately worked,
! as will be the coal mines at Chapapote, at
| Mariel and Caiharen, for naval purposes
| There is considerable coal in Havana.
Tho gas companies are using very lille
cca at present, as only tho absolute
necessary lights are used; only about one
quarter of the usual number OF street
lamps are lighted.
| All the stores and business houses are
without gas lights and the etate of S mi
darkness into which the streets are thrown
| gives Havana quite weird appearance
| at night; but 1t saves the coal
In spite OF the regulations IN force gov
erning the prices of provisions the military
| governor finds it impossible to prevent
! high prices for everything owing to the
discount of silver, a centen being worth
80 silver today. The army and the laboring
people are paid in silver
The Spanish officials have discovered In
the house of an English nurse. Sister
Mary, who attended the sick and wound d
survivors of the United States batt,eship
Maine in the hospitals. a conside abe
| quantity OF American relief provisions
| because she had not notified the authori-
| ties OF tho existence of these provisions
SISTER Mary has been ordered by the mill
tary governor to leave Havana for Eng
land at the first opportunity.
sister Mary, 1t appears has also Of
lended the Spanish authorities in presen..
lug herself ut the palace in the interest CT
TWO American newspaper correspondents
VINO were recently In custody here She
vas denied access to Captain General
Bianco or any other person in anthnrjtv
ana was informed by an aijutant Of Gen.
eral soiano that the prisoners were VIII
lot her TO trouble herself Finally she was
roquested not to take steps in future n
interfere Ia such matters.
oniy oiheial news has been received here
ron the provinces Of Santiago dc Cuba ami
forto Principe, but it is known that ali az
iorts OF the colonial government 10 prevail
uloh the insurgents to come 10 terms have
faIied' as everybody expected
Ire Sranards in any case will nova.
10 Al
ufteefs who ere looked upon as being tho
ouiWark OF Spain sovereignty IN C,uba ami
Mno serve without pay, and ia slibstit,itn
Tor them a paid militia OF natives wbiah
Wolid be burten to the island ara esna-
cisiiy as It is understood the suggestion
neluutd giving the insurgent Commanders
"i'''Ailns'e RANK IN the Cuban militia. tor
IL tluent that the insursent leaders
would be able at the right moment TO pro-
clHiin the Independence OF Cuba.
~ IS reported that the military governor
N'il issue an order prohibiting the sale NJ
provisions for delivery outside az ,hc ci,,,
o! havana. This would insure Hnvan.i,
store OF provisions lasting for a long finn,
In come. '0"e tims
Tie autonomists are daily rivlnr moro
proof of their utter inability IN r,,sr,, W
filhu' Trey seem to have ns idea Of nd.
n,lniss ation ana us u result Captain Gem
them "a 'Ae "0fh lot
Autonomy. therefore. is nothing mora
thaN mockery. and the captcin renpra,
mas ne reins Of government entirely In hi,
, gwh hands as might have been ANTICIPATED
me autonomist secretaries have oischarro1
nearly all the old employees Of their a.
parimsn's and the men arc utterly nj e.,
ae 70 their duties. Besides. there arc cor
,iAual dissensions between the so-cailea
nls'oIical actonomists and the radical an.
toi omists which, had the ,nsurrs,,,n,,
oseh subdued, undoubtedly would have
caused another civil war nave