Evening star., 1898-02-23
Awful Condition e'f the cabans in
Santiago Province.
FAMINE DEcIIhiIlHG hEfANzAs
Fearful Sights Witnessed by Off
GERS Of Cruiser Montgomery.
SUBJECT OF A REPORT
Correspondence of the Associated Press. /,

| Noriesponuence OF the Associated ffeSS.D
| SANTIAGO DE CUBA, February s.
While the United States cruiser Montgom-
cry was at Matanzas recently a board of
officers was appointed to inquire into the
condition of the people Of that province.
Although the exact terms of the report are
not known; it may be said that. in sub
stance, 1t sets forth that there are 14.oO0
people absolutely without food and cloth
ing within the city. limits About 1000 of
these live in small huts of palm branches.
These huts form three separate villages be-
yond the built-up portions of the city. The
other IL 900 unfortunates live in the streets
| of the city and are absolutely without
| homes shelter.
These s14 600 people are of the laboring
| class. who have been driven into the cities
| from their country homes. which have been
| destroyed in the war operations. Most of
| them are women and children. and they
| are all emaciated, sick and almost 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.
| Starved by Thousands.
According to statistics gathered from the
best official sources, the number of deaths
| in the province of Matanzas from starva-
! ton is 5000. and the number of starving
people at present in the province is esti-
mated at $4,000. out of total population
of 253.616 in December. 1897. and the num-
Der of starving people is rapidly increas sing.
In the city of Matanzas alone there have
| been about 11000 deaths during the past
year, and the number is increasing daily.
| The death rate at present averages forty
| six per day. as shown by the reports from
| the cemetery. The increase in the death
| tate is due to the fact that the distress is
10 longer confined to the laboring class.
| most of whom nave already perished. 1t
| has now extended to those people who be-
| fore the war were in moderately comforta-
| bic circun stances. Those who are now
! begging in the streets were in a large
| part. well-to-do people the children of
| the well TO do. And in addition. the citi-
zens Of the city of Matanzas themselves
| are beginning to suffer for the actual nee
| essaries Of lie. having drained their re-
| sources in order to supply the needs of the
| laborins class, who have been ouartered
| upon them.
Relief Wholly Inadequate.
The citizens of rMatanzas have an organ
lied system of relief for the starving peo-
| pie, but it is entirely inadequate and is
| daily becoming more elaringly so, for the
resources of thdse Who were well to do
arc rapidly diminishing. while the demand
for food is constahtlg increasing. in spite
death rate.
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 streets in front of the house was pack
| ed with a clamotfng mass of ragged ema-
| ciated men, women 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 room across the courtyard of
| the building were 100 tin pans and as many
| spoons. These pans were filled with
| cooked mess of rice and fish and were ar
ranged in rows for distribution among the
famishing people, who were in waiting in
| another part of the house. Only about 900
OF the destitute people receive food once a
| day.
| Charitable In Need of Charity.
| 1t should be added that large number of
the citizens of Matanzas have fed the
| starving in the streets in front of their own
homes. but the citizens themselves are feel
| ing the pinch of privation. and unless as
| sistence soon comes to them they will be
| compelled in self-protection to cease the
| work of charity In which they are now en-
gagged, and which is seemingly the only
| salvation for the starving thousands
The only other public relief at Matanzas
| is that given to the poor sick children by
| the management of the Emergency Hos
pital which Is under the direction of the
volunteer fire department of MatanZas
There about eighty children are treated
daily and are furnished with nourishmen;
| under the direction of the city physicians
These statements are the conclusions
| facts and figures arrived at by a board of
United States naval officers. Therefore it
will be readily seen that there is urgent
necessity for the immediate relief of the
starving thousands of Matanzas to say
nothing of those who are similarly suffering
in other cities.
When the United States naval officers
landed they were constantly followed by
ciamoring crowds of starving men women
and children, who importuned them in tba
most heartrending manner for little food.
for the want of which they were slowly
dying.
United States Consurs Resources
Limited.
The United States consul at Matanzas
mas done everything possible under the cir
| cumstances, but when the Montgomery left
there, in the first days of February. the
| consul had only enough rations remaining
| to last about two weeks after which the
| fund appropriated by Congress would have
been exhausted, and then the sufferers of
Matanzas would include the American citi-
| zens at that place, who have hitherto re-
ceived relief through the United States con-
sulate. At that time the consul had re-
ceived a petition. signed by the American
citizens of Matanzas. setting forth in de-
| tail the need in which they stood of imme
diate relief from the dangers of starvation
! So far as the board of officers of the
| Montgomery could ascertain Matanzas at
| that time needed a supply of food for Ia 900
people for at least one month, in addition
| to supplies of condensed milk for fnyalids
and medicines Of all kinds. The people of
| Matanzas are also In urgent need Of cloth
ing, most of them being in filthy rags.
| The Spanish authorities, IT may be said in
| conclusion. have rendered all the assist
ance which 1t seems, possible for them to
provide. On two occasions they have given
$1,000 to the fund for the relief Of the
destitute: but, SO far as the board could
| a position to contribute to the relief Of the
14,0oO starving, dying people in the streets
| of Matanzas. af5 rs