The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-18

means of knowledge.
''All the country people in the four
western provinces. about 100000 in
number, remaining outside of the for
tilted towns when Weyler's order was
made, were driven into these towns,
and they are the reconcentrados They
were the peasantry, many OF the farm
ers, some land owners. others renting
lands and owning more or less stock,
others working on estates and cultivat-
ing small patches; and even a small
patch in that fruitful climate will sup
port family. 1t is but fair to say
that the normal condition of these peo-
pie was very different from that which
prevails in this country. Their stand
ard of comfort and prosperity was not
high, measured by our own. But ac-
cording to their standards and re-
quirements their conditions or life were
satisfactory. They live mostly in cab
ins made of palm or in wooden houses.
Some of them had stone houses, the
blackened walls of which are all that
remain to show that the country was
ever inhabited.
WeyIer's Inhuman Order.
MANY doubtless did not learn of
Weyler's concentration orders. Others
failed to grasp its terrible meaning
Its execution was left largely to the
guerillas to drive in all that had not
obeyed, and / was informed that in
many cases a torch was applied to their
homes without notice, and that the in
mates fled with such clothing as they
might have on their backs, their stock
and other belongings being appropri-
ated by the guerillas. When they
reached the towns they were allowed
to build huts of palm leaves in the
suburbs and vacant places within the
ha nd left f0 live II fhaV COlfiI.
Their huts are about 10 or 10 feet in
size, and for want of space usually
crowded together very closely. They
have no floor but the ground and no
furniture. and after years weIr, but
very little clothing. except such stray
substitutes as they can extemporize.
With large families or with more than
one in this little space the commonest
sanitary provisions are impossible.
Conditions are unquestonable in this
respect Torn from their homes, with
foul earth, foul air, foul water and foul
food, or none. what wonder that one
half have died and one-quarter of the
living are so diseased that they cannot
be saved.
"A form of dropsy is a result of this
condition. Little children are still
walking about with arms and chests
terribly emaciated. eyes swollen and
abdomen bloated to three times the
natural size. The physicians say these
cases are hopeless.
Deaths in the street have not been
uncommon. I was told by one of our
consuls that they have been found dead
about the markets in the morning.
where they had crawled. hoping to get
some stray bits OF food from the early
hucksters. and that there had been
cases where they had dropped dead in
side the market surrounded by food,
These people We're independent and
self-supporting before Weyler's orders
They are not beggars even now. There
are plenty of rwsfessional beggars in
every town among large residents, but
these country people. the reconcentra-
dos, have not learned the art. Rarely
is a hand held out to you for aims when
going among their huts, but the sight
of them makes an appeal stronger than
words.
Horrors of the Hospitals.
"Of the hospitals / need not speak.
Others have described their condition
far better than ! can.
1T it not within the narrow limits of
my vocabulary to portray it. / went
To Cuba with a strong conviction that
the picture had been overdrawn. that a
few cases of starvation and suffering
had inspired and stimulated the press
correspondents. and that they had given
Tree play TO a SLfOnB. anu TlSfl-
ly cultivated Imagination.
II could not believe that cut of pop
ulation Of 900 900, 200. 900 had died with
in the Spanish forts practically prison
walls within a few months past from
actual starvation and disease caused by
insufficient and improper food. My
inquiries were entirely outsae of sem
sational sources. They were made of
cur medical officers, of our consuls. of
f.ftt saf rnlt taF fta.a s4f
leading merchants and bankers. physi-
clans and lawyers. Several of my in
formants were Spanish born, but every
time the answer was that the case had
not been overstated. What | saw |
cannot tell so that others can see Il. 1t
must be seen to be realized. The Los
Passes hospital in Havana has been re-
Gently described by one of my coll
leagues. Senator Gallinger. and / can't
say that his picture was overdrawn. He
visited il after Dr. LASER. one of Miss
Barton's assistants. had renovated and
put in cots. ] saw it when young wom-
en- and children were lying on the stone
floors in an indescrbable state Of ema-
citation and disease, many with the
scantiest covering of rags, and such
rags,
And children naked as they came in
to the world And the conditions in
the other cities are even worse.
Miss Barton needs no Endorsement
from me. ] had known and esteemed
her for many years, but had not half
appreciated her capabiIty and devo-
tion to her work. / especially looked
into her business methods, fearing there
would be the greatest danger of mis-
take. that there might be want of sys-
tenn and waste and extravaganza. but
found she could teach me on these
points. All Miss Barton's assistants
are excellently fitted for their duties.
IN short. saw nothing to criticise. but
everything to commend. The Amerl-
can people may be assured that their
bounty will reach the sufferers with the
least possible cost and in the best man
ner in every respect.
General Blanco's order of Nov IS
last somewhat modifies the Weyler or
der. but Is of little or no practical ben
eft Its application is limited 10
farms properly defended and the COM
missioners are expected to build CEN
ters of defense Its execution is COM