The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-24
THE SITUATION IN HAVANA
Given by Two Cubans
Who Visit the City.
THE SCARCITY OF FOOD.

"Toups@Nt" Soast ktSfchASSs ETSStSos
Warships in the Harbor-Cardenas
Effectively 8e~ieged by Sea and Land
No Coal supply.
Key West, June POSTS a. ma
vessel arrived here from the blockade
this morning and reported all quiet
along the line. She brought an officer
Of the Cuban army and a pilot, who
are carrying important dispatches to
Senior Estrada Palma, Of the Cuban
junta, from General Alexandra Rodri-
guez, the insurgent commander Of
Havana province.
The Cubans were taken on board
on Saturday last from an auxiliary
gunboat which had picked them up.
The messengers of General Rodriguez
give a very interesting account of their
experiences. After leaving the insur-
gent camp they made their way into
the city of Havana, spent several
days there, proceeded to one of the
small inlets in the neighborhood, stole
a small boat and rowed out TO sea in
the hope of coming across an Ameri-
can vessel. They were three days in
the boat before they were picked up.
HAVANA'S SHORT FOOD SUPPLY.
The Cubans report that there are no
supplies of rice, maize, potatoes or
eggs in Havana. Flour they say costs
80 cents per pound and the army has
been placed on half rations. The mes
SengerS class as false that vessels have
succeeded in entering Havana with
cr,r 1; TI4x- o--o~ @hn+ rt-1n shn
blockade began only three small fish
ing vessels have entered the harbOr
and that no food whatever is received
from C~ienfuegos.
The Cubans confirm the reports that
work on the defenses of Havana is
proceeding steadily. Two lines Of
tOrpedoes extend across the mouth Of
the harbor, which is said to be further
protected by the two automobile tor
pedOes, one at each side, dischargable
by pressing a button.
The Spanish vessels in Havana har-
Dor are the Condo de V~enadito, Neuva
Espana, Vincente Yanez Pinzon and
Alfonso XII, the last named being
used as a hospital ship. No other gun
boats or converted tugs are in port.
CARDENAS EFFECTIVELY BE-
SIEGED.
An auxiliary gunboat off Cardenas
has been visited by a Cuban officer
from the shore, who reported hat place
to be effectively besieged by the in
surgents On land and by the warships
in front. He made the statement that
in two weeks time the whole pOpula-
ton of Cardenas will be starving. He
described the people as living on palm
buds and dog meat, which, he claim
ed, is considered a delicacy.
The Cubans also report that lard is
selling at so cents, rice at 20 cents,
beans at 25 cents and meat at rs cents
per pound and all are scarce, and they
say that all horses of private families
stores and livery stables, have been
cOnfiScated by order of General Aro-
las, the military governor of Havana,
for the use of the troops.
There is hardly any traffic in the
streets of Havana and groups of more
h a two persons are not allowed to
loiter on street corners. The street
railway company, whose cars are
drawn by horses, are obliged to run a
car every hou instead of every five
minutes as heretofore, as the horses of
the company have been taken by the
government.
The trocha from Guanabacoa, Paula
Vivora and Managua to Puerto de
Leechrrera, thickly studded with fort.
and round houses, protects the ap-
prOaches to Havana.
NEW COAST DEFENSES.
The new batteries which have beer
built just east of MORO castle are
known as Nc. 1 and No. 2, the latter
being closest to Moro. No. 4 has
three Ordonez 11-inch guns, unmount.
ed, and No. / has one mounted n
other guns ready to be placed in pc.
sition, of the same calibre. Two Other
new batteries have Deer constructed
on either side of the mouth of tn
river Almendarez, west Of Santa Clara
and the Refna batteries are also pro.
Vided with heavy ordnance.
1t is also reported that there ar
5000 armed Cubans in Havana pro
vince pitted against $1,000 we'll equip
ped Spaniards. The health of the Gu
bans in Havana province is excellent
Their camp is situated at Zenea.
The vessel, which arrived here to
day., has been patroling a regular bea
off the Cuban coast lust like a police
man. going back and forth during tn,
day n night. Sometimes she saw
Spanish troops moving about, but, OIL
the whole, the blockade was uneven
full.
The tug N. Moran arrived this morn
ing from Progresso. She belongs t
the Ward Line and reports that tn
rumor to the effect that cargoes ar
leaving Progresso for the Isle Of Pine
in untrue. But she admits that schoon
ers arrive there with Cubans aboard
! The coal in Isla de Mujeres, the cap
: tain of the Moran IA belongs to tn
: Mexican Colonization Company, an
ne adds that there are only 400 ton
there. He d~iscredits the report Of Ii
L haln O. q IN