The record-union., 1898-02-24

SANTIAGO DE CUBA, rep. 10 tCOT-
respondence of the Associated Press).-
While the United States cruiser Mont
gomery was at Matanzas recently
board of officers was appointed to in
quire 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 substance, it sets
forth that there 14,C0o people abso-
lutely without food and clothing within
the city limits About 5000 of these
live in small huts of palm branches.
These huts form three separate villages
beyond the buitup portions of the city.
The other II 600 unfortunates live In
the streets of the city, and are abSo-
lutely without homes or shelter.
These 14,eo people are of the labor
ing 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 enact
ated, 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
According to statistics gathered from
the best official sources, the number
of deaths in the province of MatanZas
from starvation is $4,000. and the num-
Der of starving people at present in the
province is estimated at 9SO00, out of
a total population of 253616 in Decem-
ber 1897. and the number of starving
people is rapidly increasing.
Ii the city of MatanZas alone there
have been about l 600 deaths during
the past year, and the number is in
creasing daily. The death rate at
present averages forty-six per day, as
shown by the reports from the ceme-
terry The increase in the death rate
is due to the fact that the distress is
no longer confined to the labOring
class, most of whom have already per-
ished 1t is now extended to the people
who before the war were in moderately
comfortable circumstances. Those beg
ging in the streets were in large part
wel-to-do people. or children of the
well-to-do. In addition, the citizens
of the city of MatanZas themselves are
beginning to suffer for the actual neces-
saIies of life, having exhauste ed theiI
resources in order to supply the needs
Of the laboring class who have been
quartered upon them.
The citizens of Matanzas have an
organic d system of relief for the starry
ing people. but it is entirely inadequate,
and is daily becoming more glaringly
so, for the resources of those who were
well-to-do are rapidly diminishing,
= while the demand for food is constantly
increasing. AT one of the stations the
board of officers found 100 starving,
this being the actual number of people
for which the citizens had been able
to provide relief there Pans of rice
and fresh fish are arranged in rows
ready for distribution among the peO-
pie who We're waiting in another part
of the house.
But this relief does not begin to sup
ply the relief for the 14,G00 people who
are starving in the streets, for the citi-
zens are only able to issue food three
times a day at each place, and then to
only about leo at a time. Consequent
", only about 500 of the destitute peo-
pie receive food In a day.
1t should be added that a large num-
Der of the citizens of Matanzas have
fed the starving in the streets in front
OF their own homes, but the citizens
themselves are feeling the pinch and
privation, and unless assistance soon
comes to them they viii be compelled
III SELF pTOtSCkiOI 10 Ct6SS lflc NOEk VI
charity in which they are now en-
gagged, and which seemingly is the only
salvation for the starving thousands.
The only other public shelter at Ma
tanzas is that given to the sick children
by the mana cement of the Emergency
Hospital, which Is under the direction
of the volunteer fire department of
: Matanzas There about eighty chill
dren are treated daily, and are fur
nished with nourishment under the di
rection of the city physicians.
These statements are the conclusions,
facts and figures arrived at by a board
of United States naval officers. When
the United States naval officers landed
they were constantly followed by clam
oring crowds Of starving men, women
and children, who importuned them In
the most heartrending manner for a lit
tie food. for the want of which they
Were slowly dying.
The United States Consul al Matan-
zas has done everything possible under
the circumstances. but when the Mont
eonlery left there in the first DAYS of
February the Consul had only enough
rations remaining 10 last about two
weeks. after which the fund appropri-
afed by Congress would be exhausted
and then the sufferers at Matanzas
would include the American citizens at
that place. who have hitherto received
relief through the United States Con