Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-07-14
DISTRESS IN HAVANA
Nearly All the Food Supply Seized
For Use Of the Troops.
BLANoo ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

When the Story of Cevera's Defeat
Was Confirmed From Madrid-GIoom
Settled Upon the City and Public and
Private Buildings Hung With Grape.
Key West, Fla, July 14.-According
to advices from Havana Governor
General Blanco attempted to commit
suicide when he learned beyond doubt
that Admiral Cervera's squadron had
been annihilated. Long before the
Spanish admiraIs gallant dash out of
Santiago harbor all Havana had been
boasting Of his ability to outwit the
Americans, and when misleading dis
patches gave the impression that he
had eluded the American fleet the de-
monstrations of joy in the Cuban cap
ital partook of the nature of a festival.
When the true story of the defeat came
1t was discredited until definite con-
firmation from Madrid no longer left
room for hope. Gloom settled upon
the city, all gaieties were stopped and
every public and many private build
ings were hung with crepe and other
black draperies. Blanco was in his
palace when the intelligence reached
him, and he became almost frenzied.
He was closeted with his staff and
General Arolas. Of the Spanish forces,
discussing the news, when he made the
attempt on his life After struggle
he was subdued and disarmed, but the
shock was so severe that he was pros
trated and compelled to keep to his
bed for several days. When he arose
his first order was to prohibit any food
supplies leaving Havana for interior
towns, where the distress is most
poignant and where many are starring
daily
This and other valuable information
was brought by Jose Pauline Blanco,
who Indignantly repudiated sugges-
ton of kinship with the governor gen.
eral He says he is loyal Cuban and
escaped to avoid the necessity of fight
ing against his cause as every male
in the island who is able to bear arms
is being pressed into the Spanish ser
vice. He obtained fisherman's permit
to go outside Moro and at O'Clock
Monday morning put off in a small
boat The gunboat Bancroft was sta
toned six miles out and he rowed to
her the Cojimar battery, east of Ha-
vana, firing two shots at him when he
was observed passing beyond the pre-
scribed limits. The Bancroft trans
ferred him to another vessel and he
was brought here.
Blanco says the living conditions in
Havana are constantly growing worse,
the greatest distress necessarily falling
on the Cubans, because nearly all the
food is seized for the troops. OF those
there are about 20 900 in the city, con-
sisting of volunteers, modified troops,
militia and regulars Their rations are
largely rice and beans, without even
bacon. Jerked beef, Blanco says, sells
for 80 cents a pound, bread of poor
quality for so cents, lard 81, meal 70
cents, cornmeal 25 cents and rice so
cents Shark food is even eagerly
sought, and the day before Blanco left
the city 81 shark caught in Havana
harbor sold for $780,
Those of the reconcentrados who
have sufficient influence with the dis
pensing authorities sometimes con-
trive to get one wretched meal day.
but the others starve, and 1t is no un-
common thing, says Blanco, to see per-
sons drop dead in the streets. Even
among the Snaniards starvation is
rapidly sapping their loyalty and large
numbers of men are banding them-
selves together awaiting the first att
tack on Havana as a signal for re-
volt. The grocery and provision stores
are empty. and the only articles on
the Havana wharves are about 1000
barrels of cement wet and useless,
Only liquor Is to be had cheaply
Bianeo further reported that three
weeks ago the Spanish steamer Monte
video and Santo Domingo crept out of
the harbor at midnight with all lights
out and safely got through the block
ade There are five Spanish gunboats
in the harbor, he says, most of them
converted yachts and unfit for use. The
merchant steamers Josefa. Adola and
Maria Herrera are also in the harbor.
Two Deaths at Camp AIger.
Washington. July 1.-Two privates
who had been Ill with fever for some
weeks died yesterday. They We're Jere-
Yniah Murnhv First New York and