The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-12
Belief That 100000 Died
From Hunger.
MEDICINE MUCH NEEDED.
No Indication OF Cessation of Hos
tilities by Rebels.
MR.. RUSSELL'S INVESTIGATIONS.

Washington. Jan. 12.-Charles w. Rus
sell OF the department OF justice returned
yesterday from Cuba, where he spent
two weeks investigating the conditions
prevailing on the island. To the Asso-
ciated Press Mr.. Russell said: Except
in the cities, | saw no indications that
any relief was being afforded TO the
starving people. Neither in Havana
nor elsewhere did any priest, religious
woman or other person seem 10 be pay
ing any attention 10 the wants or the
starving except that at the fossos and
some of other places charitable Cubars
were nursing the sick. The church, be-
ing a state institution, was. so far as
could see. leaving the victims without
either bodily or spiritual relief. In
fact the general air OF indifference to suf-
fering, which seemed to prevail every
where, was astonishing.
'As the country was stripped of It's
population by the order of concentra-
ton, IL is easy TO believe that 400, 600
persons were gathered behind the forts,
without being given food, medicine or
means Of any kind TO earn a living, ex-
cept where in the larger cities some few
could nd employment in menial offices.
Judging by the orphans was shown, and
from all 1 saw and heard. believe that
half Of the 400, 900 have died as the re-
suit of starvation. l know from the
official register of the city of Santa
Clara, which ordinarily has a popua-
tion of $4,000, that the number of deaths
for November was over a thousand. and
the number of deaths for December was
971. At that city the government was
distributing 500 single rations per day
out OF total appropriation for the pur-
pose of $4,000
so far as any evidence OF relief was
visible or was even heard Of by me in
all my talks on the island, the sur
viving 100000 people are in the same
condition and have the same prospect
of starvation before them as had their
kindred who have died. There is as
MUCH need or medicine now as food, and
they are getting neither. The reason
given by the Spanish sympathizers in
Cuba Is that the troops must first be
fed, and il is certain that many Of the
soldiers are sick and suffering for want
of proper food | was informed on all
sides that they had noe been paid for
about eight months, and that most OF
the civil officials had not been paid for a
similar period IL is therefore most
probable that Spain is practically un-
able To supply the millions which are
Immediately necessary to prevent the
death OF most OF the surviving recon-
centradoes.
Il wish to state merely IN such a
way as to be convincing that in con-
sequence of the concentration of the
people some 200.0 900 Cubans are daily
suffering and dying from diseases pro-
duced by a lack of nouGishment in the
midst OF what I think must be the most
fertile country in the world and that
something must be done for them on
large scale and at once, or few
months VIII see their determination.
SO far as ! could see they are a patient.
amiable, intelligent set Of people. They
Nre Americans. probably the oldest
Americans CT European descent. Con-
stant intercourse with the United States
has made them sympathize with and
appreciate us who are but six hours
by boat from them If we do not sympa-
thize with or care for them No order
or permission from General Blanco can
save the lives of many OF them. In
deed, many OF them are too far gone
10 be saved by the best care and treat
ment
There was no indication of a cessation
tf hostilities by the insurgents. If
they do not voluntarily cease. their tao
tics are such that Spain cannot con-
quer them IL at all before the recon
centradoes will have had the finishing
stroke; but even the speedy termination
OF the war would not save many OF them.
What they need is instant pecuniary
assistance to the extent of $40. 900 day.
distributed by our consuls. Private
charity will hardly, IL seems produce
that amount Twenty thousand dollars
would be but ten cents apiece for medi-
cine, clothes and food. When l left
Havana I was informed that Consul
General Lee had received $4,000 and some
hundred cans OF condensed milk. AS
there are about 10000 sufferers in Ha-
vana alone, the inadequacy Of such con-
tributions is manifest"