The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01
IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA.
Almost a Reign of T~errOr-Prices of
Food Doubling Daily.

Copyright, 1898. by the Associated Press.)
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, April 27, via
steamer Remus, filed at Port Antonio, ia
miaca, April 2S.-Don Pombo, a comrnan-
dante general of this division of Cuba pro-
claimed four days ago that every man be-
tween fifteen and fifty years of age must
enroll that night with the volunteers for
military service, under penalty of arrest and
military trial and death. Senior Chucho
Manduley, magistrate of the high court Of
Santiago, and known as an intense Span
ish s~ympathizer, one of the most prominent
men in the city, left for the camp of the
Cuban brigadier general, Cavallos. He was
accompanied by several kinsmen and his GO
ing produced a vivid impression.
The exodus from this city has continued
by night, the Spaniards making no opposi-
ton, except that a few men have been ar
rested as examples. Five thousand persons
have left for the country since the procla-
nation, four-fifthS being women and chill
dren.
The Spanish soldiers now assume a bully
ing attitude and threaten to kill every Gu
ban man and outrage every Cuban
woman left in the vicinity when the
blockade begins. When the American fleet
appears, as it is daily expected to do, all
the noncombatants Will be expelled.
Though the governor of the city, Enrique
Capriles. has seized for the government all
the large store of food in private hands,
many private shops still do business in
small stocks and prices double daily. Some
Ol lit pIICOS III SOtQ lO-udS are. hlC6. "a
cents q pound; beans. 81; -four, 19, and lard.
80. Chickens are $3.50 apiece. The govern
or announced to-day, to quiet public alarm,
that q ship loaded with provisions was ex-
pected, but when, where from, and what her
name, nobody knows. The story is not be-
lieVed.
The Spanish soldiers, especially the sick,
are abominably fed. Fourteen hundred sick
in the military hospital here get nothing ex-
cept bean soup three times a day with an
ounce of meat to a plate. One thousand SOL
diers in San Luis hospital have had only salt
fish this week and conditions are now so bad
that the ~Spaniards would almost rejoice to
surrender after one good fight. The prepa-
rations for defense go forward, however.
A new battery has been erected at the
west harbor entrance with four rapid-fire
guns, and this correspondent hears ten or
twelve more rapid-fire, small caliber guns
will be mounted on MORO and the east side
battery. The MORO fort has at least fifty
ancient brass cannon, marked 1854. There
are reports about torpedoes in the channel
and harbor, but they are confusing. Prep
a~rations have certainly been made to lay
torpedoes, but whether it has been actually
done is not known. Strong floating mines
are ready to be placed.
TIL Spaniards assemble nightly in the
chief streets yelling Long live Spain!" and
Death to the Yankees" The military au-
thorities seem to have little control of the
soldiers and the disorderly elements. Span
ish silver is at 45 per cent. premium. The
bank notes issued by the government at
Havana are practically worthless n some
times pass for 8 to 8 cents on the dollar.