The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-26
A PlTlFUl APPEAL.
Cubans at Cienfuegos, Dying of Hunger,
Appeal to sampson.


Appeal to sampson.
Copyright 1898 by Associated Press.
Guantanamo. July %, IL a. m.-The
following pitiful appeal has been ad-
dressed by the starving people of Glen
fuegos to Rear Admiral Sampson:
Honorable Sir-The Cubans, old men.
women and children, resident in the
town of Cienfuegos and this neighbor-
hood are all dying of hunger. The
young men are all in the field with the
Cuban troops and have no shoes nor
food. All the provisions in this town
are in the hands of the Spaniards. Gu
bans cannot obtain piece of bread, as
1T is necessary to send everything to
the field. The Weyler system is in high
sway. The situation is terrible. III
you. honorable sir, do not come quick
with your squadron to our help and
take possession at this town we shall be
lost. We beg you to precipitate your
operations. About 5000 old men, wo-
men and children shall die of hunger
in this town. Some of these old men
have four or five sons fighting for his
freedom. This is our stuation-horri-
BILE situation. If the great people of the
United States do not come quick to our
help we are lost. For Gods sake, come
quick"
Nothing can be done for the people of
Cienfuegos until that place is captured.
This will not be for some time.
The following is a translation from
newspaper of Cienfuegos of the loss of
the Spanish steamer Alfonso XII,
which was driven ashore on the coast
of Cuba by the United States auxiliary
gunboat Hawk:
Yesterday" says Ell Correo of Ha-
vana, there arrived here the survivors
of the fine transatlantic steamer AL
fonso XII, which was scuttled in the
waters of Marel. With a natural de-
sire to obtain information which would
calm the anxiety of the public, we in
terviewed the survivors and ascertained
that they were rendered nearly insensi-
bit by fatigue and anxiety. Their feet
were sore from walking from the val
ley of Marel to Guam bay, and their
hands were badly lacerated in violent
and futile efforts to save the cargo.
I'VE will faithfully relate that which
occurred, reserving what. in our judg
ment, ii is not permitted to give to the
public and what might serve as advice
to our enemies.
''The Alfonso XII," said the captain,
was fitted out in Cadiz with six can
non. the necessary crew, three compa-
nies of marines and other necessary ar
ticles. In 20 days hoped to make port
and land the cannon and troops imme-
diately. l navigated the Alfonso XII.
with hope in God and in the valor of my
crew. | ran with all possible speed to
the bay of Cienfuegos, where came
out three cruisers of the enemy Seeing
them, the Alfonso XII. took flight to-
ward the Isle of Pines in which waters
/ lost sight of our pursuers.
Believing myself now free from pur-
suit. / laid my course directly toward
Havana, with the full intention of maxi
ing that harbor. When eight miles dis
tant our course was intercepted by
three others cruisers, which l was un-
able to evade. The American cruisers
took a position on my port and star
board and ahead. / then steered the AL
fonso XII. toward Mariel where /
hoped to enter. with the excessive object
of disembarking. | decided to save the
cargo, as the object in coming was 10
land provisions and the cargo was
landed.
- saw an embarrassing situation.
The Yankees began throwing shells.
which landed in all directions around the
ship, which proves what we have said a
thousand times, that the Americans are
no artillerists. OF the hundreds Of pro-
jectiles thrown at the Alfonso XII,
only eight struck the ship. This cor
roborates our opinion of their bad train
ing. Then Captain Moret ordered the
cargo to be thrown overheard, in order
that some portions might float to the
shore. which was only pistol shot dis
tant. We got out a boat and prepared
to torpedo the ship. I saw the Ameri-
cans would not delay destroying the fine
ship. and therefore / placed an explo-
sive bomb between the two tunnels Of
the ship and instantly blew up the ship