The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-27
IN HAVANA.
Starvation Stalks Abroad-Crime Ram
pant in the CITY.

Key West, June ga two-masted YES
sci the Amapala, of Trujillo, Hon.
duras, was brought in here this morning
flying the American flag, in charge OF
Ensign Zeen of the Vicksburg. She was
captured yesterday afternoon at sunset,
while leaving Havana and attempting to
run the blockade.
She was quickly ovorhauled by the
V1oksburg and was found to have over
30 women and children and d number of
men ON board, crew and passengers, all
refugees. There was no sickness on boaru
the Amapala, but she was detained in
quarantine.
The Spanish prize steamers Guido,
Buena Ventura, Miguel Jover and Catalina
will be sent to New York next week
with their Spanish crews on board. The
Guido and her cargo Will be sold, the
Buena Ventura will be sold, but her cargo
will be released.
The government has appealed from the
decision in the cases of the Miguel Joyer
OF these two steamers have furnished
bonds.
The Amapala belongs to Manuel Mon
tesin .. Munteres of Trujilln. Honduras.
She has been lying in Havana since be-
fore the blockade. Her crew numbers
II men, besides the captain.
Gerome Bose, a French citizen, who
three years ago was leading exchange
broker in havana chartered the vessel
and got together over 30 people eager TIC
embrace any chance to escape from
Havana. be is in charge of an expedit.
ion made up of all nationalities, includ.
ing Spanish, French, Venezuelans, Gu
bans and Turks.
They fully expected to be captured. but
the conditions in Havana were so dread
full for the poorer classes that any risk
was preferable to starvation. This
ADlapala came out of Havana openly,
and offered no resistance. All of the
captors are confident of release
Hardly any provisions were abroad al
the time of the capture, and no cargo O,
contraband articles were found, and she
may not be held as a prize. They report
everything quiet at Havana, which looks
like deserted city since business and
traffic are at a standstill.
The banking firms of Fl. Upham &,
Co., j. M. FORBES & Co., Varcisco Ruez
& Co, and N. Gelats & Co., are the only
ones doing business. All other firms are
either closing up, or dragging on, wait
ing for the end of the war, having dis
charged all employees. Hunger and star.
the well-to.do having hid three months
stores. Aftor they are exhausted distress
will be general, as there is no further
source of supply.
NMurder and robbery are of daily oc.
currence in Havana, prompted in every
case by want and hunger. The Amapala
carried Spanish mails The passengers
claim that the city is in state of panic
since the news reached there that the
Americans landed in Santiago.
The captain of.Gthe Amapala says
that the troops in Havana are on halt
ra lions and that beef went up to 81 q
pc und in the first days of June, but Ii
now five cents, several cargoes of cattle
from Mexico having been landed success
fully via Coloma and Batabano within
the last fortnight.
The passengers bring news that the big
Spanish transatlantic liner Santo Do
mingo and German steamer left Ha.
vana yesterday at day break, carrying
Spanish troops to be landed at Nuevitas
or Gibara to reinforce the remaining
Spanish garrisons in Puerto Principe and
Holguin. This, however, is doubted in
naval circles here.