New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-18

| TO get some stray bits OF food from the carry
hucksters. and that there had been cases where
they had dropped dead inside the market sur
rounded by food. These people were indepen-
dent and self-supporting before Weylers order
| They are not beggars even now. There are
| plenty of professional beggars in every town
among tho regular residents bat these country
people the rcconcentrados have not learned the
art Rarely is a hand held out to you for aims
when going among their huts. but the sight OF
them makes an appeal stronger than words
HORRORS IN THE HOSPITALS.
| "The hospitals OF these need not speak
| Others have described their condition far better
than can. 1t is not within the narrow limits OF
my vocabulary to portray It, went 10 Cupa
with a strong conviction that the picture had
| been overdrawn. that a few cases OF starvation
and suffering had inspired and stimulated the
press correspondents. and they had given free
pla, to a strong. natural and highly cultivated
| imagination Before starting received through
the mall leahet published by The Christian
! Herald with cuts of some OF the sick and starry
| Ing reconcentrados end took IL With me. think
| ing these were rare specimens got UP to make
the worst possible showing. saw plenty as
bad and worse: many that should not be photo
grabbed and shown. l could not believe that
| out OF a population of 100000 two hundred
[ thousand had died within these Spanish FORTS
practically prison walls. within few months
past. from actual starvation and diseases caused
b. insufficient and improper food.
| MY INQUIRIES we're entirely outside Of sensa-
| tional sources They were made OF our medical
| officers of our consus. of city alcaldes (May-
ors). OF relief committees, Of leading merchants
and bankers. physicians and lawyers Several
Of my informants were Spanish born but every
| time the answer was that the case had not been
overstated. What 1 l cannot tell so that
| others can see 1t. 1t must be seen with ones
! own eyes TO be realized. The Los Pasos Hos
| pital in Havana has been recently described by
| one OF my colleagues, Senator Gallnger. and
| cannot say that his picture was overdrawn. for
| even his fertile pen could not do more He Wis
| tied It after DR.. Lessar one OF Miss Bartons
very able and efficient assistants had renovated
1t and put In cots. saw 1t when four hundred
women and children were lying on the stone
floors In an Undesirable state Of emaciation
and disease, many with the scentiest covering
of rags, and such rags! and sick children as
naked as they came into the world. And the
conditions In the other cities even worse
MISS BARTON AND HER WORK
Miss Barton needs no Endorsement from me.
I had known and esteemed her for many years,
but had not half apprecia ted her capablty and
devotion to her work. l especially looked into
her business methods fearing there would be
the greatest danger Of mistake that there might
be want of system. and waste and extravaganza.
but found she could teach these points.
! visited the warehouse where the supplies are
received and distributed; the methods Of
checking: visited the hospitals established or
organized and supplied by her; saw the food
distributions In several cities and towns. and
everything to to be conducted in the
best manner possible.
The ample warehouse in Havana, owned by
a Cuban 1rm is given with a gang OF laborers
free Of charge to unload and reship supplies.
The childrens hospital in Havana. a very large.
fine private residence. is hired at the cost Of
less than 800 per month. not fifth Of what
II would command in this city. 1t is under the
admirable management OF Mrs Dr. Lessar, Of
New-York, A German lady and trained nurse
! the RAPID improvement Of the first chill
dren taken there. All Miss Barton's assistants
are excel'ently fitted for their duties. In short
] saw nothing TO criticise. but everything to
commend The American people may be as
sured that their bounty will reach the sufferers
with the least possible cost and in the best man
ner In every respect.
ana II our people could see a small traction
OF the needs they would pour more freely from
their liberal store than ever before for any
cause
no RELIEF EXCEPT IN PEACE.
When Will the need for this help end Not
until peace comes and the reconcentrados can
go back TO their country, rebuild their homes,
reclaim their tillage plats, which quickly run up
TO brush In that wonderful soil and climate and
until they be free from danger of molesta-
ton Is so doing. Until then the American peo-
pie must. In the main, care for them II Is
true that the acaldes, other local authorities
and relief committees are now trying to do
something. and desire believe to do the best
they can. But the problem is beyond their
means and capacity, and the work is one to
which they are not accustomed.
General Blanco's order Of November l3 last
somewhat mobiles the Weyler order but is of
little or no practical benefit. Its application is
limited 10 farms properly defended and the
owners are obliged 10 build centres Of defence
Its execution is completely in the discretion
OF the local military authorities and they know
the terrible military efficiency OF Weyler's order
in stripping the country OF all possible shelter
food or source of information for an insurCent
and will be SLOW to surrender this ADVANTAGE
In fact, though the order was issued four
months ago, l no bene1cent results from IL
worth mentioning.
Il do not impugn General Blanco's motives
and believe him to be an amiable gentleman
and that he would be glad TO relieve the cond-
ton Of the reconcentrados If he could do so
without loss OF any military advantage but he
knows that all Cubans are insurgents at heart
and none now under military control will be
allowed to go from under It.
Il wish might speak Of the country OF It's
surprising richness. l have never seen one to
compare with 1t. On this point agree with
Columbus, and believe every one between his
time and mine must lie OF the same opinion II