The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-15

THE CAUSES OF DEATH.
''The causes of these deaths were deter
mined to be: Starvation, LIS; malaria, 1,24S;
enteritis, 1888; la hidrohemia, 767; dysen-
terry, 625; consumption, 462: obscure stomach
troubles, 312; yellow fever, 20. To under
stand how high a death rate this is one
must know that in either November or De-
cember the deaths were more numerous
than in the entire year of 1890 or in the en-
tire year of 1891, and that whereas the av-
erage death rate in France, England and
the United States is, according to the sta
tistics in the municipal palaces, from elgbt<-
cen to twenty per 1000, in the town OF Ma
tanzas it has been for year 25O per 1000;
One quarter of the population, reports Esl
Correo de MatanzaS, has gone to the grave
In one year. And the main cause OF this
horrible mortality was the profound misery
of the inhabitants; the hunger killed many,
and bad and insufficient food brought on
enteritis and dysentery and FASTENED the
those who died 6092 We're Cuba-ns, $50 Span
iards or Canarians, 1859 Chinese, 162 Af-
ricans-birth places Of the remainder un-
known. The whites numbered 6,oO7, the
blacks S35, the half-breeds 545, the Asiatics
169 More than half were unmarried and In
the prime of life, and one-third We're chill
centradon dealt it's blow in vital places and
determination was progressing fast.
1.-The city records for the month Of Sep
TENDER show that there died in this city
(out Of about 10000 inhabitants or less) IA
persons of whom 3S8 were male and 22a
female. OF these 252, or nearly a third died
from starvation, while others died from
diseases brought on by temporary lack or
food 1t is interesting that among the total
while 553 were Cubans, 10 Chinese and II
Africans. Half Of these were over twenty
five years old, and SOP were married, 50 un-
married, 81 widowers, 43 unrecorded NIhe
record also shows that 5S4 were white, 16S
black and ID yellow. The negroes SJanu
everything here better than the whites DO;
hot 10 caf fn ha Gilman
army is now mainly composed OF negroes.
the whites having persisted in the bush or
sickness. In Matanzas the deS.ths OF CIVIL
ians numbered 675, while the mortality
among the Spanish troops amounted only
to thirty-seven. One case of yellow fever IS
mentioned; other diseases were: Malaria,
1903; la hidrohemia, 100; enteritis, SO; dysen-
terry, SO; consumption, &c. and, finally, num-
ger, 254. All the blame for the last sad item
authorities, who imposed a duty of $4,000
upon rations brought by Red Cross ship
and thus INSTRUCTED relief.
Throughout the summer the town was q
horror-place. Fifty reconcentrados would
lie down at night under an arcade to sleep
on the faggings. and in the morning four
asleep forever. Families would be sitting
at evening by their grated windows, and
women would die on the sidewalk before
their eyes, These were the common ex-
periences that gave everybody visions that
do not leave them. When one asks If these
experiences are common now they answer
gfimly, No, not now; most of the very
poor are dead; there are only 5000 left ana
they have been taken OH the Streets
THE CUBAN NECESSITIES.
Gas to what the Cuban forces are suffer-
ing through want of rations one can learn
nothing definite They are in the country.
they are mostly abie-bodied, and they are
used to foraging. The camps we saw a
month ago in Guanabacoa, in Pinar del
Rio, and in Marianao certainly seemed
in no great necessity. Besides. the Cuban
societies are helping the Cuban soldiers,
and there is no one TO look after the gaunt
remaining victims of Weylerism Our
plan,' declared Mr.. Gould, when he came
here with help. is in general and in de-
tail to undo what Weyler did Yet the
real. direct victims Of WevIerisnn those
who were driven from the country to the
towns, with the hell of a war they had
no part in still around them, have not
been succored. Some private purses have
been opened especially to deal with their
condition, but the purpose was discouraged
by government commissioners, who said.
You would make them all paupers. You
will feed them for week or two and then,
what then? They Will be as before. Our
way is more practical. We are putting
"But, as you see, in Matanzas those who
have been aided are those who are in MILF
tary service for government and a flag
which, General Corbin says, have no reg
istered existence.
whether as an effect of this aid or not.
1t is a fact that there IS less Cuban oppo-
sition and more Cuban appreciation in this
province than in other toward Americans.
In addition to food, the Cuban soldiers have
received advice. One of the members Of
the Junta Fomento, Mr.. Brinckerhoff, has
told them that they must give up the notion
that they might harass the United States
as terribly In Cuba as they did Spain. I
said to them, he reports, that they hays
no reason to distrust the Americans; that
the one thing for them 10 do is to keep the
peace, for it Is simply to establish peace and
stable government that they are occupying
the island And any way i admonishef4
them, don't imagine that you have another
Spain to deal with. The American may
seem quiet and suave and silent and un-
denonstratiVe, but remember that all this
is the soft glove that covers an iron hand
"He believes that the food, such admoni-
tions, and little money to so TO their fame
lilies with and experience of American meth-
DDS In the islands, will entirely prevent SEE
rious disturbances. He believes that tEey
viii peacebly disband, and join the police
force or the farm hands, and gradually
come to understand that their ideal OF Cuba
Free has not been lost, but guaranteed.