Nebraska Newspapers

    1
OT I
TIIE OMAHA DAILlf JftiJjh TUESDAY , APRIL 12 , 1808 ,
thorltle at Madrid. Up to tonight Scnor
I'olo bad received no Instructions to with
draw , nor wan there any Intimation cf bis
instruction ! ! .
lAt the other embassies and legations the
mrsaago aroused the greatest Intercut. Hut
It cannot bo raid It was received with uatls-
faction. At one of the most Important and
anost Interested foreign CHttbllshments the
general feeling was expressed by the atate-
inent that the president had , through his
message , washed bin hands of the subject ,
add Imposed 4hc responsibility upon the
nhouldurs of congress.
In other high diplomatic quartern some
question . wa.1 expressed a to that .portion of
the prtflldcnt's racMvige where ho speak * of
civilization In stopping the war In Cula , and
Uio Intimation was made that the great pow
ers of Kuropo , so far as they rcrceaented
civilization , did not represent this view ex-
l > r < wed by Uio prejldctit.
There has becil no further conference be
tween the ambassadors or ministers ot the
powers , ncr Is there- any present Indication
of further action fror.V that quarter.
NO NBW DIPLOMATIC I'HASES.
No nrw diplomatic phases of the nutations
developed today at the State department.
Secretary Slicunan f.ald he would not be nur-
prlscd If the Madrid cable report proved tcuo
that Minister Woodlord .was about to leave
.Madrid , At tfio same time the State depart-
'inont wai , without ndvlccs that this step
"actually had becei taken. General Leo Is en
rnuto here , and It Is expected that hl.i ar
rival will bo the signal for a notable demon
stration.
Tlio War and Navy departments continued
their active preparation today. While
( mutualities are being prepared for , the sen
timent In army and navy circles la that war
1 not BO Imminent as It aeemcd to be a few
days ago.
It can bo stated on authwlty that no con
sideration tins yet been given to the with
drawal of the United States fleet at Key
"West , ns the administration holds that the
situation has undergone no change which
make * the withdrawal necessary or ad
visable.
ONOK OVKH TIIR VAIXK.
Lot-ill OMlcllllH Oil JIT I to the Ship *
Citiuliiff.
WASHINGTON , April 11. The consular
correspondence In part wa $ devoted to the
Mulno disaster and In this part of the cor-
rtdponilcnco come Important Mid Interesting
points arc developed. The corre-vpondence
consists largely of cablegrams exchanged by
Atisbtant Secretary of State- Day and Con
sul General Lee. Thu llrst of tfie tclegrama
Is dated In Havcnn. January 12 , md re
lates to the riots which were- then occur
ring In the city. This and the subsequent
telegrams upon the same subject have been
published either In whole ov In part. On
January LM , Uencral Lea wao notified by the
State department that the Maine would
cull at Havana In a day or two , and was
directed to mnkti arrangements for an Inter-
chanRo of friendly calls between olllcers and
authcvltlcii.
Under the same date General Leo advised
a postponement of the Maine's visit for six
or seven da > s , that tdc cxcltomunt might
abate. Later on thn ( same day General Lee
rwn mtlfled that the Maine would arrive
li : Itavana the next day and was asked to
co-operato with authorities for Its friendly
visit. Wiving the State department the next
day , General Lei- Informed the State depart
ment the Spanish authorities professed to
think iho United States had an ulterior pur-
p-ao li sending the ship. "Say It will o'j-
utruct autonomy , produce excitement and
most probably a demonstration. Aak that
It la not done unitll they can get Instvuc-
-tlonu from Madrid and say that If for
friendly motived , as claimed , delay unim
portant. "
7lie tclegrama from January 25 to Feb
ruary ! , relate merely to the reception or
.Uio Maine and tbe cxchtngu of visits be
tween Us olllccr.4' and the civil and naval
authorities In Havana.
On February 4 , Assistant Secretary Hay
Informed' General Lee that tint secretary of
thn navy thought It Imprudent for sanitary
reasons to keep the 'Maine ' long In Havana.
asked If aorne vesselti had better bo kept
there all the time , and i-cqurated his views.
In reply General Leo fold ho thought there
would bu no danger to the health of the
vessel's crow before May. "We should not
relinquish position of peaceful control of the
eltii'.itlon or conditions would be worse than
If the vessel had never been sent. Ameri
cans would depart with their families In
ljusto If no vessel was In the harbor on ac-
cour.t of distrust ot preservation of order by
mithorltlcs. If another riot occure It will be
against governor general and autonomy , but
might include anti-American demonstration
alpo. Flrst-clai'3 battleships should replace
present one If relieved , as nn object lesson
'and to counteract Spanish opinion of our
navy , and i > hoiild have torpedo boat with it
to preserve communication with admiral. "
The next telegram of Importance wna cent
.by General Lie early on the morning cf Feb
ruary 1C , announcing to the State depart
ment the destruction of the Maine. That
telegram has been published. During tlto
forty-eight hours that followed General Leo
kept the department Informed of occurrences
In chronological order. In a dUuatch of
' ( February 28 , he said that after the dlvora
under Captain Slgsbee had made a cursory
examination of the wreck , "the Sp.inlah gov-
rrnmcnt would like to unite with ours In hiv
ing the bottom of the ship and harbor In the
vicinity Jointly examined. "
The next day Judge Day Informed General
I.ce that his gavcrnmnnt had already Insti
tuted un Investigation of the disaster which
would bo conducted Independently. Ho added
however : "This government will afford every
facility It can to the Spanish authorities In
whatever investigation they may sec lit to
irake Kielr part. "
The nrU Intimation cf the cause ot the ex
plosion v.ca given by General Leo on 1'cb-
nary 22 , when he telegraphed :
Copper cylinders , ammunition , found In-
tnet In ten-Inch forunrd magazine , star-
hoard side , this morning. Seems to show
tli.it nmnnzlnc : not exploded. Evidence be
ginning to prove explosion on port sldo bj
torpedo.
Gcr.cuil Leo Informed the department or
Ft binary 28 that nriangemenle had been con-
t'U : ( led for1 both governments to conduct In-
dcpndcnt Investigation. } cf the disaster , hit
eo rcEpomJcnce with General Blanco bcliif
transmitted In full. In concluding hta Icttci
to Dlanco General Lee said :
I nm quite sum that .neither government
has nny other object except to ascertain nl
the facts connected with the explosion ol
' .lie Mnlnr ami that -the great desire of hot )
rovernmeiit * Is to proceed harmonlouslj
ivlth.th ? work.
At this point orrtspondence between fjen-
cral Leo and the State department concern'
Ing the Maine disaster abruptly terminated
to far ai > the report submitted to congress 1 :
concerned.
IMiiHtrrtnlUtM Trliiiiipliaiit.
MADRID. April 11. The result of thi
lenatorlal elections Is that 140 mlnUterUliy.i
have been elected out of ISO senators votet
tor.
Is the sensou for now Hfo iu nature ,
now vigor in our physical systems.
As I ho fresh sap carries lifo into the
trees , so our blood should give us
renewed strength and vigor. In
Its impure stnto it cuunot do this ,
nnd the aid of Hood's Saimparilla
IB imperatively needed.
It will purify , vitalize and enrich the
blood , ruul with .this solid , correct
foundation , it will build tip good
health , crcntc n good appetite , tone
your stomach nnd digestive organs ,
strengthen your nerves and over
come or prevent that tired feeling.
This has been ( ho experience of tliou-
ands. It will bo yours if you take
Hoods
A m e r I o a'
Sarsaparilla
Greatest Modi.
Uat. Sold by oil drugclsU. i.
rf nnii' PI He " LlT IHt easy to
\i \ S * i IIIS tk , ciiytoopcrato/as .
CUBAN CONSULAR REPORTS
Extracts fnm Documents Sent in By
General Los.
OFFICIALS CONFIRM STORY OF HORRORS
Autonomy Not Pnvnrpil 1i > - Rltlirr tlir
Slinitlili r 4li * .Vntlvc I'opulii-
llon tit Hie In
land.
WASHINGTON , April 11. The consular
correspondence with regard to the situation
In Cuba , which woe transmitted today , wco
prepared In response to rraolutlono ot In
quiry adopted by both the house and sen
ate. The correspondence wus prepared for
transmission to congresa jui't ' before the
blowing up of the Maine , and having been
held up since now Include * communications
to April 1. It'covers the communications
of Connul General Lee at Iluvana , Consul
McGarr at Clenfuegos , Concul Drlco at .Ma
tanzas , Cor.mil Hyatt at Santiago de Cuba
and Consul Darker at Sigua 1 > \ Gtando. The
communications make about 60,000 words.
They deal largely with the dis
tress and tufferlng which exlo'.a In
all the districts , but General Lee
reports quite fully upon the dcctees
of the government with regard to autonomy
and other political phases of 'the situation.
In preparing the correspondence for trans
mission to congress , considerable portion ? ol
the Important communications , a'd e ec'ally
these marked confidential , arc omltteJ. The
rcso'.utlonii to which they are the response
In oich instance aaked only for such corre
spondence as It was not deemed incompatible
with the public Intercat'io ' make public.
General Lee's correspondence runs over ths
period from November 17. 1S97 , to April 1 ,
S9S. Much of the correspondence Is of a
onfldcntlat nature , and of tome of the 1m-
> ortant communications cxctrptu only are
; lvcn. The perlo.l of the correspondence
tier the blowing up of the Maine contains
0 reference to tint event , such ccmmunlca-
Ic-ns probably being deemed Irrelevant to-the
urpcco ot 'the ' resolution ealllim for the
onaular corrtfipondcnco In the prssesa'.on ot
ho government aa to the situation of
iffalre In Cuba. Tile first d.npatch ot Qen-
cxil Leo contains General lllaneo'a order ,
under date ot November IS , repc.illng , or
athcr modifying , General Wcylcr'n order of
oncentratlfti , willed fccs heretofore been pub-
Ished by tlie press. This order was made
hcctly after General Leo returned to Havana
rom the United Statc.1 Innt Mil. General
. .eo in communication also enclosed the
proclamation of J. -Rodriguez , major gen
eral In charge of the western department of
ho Cuban military operations , addreesed to
ho Cuban people and Informing them ot the
'Hrm resolution" of the Insurgent army to
lontlnuo fighting until the attainment of
absolute Independence.
It was on November 2.1 tfcat Consul General
, eo made his flr.n report to the Department
of State on the condttlc.il of affairs lu Cuta.
t to ns follows :
AIITONOMY UNSATISFACTORY.
Sir : I hnv.i the honor to briefly submit
1 statement of wViat appears to bo the pres-
> nt rendition of affairs In this Inland.
1. The Insurgents will not accept nu-
.onomy.
2. A largo majority of the Spanish sub-
eets who have commercial and business
nterests and own property hero will not
iccept autonomy , but prefer annexation to
ho United States rather than an Indo-
icndent republic or genuine autonomy
inder the Spanlr > 'n flag.
: ; . The Sp.inl.sh authorities nre sincere In
lolng all In their power to encourage , pro
tect nnd promote the grinding of nur.ar.
The grinding- season commences In De-
comber.
4. The Insurgent lender * have given In
structlons to prevent grinding wherever It
can be done , because by diminishing t'nc
export of qufenr the Spanish revenues are
lecreased. ' It' will be very dlltlcult for the
Spanish authorities to prevent cane burn
ng , because out- man nt nlsht can start n
Ire which will burn hundreds of acres ,
luat ns n single Individual could Isnltc a
irnirlc by throwing a matcVi Into the dry
grans.
5. I am confident that General Blanco and
general Pando , his chief of staff , as well as
Jr. Congosto. the secretary general , with
all of whom I have had conversations , are
icrfectly conscientious in their derive to re-
levo the. dlstrer of thos ( sufforliiK from the
effects of WeyUr's reconcfin'ratUn order ,
mt unfortunately they hn\'e not th ? means
o carry out suchi benevolentpurposes.
*
*
In this city matters nre. assuming better
Fhape under charitable committees , e'c. ' ,
nrgo numbers nre now cared for nnd fed
by private subscriptions.
I witnessed many terrible Fcenea nnd faw
some die while I was present. I nin told
General Dlanco will give $1X,0 ( ) to the rcllsf
fund.
iiormpns OP LOS FOSOS.
November 28 General Leo scjit to the de
partment the communications of two gentle
men whoso no.mcs ho says are suppressed
for obvious reasons , but whom ho knows
personally as atandlng high In the commu
nity concerning the condition In Lcs Fosos
the ditches ) In Havana. Thn communication
Bays , among other thlnce : "Forty-six women
and children thrown on the ground , heaped
pell mell as anlnials , some In a dying condi
tion , others sick , others dead , without the
, slightest cleanliness or the least help , not
oven able to give water to the thirsty , with
out cither religious or social help , each one
dying wherever chance laid him. "
The communication goes on to state that
the deaths among these rcconcentrados aver
- age forty or fifty .dally and that on an aver
age there were but ten days of life for each
! > erson. It says that the unhappy creatures
received food only after having been eight
days In the Fosos , during which time they
were obllgeJ to subsist upon the bad food
which the dying had refused. Some horrible
Instances ot the distress , witnessed ( ire given.
- "Among the many deaths wo naw , " says'
- the communication , "there was seen one 1m-
pooalblo to forget. TOere Is still alive tht
only witness , a young girl of 18 , whom we
found seemingly lifeless on the ground. On
her vlght tilde was the body of a young
mother , cold nnd rigid , but with her young
child still allvo and clinging to her breaat.
On her left side wa."J the corpse ot a dead
: woman holding her eon In a dead embrace.
A little further on a dykis woman , havlcg
in hci- arms a daughter of 14 , crazy with
pain , who , after twelve or fourteen dajs ,
' died In spite of Uio care she received. "
Further along the communication sajs that
It any young girl came In who wau nlco leak
ing , she was Infallibly condemned to the won
abominable of trattlcH. The coinminilcatfon
says that 1,700 pcisons had entered the Fcoes
since August , and ot these but 233 were then
living. It places the number o ? deaths among
Ch rcosncentrado * at 77 per cent
On December 3 Gencial Lcc scut to the
State department a communication referring
to a 'cipher ' dispatch' ho had tent two days
previous , In which ho Informed the depart
ment that ho had learned from 'the ' United
States consul .at Matanz&i cf an "Extensive
and dangerous cc-nspliacy under the ex-gov
ernor of the province directed against Ameri
cans , action against them to bo contingent
on the movement of the United States gov
ernment In favor of the Independence of
Cuba. "
WANTS WAR SHITS HANDY.
General Leo utatcd that rumors had beeii
more or less frequent regarding the riotous
demonstrations of some dissatisfied elemcuts
against American citizens there and In other
parts ot the Island. Such demonstrations.
he said , must como from Spanish noncombatants -
combatants or from volunteer forces. He
did not think there was any danger from the
former , many of whom seemed to favor aa-
nexatlon rather than autonomy or the In
dependence of the- Cuban republic. "I am
Inclined to think , " says he , "thatif General
nianeo can manage the volunteers as ycstor-
day ho said he could , the trouble from that
source Is diminishing. The origin of the
mobs to this city In the past haa always been
located lu Ihei ranks of the volunteers , who
alone have organization and arms. "
In consequence of the assurances
that American llfo and property
would bo protected General .eo
said that ho had declined to make applica
tion for the presence ot one or more war
ehlna In Havaca harbor and had advised
Americana who bad wives and children not
to send them away , at least for the pres
ent , "I Kill think , " continued General Lee ,
"that two war ships , at least , ehould be
at Key West prepared to move on short
notice and that more of them should be
at Dry Tortugti and that a coaling atatlon
lionUl bo established there. Such proceed
ing would seem to be In line with that
prudence and foresight accessary' to afford
oifety to Americans rwIJIng oil the hland
and to their propertlco. "
Under Uio iiamo date General Lcc conJs
another communication containing the state
ments ot Scnor Cctialejas , the editor of the
Madrid El Hcraldo , who had juat returned
from I'loar del Illo province after the con
flict between the Spanish forces under Gen
eral Valasco and the Cuban forcco under
Diaz , lu which Canalejas was quoted as say-
In ? the Spanish forces dad displayed their
usual valor , but tbat the province was nst
pacified ; ttv.t out of 14,000 Spanish troop.i
caly between 3.000 nnd 4,090 were able to
operate , the balance being hick at.icispltaM
ta garrl.-MM and towns ; that ho believed
autonomy ! premature and was Inclined to the
adoption of energetic military action for the
purpso of pacifying the province ; that the
truth f.hould bs known In Spain , where public
oplnlca and the presa had been deceived re
garding the tcrmlnntlcci of tdc war c < nd the
so-called pacification of. the western provlncc-3.
Under December 7 date Geneval Lee , sent
a communication to the department regardIng -
Ing the measures for the relief of the
reconctntradoi' ' , much of which U mot. made
public. In the portion given out General
Lee sajs : "I see no effect of the govern
mental dtatrlbutlcn to the rcconcentrados.
I am Informed that only $12COO la Spralsh
silver has bctci dedicated to the Havana
province out cf the $100',000 said to have
been act aside for the purpose ot rallevlng
them on the Island and that reports from
all parts of the provluco ibow that DO per
cent have already died and that many of
those- left will die , and most of theaa are
women and children. * * I nm In
formed ta order has been Isoued In some
parts of the Island suspending the disposi
tion to reconcentrados.
CATS USED FOR FOOD.
"Tho ccndltlon of these people la simply
terrible. I hear of much suffering In the
Spanish hospitals for want of fcoj. * * +
I hear also that the Spanish merchants In
.tomb parts of the lolaod nro placing their
establishments In the name of foreigners
to avoid having their provisions purchased
on credit -by the military administration. In
some parts of the Island I am told there
U Bcarccly any food for soldiers and citi
zens end that even cats are used for food
purpcaci' , selling fcr 30 cents apiece. It Is
a fair Inference to draw tram existing con
ditions thot It Is not possible for the gov
ernor general to relieve the preaent ( situa
tion with the moans at hfl ! disposal. * * * "
Dcccmbev 13 came the following from Gen
eral Lee :
The contest for ami against autonomy Is
most unequal. For It , there are live or
Jlx of the head olllcers at the palace nnd
twenty or thirty persons hero In the city.
* Apolnst It , first , nre the Insurgents ,
wlt'n or without arms , mid the Cuban non-
uombntnnts. Second , the great mats of
the Spaniards , bearing or non-bearing arms
the 1'itter desiring. If there ; must be a
change , nnncxntlon to the United States.
Indeed , there Is the greatest apathy con-
vernln * autonomy in liny form. No one
risks n'nat it will bo , or when or how it
will come. 1 do not see how It could even
be put In operation by force , because ns
long as the Insurgents decline to accept It
so long , the Spanish authorities say , the
war must continue.
December II General Lee sends another
communication , laying that the total number
of reconcentrados In Havana province will
reach 130,000 and that the death rate from
otarvatlon alone would bo over r > 0 per cent.
For the relief of these people , he says , ? 12-
500 In sliver has been set asUc. "so thnt if
every dollar appropriated reaches ; them the
distribution will average about 17 cents tea
a person , which , of course , will bo rapidly
exhausted , and as I can hear of no further
succor being afforded It t easy to perceive
what little practical relief nan taken place
In the condition of these poor people. "
NCW SCHEME OF AUTONOMY.
December 28 General Leo makes the first
communication about the new scheme ot au
tonomy. He says that ho has been Informed
that the authorities arc engaged In forming
an nutonomlftlc. cabinet , arranging for the
members to toke the required oath on Jan
uary 1 , and "also fcr an election thirty days
thereafter. * * * My present Information
la that most ot the Spaniards will refrain
from voting and nearly all the Cubans.
* * * The feeling In Havana , und I hear
in other parts of the Island , Is strong apilnst
It , the Cubans desiring an Independent re
public and the Spaniards preferring annexa
tion to the United States rather than auton
omy. On the night of the 24th Instant there
L'ecnia to have been a concerted plan over the
Island to testify the disapprobation of the
people to the proposed autonomlstlo plan of
the Spanish government , "
Ho goea on to describe how it culminated
about 2 o'clock on the morning ot the 2Dth ,
when a mob assembled In the principal
square with cries of "Death to autonomy ! "
and "Viva Weyler ! " Ho saya the men In
the mob had stones In their pockety and eomo
of lliem were armed with weapcus. "They
made a demonstration , too , , against the omce
ot the DIarlo de la Marina , a paper published
in this town favoring autonomy , but were
dispersed by the military police and sol
diers. * * *
"Hie same day General Lea acknowledges
the receipt of President McKlnley'n procla
mation calling upon the people ot tho" United
States to make charitable contributes for
the relief of the distress in Cuba. Other tel
egrams follow during the next few days tote
to the class ot contributions which would bo
moat valuable In relieving the suffering.
January S General Leo makes the following
report :
RESULT OF RteCONCENTRATION.
I have the honor to state , as a matter of
public interest t'nat the "reconcentrado
I order" of Genural Weyler , former governor
general of this Island , transformed nbout
JW.CCO self-supporting .people , principally
women and children. Into n multitude to
bo sustained by the contributions of others
or die of starvation or fevers , resulting
from n low physical condition nnd being
maesed lu large bodies , without change of
ulothlng and without food. Tnolr homes
were burnpci , their Holds nnd plant beds
destroyed and their llvu stock driven away
or killed. I estimate that probably COJ.COO
of the rural population In the province of
1'inar del Illo , Habaiin , Miitiinz.iB and
Si'inti Cinra have died ot starvation or from
resultant causes , nnd the deaths of v > 'iolo
families almost simultaneously or within
a few days of each other , and of mothers
praying for their children to be relieved of
their horrible sufferings by dealYi. uro not
the least oi thu many pitiable scenes which
were ever present. In the provinces of
Puerto Principe and Santiago do Cuba ,
where the "reconcentrado order" could not
bo MIforced the great mass of t'nu people
are self-sustaining. * * A dally average
of 10 cents woith of food to itt.uOO people
would be. an expenditure of J2.0CO per day
and of course the most humane efforts upon
the part of our friends cannot bopo to ac
complish such a glgantlu relief , and a
great portion of these people will have to
be abandoned to t'nclr fate. * *
General Lee enclosed in this. , communica
tion an editorial from the DIarlo de la
Mprlna , which vigorously denounced the
"seditious tumult" of the day before as a
victory for Gomez and the enemies of Spain.
On the same day he also sent to the depart
ment statistics about the mortality In Santa
Clara showing that while there was D,489
deaths in that town In the seven years pre
vious to 1S97 , which Included 1,487 In ono
year from an epidemic of yellow fever ; there
were In 1897 , owing to the. concentration
order , 0,981 deaths out ot a total population
of 14,000. The death rate Increased'monthly
from seventy-eight In January , the month
before the concentration order went into ef
fect , until December when there wcro 1,011
deaths.
MAY NEED SHIPS.
January 12 , 13 , 14 and 15 General Lee sent
brief cablegrams to the department \vlth re
gard to the rioting and the demonstrations
against autonomy and nianeo and the three
newspaper offices. January 13. he said some
of the rioters "threatened to go to the
United States consulate. "
"Ships , " ho Bald , "are not needed , but may
be later. If Americans are In danger , ships
should move promptly for Havana. Uncer
tainty and excitement widespread. "
The rioting ceaaed tbo next day and Gen
eral Lee reportoj all quiet.
On the 18th General Leo sent a dispatch
marked confidential regarding the rioting ,
It fellows ;
The recent disorders In this city are
primarily attributed to a group of Spanish
officers who were Incensed at articles ap
pearing In three of the- newspapers of Hu-
vaim , El Kcconccntrado , La Discussion mid
El DInrlo ile la Murlnu. The first was-very
pronounced agulnst General Weyler'nnd hla
met'nods , the Discussion had. been sup
pressed by Weylcr , but Its publication was
permitted to be resumed by Dlanco , and the
last had been an ultra-Spanish organ but
had been converted by the present authori
ties to autonomy. It Is probable thut the
Spanish olllcera were IIrat provoked by the
denunciations of Weyler In t'ne columai
of one of these papers and determined to
Htop It , and dftefVnrds belnc supported by
the mob , tunil'd'The ' demonstration into an
nntl'nutonorr/IJtWnffnir. I ncnd to
day an unuiy.ilsnjf autonomlstlc plan.
The Intense qppbidtlon to It on the part of
the Hpanlnrdri ) arises from the fact that
the first apDplntments ot t'ne ofllcora to
put Into form Its provisions was made
generally outMdtf. of their party , In order
to show the Cubans In arms that autonomy
was InstltuteiPKr1 their benefit nnd protec
tion. rrH 4n | < > lllgent Spaniards
see no imospcrlty In the future , but
rather other iwars and. more confusion , In
t'nc same old-Attempts to make the water *
of commerce .Jlpw In unnatural channels.
The lower Spanish classes have nothing In
mind when autonomy Is mentioned except
Cuban local ' /fruH / ; hence their opposition.
ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF RELIEF.
January 21 General Lee transmitted a copy
f the dccreswhich e-Jtablltlicd the auto-
omlc regime on the Island ot Cuba.
Cm January 16-22 ho reported by cable
ally that all waa quiet In Havana , and that
ho recent rioting Had caused some delays.
ut thnt no dlfllctilty was apprehended as
0 the landing ot supplies.
February 4 he reported the receipt of
icncyiJ from various sections of the United
talcs for relief purposes , nnd the manner
1 which It Is being distributed.
February 10 he telegraphed the State do-
artnunt as follows !
Captain general returned yesterday ; met
Itli no success of any sort. Spaniards
vorywhere unfriendly ; rumors of coming
cmonstratlon against him here. I think
Im an excellent man , but In nn unfor-
unato position. Three serious , combats re-
ortsd within a week , In each Insurgents
Ictorlous.
The same day he sent to the Stnto depart-
lent a statement of the condition In the
swns In the nelghbonhooj of the city of Ha-
ana , made .by a person he had rent to thcso
laces for the purpose of Inspecting the num.-
cr and condition ot the starving. The
tatemcut covers four towns In the nelghbor-
iood of Havana and Is largely a repetition
f the awful tale of suffering which came
rom the other portions of the Island.
At Mclcna del Sur the statement says It
9 Imprsslblo for the mayor , owing to the
nhcalthy conditions prevailing nnd the want
f resources to relieve -the miserable people ,
'who die In great numbers from starvation ,
over and smallpox : There arc other towns
n the same condition , for example Guinea ,
Catnllna and Nadruga , whoso situation could
o 'o some degree relieved It the country
ioplo were allowed to leivo the town freely
n search of food. In some towns this Is
nttrcly prohibited , In others they are
bilged to pay a tax. Not having anything
0cat , how can they ray a tax ? In every
own the first thins noticed la the unhealthy
comllton of the men and their total lack
T physical atrength. "
DLANCO'S RELIEF A FARCE.
At Catallne do Guinea the statement re
ports the ondltlon of the rcconcentrados
as sad and desperate. "There are , " It says ,
'no zcncs of cultivation , " and the reconceii
rados are not allowed to .leave the- town
n search of work or food oven with a mil-
tary pass. "Food Is eo searco Out ono
ntis't walk four or five miles before finding
a sweet pjtato. In these districts the roller
nlven to the rcconccntrados by General
Jlanco Is a farce. "
The land near the town comprised ki the
ono for cultivation , the statement says , hail
) cen rented byi four Spaniards , who have
vealth ar.d influence , and they employ tha
DW reconcentrados who are able to work at
10 or 40 cents-'per ' day , but nobody can leave
he town without n pass good for a mouth.
a-ad which costs 20 cents. The workmen
mvo to leavount C , In the morning , and not
jelng able toi.take meals with them , are
obliged to work- until 6 In the evening with
out food. Theuwonicn who leave In search of
pgetablea are : sp.roetlnics deprived ot them
) n tholr WAj-jbacki by guerillas. In llfteen
lays 200 recowemtrpdos have die-J lu Gulnes
rom starvation , , j
"O.ic of the few protectors of the recon
ccntrados , In jfflct..a 'heroic ' one , " says the
tatoment , "Is , a .young man named Jose
\mohodo , whose , : fafher and mother died at-
endlng the suffering poor , and who hlmsclt
has given up Ighthouses belonging to him
is dwelling placestpr , the reconcentrados , all
'
bo contents , .pjtj'agrocery store- , which he
" "
possesseJ , a-ad w"ho" Is as destitute as they
ire , but always attending to these who
' ' "
suitor. " .
On F bruaryr15 General Lee transmitted to
ho department a letter , with Us translation ,
signed by the Insurgent commandcr-ln-chlef.
General Gomez , addressed to president Mc-
\inlcy. General Lee says Uiei letter was de-
Ivered by a .messenger , who nt coco de-
) arted before he saw or haJ any communlca-
lon with him.
LETTE1K FROM GOMEZ.
The letter Is as follows :
To William McKlnloy , President of the
United States. Sir : The heroic Cuban people
ple possess a characteristic quality of Its
moral being , ' and developed to a high de
gree , one of the most noble sentiments ,
namely , gratitude ; whoever Yms done well
Tor Cuba wins for himself forever the life
long recognition of the sons of Cuban soil.
Your great people have given to the whole
world un example of lofty virtue , and to
Iho h'namo and stain of Spain ; not only has
t shown compassion before the great mlsfor.
tunes brousnt on Cuba by the ferocious
Spanish policy but has extended a helping
naml to the' unhappy victims of file war
fare carried on by the army of that na
tion.
tion.The
The pratltudo of this people must be on
n par with that great and g-enerous ImpuUe ,
and If Cuba , by Its geographical situation
and the necessity "of its commercial exist
ence , Is called to maintain , once t'nat It Is
free , and for the mutual benellt of both
countries , closer relations with your great
republic than with any other nation what
ever from this day forward , Cuba will con
sider Itself bound 'by a closer tlo in t'no
nffeotlcn It bears' for the noble America !
magnanimity.
However true and minute may be the re
ports thnt you have heard , never will yoi
bo able to form a Just conception of nl
the bloodshed , the misery , t'ne ruin and the
sorrow caused to the allllcted Cubans to
obtain its Independence , and how the
despotic eplrit of Spain , Irritated to the
last degree before the most Just of all reI
belllons , has revelled In the mo < t Impla
cable destruction of everything , lives .and
property.
The nation which at ono time adopted
the Inquisition nnd Invented Its tortures
lastly conceived the concentration scheme ,
the most Viorrlble ot all means to martyrize
and then to annihilate an entire people ,
and If It has stopped In the pith of do-
stiuctlon It Is due In n great measure to
the cry of Indignation whlc'n the knowl
edge of such horrors unanimously drew
from the states over which you govern.
The people who an saved from extinction
nnd whose evils- your gifts assuage nro the
people for whose liberty > xe dally shed our
blood on the fields of buttle ; thj country
whose Independence wo now conquer nt the
point of the sword. For them la also r.r us ;
blood of our blood and tlesh of our flesh ,
we must rejoice with them in their Joys
and wo weep and sympathies with them
In their sorrows and griefs.
ASKS AID FOIl HIS PEOPLE.
Do not surprised , then , that as the gen-
cral-ln-chlef ofthfs Cuban army , I am so
deeply mveil 0,1 'the wave of compassion
'
which agitates' your1 noble country nnd that
1 accedn to the-Wquest of the- patriots I
command to appear before you , the repre
sentative of til'groat nation , ns ( he ex
ponent of our inwirnso gratitude.
I have therefore. tlr , to fulfill a con
scientious duty ,1 > y-setting forth a fact
which I bogyoirwlu please transmit to the
knowledge- tlitf persons to whom la recom
mended the philanthropic mission of sue-
coring the unhappy , destitute Cuban ? , nnd
In order that Jknorance of ccrtala ante
cedents may nQt , dtprlve many needy ones
of the enjoyment of that American charity ,
The revolution * , ' aj absolute master of the
country , has never prohibited nny citizen ,
whatever his nationality , from earning his
living and It hnu h.-tppsned that as soon ns
the barbarous rionsentratlon decree wan
dercgated. Innumible families have left
und still leave .1,1) . city for the fields. Im
pelled by hunger'let wrest from , 'he fruitful
Cuban vegetatlpn' the means of relieving
the most pressing netds of life , thcwo un
happy beings ignore the fact that if the
Spaniards by steel nnd privation have
shrouded their hearts In mourning , so also
It may bo said that the flora , of Cuba was
In mourning , devastated by the bullet and
torch.
Wherefore , being In the same circum
stance ? , these unfortunates have the sams
moral right to ! participate In the relief fur
nished to needy Cubans by your generous
people. Many -wider , many a mo'lier. '
m my an orphan do we meet In our way ,
who asks of us succor that w * are not able
to lve but most sparingly , and therefore ,
upon pointing out to them the charity
awakened in their bMinlf In your * noble na
tion , I dedre to honor myself by offering
my services to co-operate In the noble
work -wl'h nil the power und muns within
the reach of the forces I command.
I nm. clr , with the most distinguished
consideration , M. GOMEV5.
March 1 Oenc-ral Les reports tbat the din-
trlbutlor. of food , medicines and clothing to
the destitute Is proceeding satisfactorily.
"Tho work. " he saya , "has been well or
ganized and systematized under the super
vision ad direction ot MIfl * CUra Carton ,
president of the Red Cross of the United
Slatcfl , and her active and experienced as
sistant. "
Ho caya that the number of the poor and
destitute Is eo largo tbat It Is Impossible
to relieve largo numbers In each locality ,
but that he can state wllti confidence that
under the present system of distribution the
supplies are dot Icet or wasted , but reach
these for whom they are Intended.
CONSUL IUUKEK IS HANDICAPPED.
March 14 he encloses a letter from Consul
Darker of Sagua , who requests him to
-transmit the following letter , which Is ad
dressed to him ( General Lee ) :
Dear Sir : I will tVmnk you to communi
cate to the department as quickly ns
possible the fact .that . the military com
mander and other olllcers of the military
positively refuse to allow the reconcentra
dos to whom 1 nm Issuing food In Its raw-
state to procure fuel wlfn which to cook
the food.
In addition , they prohibited this class of
people ( I am only giving food to about onc-
llfth of the destitute ) from gathering vege
tables from within t'no protection of the
fortresses , telling them "tho Americana
propose to feed you , and to the Americans
you must look. " Yours truly ,
WALTKn U. DAUKEIl , Consul.
March 18 General Leo Informed the de
partment that the governor general , by decree -
; creo March 5 , prorogued In all parts to March
' 31 , 1899 , the decree of the general govern
ment of April 19 , 1897 , relative to the BUS-
pension of legal proceedings against real
estate with the reservation of what may bo
agreed upon by the Insular chambers , "In
duo poason , "
March 24 General Leo cabled that the work
of relief was progressing and gave details
about the distribution of supplier and added :
"Havo been greatly assisted by Mr.
Klopsch. "
March 28 General Leo reports that Instruc
tions have been given by the civil govern
ment of Havana that the alcaldes and other
.uthorltles shall not glvo out any facts about
.ho reconcentrudos , and If any of the Ameri
can relief committees should make Inquiries
ioncernlng them all such Inquiries -must be
eferred to him.
General Lee's dispatches conclude with a
ar-fl'tch ' under date ot April 1 , transmitting
ho decree of the governor general tcrmlnat-
ng the concentration.
There Is ono communication from Owen
IcGarr , consul at Clenfuegos , under date of
anuary 10 , Informing the department that
he sugar mlllo In his district had been
grinding since the first of the month. Ile says
ho utmost diligence la requlr.cd to prevent
ho firing of the cane fields , and concludes :
'Tho ougar crop Is the support of all classca ,
specially the laboring clashes ; should It be
ileotroyed a famlno would be Inevitable. "
DUICE HBPOUT3 FUOM MATANZAS.
The communications from 'Mr. llrlce , con-
ul at Matanzas , number only seven or eight
ind meet of them are brief. The correspond-
: nco from him begins with November 17 last
! ind clcecd with February S , 1S9S. Probably
: ho meat striking feature of'Mr. Urlce's com-
nunlcatlons Is a dU'tlnct ' article written on
tanuary 18 last and devoted to Cuban destl-
.utlon. In thly he notes the receipt of a
circular letter of the State department dated
en days before.
"This , " ho says , "Intimated that help Is to
bo extended by the United States to the
starving people of Cuba. The news of this
relief has been known , " he continues , "for
ho last two weeks and has extended all over
ho province. This consulate has been overwhelmed -
whelmed with people of all elapses , asking to
bo remembered when this relief comes. "
Mr. llrlco then gives a number of facts 11-
uatratlng the differing In the province. Ho
sxiys there ore In Matanzas province alone
80,000 people who arc In actual starvation
condition and without food , clothing and med-
'clne. Continuing , ho mya :
In addition to the above- arc a thousand
amllles of the better classes , nnd formerly
neil to do. who today are living on one
neal a day and1 that very scant. They have
old or pawned furniture , jewelry , clothing ,
tc. , to eke out an 'existence until nil Is
gene , or nearly so. Too proud to beg , they
suffer in silence and many die of starvation.
Iho daughter of a former governor of this
rovlnce was seen bogging In the streets
Incognito ) of 'this city.
Many of these people call on me privately
at my residence- , asking nnd praying for
od's sake to be remembered when this re-
lef comes frc-m the United States.
One has to be hero , know nnd mingle with
he people to fully rea'lze the terrible dcstl-
utlon and misery existing In Cuba. It Is
o be hoped that this relief from the- United
States will come quickly , for hundreds are
.lying dally of starvation. Condition. * are
Ireadful and no relief afforded by the Span-
'sh authorities.
NO SYMPATHY WITH AUTONOMY.
In lils flcst communication , series dated
Nov6mber 17 , Mr. Drlce stated that neither
he Spaniards or Cubans ot Itiat section
ivcro sympathy with the proposed auton
omy anil reforms. Ho noted the" issuance of
the order to municipal authorities to issue
rations and clothing , but no attention waa
raid It. In this communication he places the
death rate at over eighty persons dally ,
nearly all of whom are dying for want ot
food , medicines , and'clothing. .
' "As I write this , " he says , "a dead negro
woman lies In the street within two yard. ?
cf this consulate , starved to death. She died
oorne time thla mornliiE , and will He there
maybe for days. "
Mr. Drlce also notca ( de issuance of an
order allowing the reconcentrados to return
totho , country , but ho saya the restrictions
In" the order are such as to practically pro
hibit. "If they went. " ho say.s , "what would
they do without money , food or shelter ? "
Adding , "only these wdo ran obtain cm-
plojrncnt on sugar plantations can live. In
surgents cay no one will be allowed to grind
in the province of Matanzas. This situation
! .i Indeed deplorable , and I am free to eay
no real help can be expected from Itie Span
ish government , and the fate of the remain
ing concentrados Is slow , lingering death
from starvation. "
Writing on December 17. Mr. Drico ays
that the relief offered to the reconce-ntrados
and other people by the Spanish authorities
I Is Ineffectual. "I have , " ho says , "personally
visited the head masters of distribution sta
tlons. Two tdoiwand rations were given out
for a few days only to 8,000 persons. There
are more than 12,000 starving people" In this
city today. Ono out ot four or six receive two
ounre.s of rice , one and n bait ounces of
Jerket } beef , and oometlmes a small piece of
bread per diem. Even this rating of food has
been discontinued since December 11. "
Mr. Drlco mentioned several Instances of
etrcfs , amcng others the following : In a
family < ! f seventeen , living I'l an old lime
kiln , all were dead except three , and they
barely alive.
Ho says again that General nlanco's order
allowing rcconcentradca to return and cultl-
vato their crops Is Inoperative and of no
avail.
Writing on January 18 he says : "The poor
are phut up In cities and towns like rata to
starve. We have fifteen of eighteen families
of Americana among the reconcentrados who
own property In the country , and were they
allowed to go to their homes could make n
good living. All these have begged and
pleaded with the authorities under Dlanco's
order- , only to bo refused. "
CONSUL 'BAnKBR'S IIBPORTS.
Consul narker covers the conditions exist
ing In Santa Clara province in a number of
communications , beginning on November 20
1897 , and closing on .March 24 last. His let-
tera constitute one long story of distress , o
t'lckncss , destitution and death , until , Indeed
the picture , oven as drawn In the plain lan
guage of official communications. In revolting
Mr. 'Barker ' devoted comparatively little
soaco to political questions , but ono or two
of his lettero are along thcso lines. Prob
ably the most notable of these Is his com
munication of January 10 last. In which he
volunteers some tuggestlono to the Depart
ment of State. From this communication
the following extracts are taken :
When Spain will admit defeat no mortal
In my 'nunrblp Judgment , dare predict
Pending this admission on Its part , thou
Eand.i of human beings , guiltless of belnx
or havingpny part In the Insurrection , are
dying for want of sustenance. This condl
tlr.n must continue to Increase. '
The t'nltrd States , In taking action rein
live to Cuba , whlc'n seems Inevitable , de
sires to avoid n clash with Spain. Then
let congress ultap' our citizen lawn by
amending the statute relative to the de
duration required of persons becoming
citizens by naturalization , BO that the sub
jpcts or citizens of any government a
present residing at Cuba may go befort
nny United States consul in that island
nnd make declaration of Intention of TJO
coming n citizen of the United States , and
Hhnll entitle them to recognition as citizen
until the expiration of two years , whet
t'ney bo required to reside In the Unlte <
States until live years shall have elapsed
before granted naturalization papers.
With surh a privilege I nm confident W
per cent of the resident Spaniards will aval
themselves of the opportunity of rubuklnt ,
the mother country for attempting to fols
upon them changes In the excltlns laws o
the Island , Such a step would caution the
homo subjects , n well n * t'ne government ,
to aequlesc , without disturbance , In the
loss of the Island ,
Mr. Ilarker then suggests that the United
States shall offer Its good omces to Spain
with n view of securing an armistice of
twenty days' duration for the purpose of dis
cussing the terms ot settlement between
Spain and the Insurgents , the United State ?
to bo the umpire. Pending negotiations ho
would have all troops quartered and h ! d In
the large fortified coast towns , In order that
the rcconccnttados may return to the coun
try and to omploymcnt.
He adds tbat the relief from the United
Slates must be continued or the people must
> irvo so long ns there Is an armed Spanish
oldler In the country , "slnco the people , fcr
car of being murdered , do not go to thrlr
country homes. "
IIEION OF TBHKOU PIIEVAILS.
On January 1C Mr. Darker says :
In this consular district a reign of terror
and nunrehy prevail * -which thi > authorities ,
so disposed , nro utterly powerless to con-
: ol or In any measure subdue. Aside from
the PiifTcrlng cnuxod by the unparalleled
fstltutlon , 1 regard the situation as rnp-
lly assuming a critical Hinge. As stated
erotoforc. In no way have the authorities
epnrted from the policy pursued by thu
ate , but not lamented' , General Woylsr.
panlsh troops , ns well ns the guerillas ,
nder the cruel chiefs , Carreras , Olnvarl.
Un , nnd Laze , continue to dctipoll the
ountry and drench It n\lth the blood of
on-combatnnts.
Although the "b.indo"
of the captain-
encral provides that laborer * may return
0 estates , It restricts tholr operations to
hose having- garrison. Last week a iium-
er belonging' to the "fin. nnn" estate , lo-
atcd within a league of Sau-ua , nnd owned
y George Thorndlke of Newport , 11. I. ,
vere driven oft after returning' and refused
1 permit ns a protection by .the military
ommaiidcr , iMayor Lomo , one of the
rusted olllcers under the Weyler regime.
The latter part of Mr. Harkor's corre-
pondence , beginning with March 12 , Is de-
oted to a statement of the relief labors ,
nd an estimate of the funds required to
ontlnuo this work. Ho states that from
'ebruary 15 to March 12 he cared for 1.200
crsons , Increasing the number on the relict
1st after that date to 2,000. He then dotalls
lie work done by the lied Cross society , the
arious local committees and other , to each
f whoni ho gives due credit.
Having done this , Mr. Ilarker stated his
pinion to be that If provision could be made
o care for 25,000 persons Ki that province
vhoevcr would bo left might manage to sur-
Ive. Ho thought to keep 23,000 persons
live woii'ld ' require eighty tons of provisions
. month. Ho then stated that ot the 5,000
ttterly 'destitute ' In that city the mayor bad
n a manner relieved about one-third of the
lumber with rations of rice and l > eans.
In this communication Mr. Darker I-ndl-
atcd that the Spanish local authorities were
milling to accept aid from the United States ,
.nd he added that while ho had been gon-
irally doubtful of the willingness of the
nllltary authorities to receive this assis-
ance ho haJ accepted their co-operation
vhcn convinced it was tendered with sln-
crlty.
INCREASES HIS ESTIMATE.
On March 2.3 Mr. Darker 1-acreascd his
'stlmato ' as to the amount of food ncces-
ary to keep life in the people of that prov-
nce. In the telegram of that date he saW
hat fifty tons were needed for that time
and that the distress was far greater than
ils former reports had shown.
In the letter of this date ho recounts the
artlculars of a visit to Santa Clara , the seat
f government of the province of the same
lame , where ho says he learned from his
w-.n agents and also from the governor ot
hat province that the number of persons In
etual want exceeded any estimate which ho
iad previously , sent to the government , and
10 had said only three days before that he
bought twenty tons per month should be
added to the eighty tons previously sug-
gucsted. In this communication of March
0 Mr. Darker says :
The distress Is simply . heartrending.
Whole families , without clofnlng to hide
heir nukednoss , nre sleeping on the bare
ground , without bedding of nny kind , with
out food , save to such as wo- , have been
ible to reac'n with provisions 's'ent by our
own nolrlc people. And the most 'dl'tress-
ng feature Is that fully CO per cent -nro ill
nnd without medical attention.
Mr. Darker adds that If $3,000 could he
elegraphcd to Consul General Lee , blankets ,
cots and medicinal could be purchased there
and In the several towns adjacent , and thus
save the thousands who muat die If com
pelled to await the sending of theao sup- .
) ! lcs from the United States.
"I have , " ho says , "found the civil gov
ernor willing to lend every aid In his power ,
mt he admits ttiat ho can do nothing but
assist , with his civil officlalo. In expediting
relict sent by the United States. The mili
ary obstruct la. every way possible. "
In the earlier portion of his correspond
ence , Mr. Darker Indicates the reasons why
General niaro's crdcrs relieving the recon-
ccntradcs must prove of no avail. Ho says
hat while the first article of the order
granto permission to the starving class to
return to the country , the second article
abrogates tha ! permission In exacting that
he places to which they go must be gar
risoned.
This condition alone , ho says , will pre
clude over one-half of these poor unfcc-
iatra , for their homes are In ruin , end
the sugar estates able to maintain a guard
can care for -but a small percentage of the
whole.
Mr. Darker says that whllo he does not
question the good Intention of those- now In
power , yet "it Is a self-evident fact that
he authorities are utterly helpless to extend -
tend any relief to thcspfio have thus far
survived the parjgs of hunger. "
Mr. Darker eajti that his observation docs
not bear out the statement made by the
captain general to the Spanish minister , that
'extensive zones of cultivation have been
organized , the dally rations nro provided by
the state , and that work li furnished. "
MILITARY IS POWERLESS.
Mr. Darker also points out ths Impracti
cability of grinding cane under the present
conditions. Ho says In his letter ot Novem-
) er 20 that ho Interviewed most of the largo
danters In his consul district and that they
iad otatcd that unless assured of Immunity
from the Insurgent chief Gomez , they would
lot attempt to grind , as by so doing they
would jeopardize their property. Ho adds
that It is an "unquestioned fact that the mll-
tarv Is powerless to give this necessary pro-
.cctlon. "
Mr. Darker devotes much space to the suf
fering and mortality of the people of his
province. He places the mortality figures for
six of the principal cities of his district for
the period beginning with January 1 , ending
November 15. 1897 , at 80,851. He says this
Is the official record and that fully 25 per
cent of should bo added to cover deaths of
which no record was kept.
"Undoubtedly. " ho says , "onc half the con
centrated peonlo have died , and today sol
diers are companion victims cf the surviving
non-combatants. This death roll Is the mute ,
although convincing proof ot the loss of the
attempt of stamping out the rebellion. I
do not fool that I am speaking wrongly , when
1 say that ninety days will bring 75 per cent
cf the population to starvation. The suffcr-
Inz among thn troops , as well afi the recon-
centradotj. simply beggars portrayal.
On Decom'.cr 13 Air. Uarkcr relates the
particulars of a visit ho made to the prin
cipal railroad towns In his consular district ,
which tour had been undertaken to verify
the previous statements. Speaking of this
trip , which covered the towns of Santa Clara ,
Cruitos , Epperanzza , Jlcotua nnd Santa Do-
in I % -o , ho says :
The destitution Is simply too harrowing to
recite and must become Intensified each day.
Tbo death rate for last month shows nn
Increase ofnbout 2.1 per cent. In these
towns I got my Information from the
mayors of each. From them I learned that
whllo there -was an Issue of food running
from three to llvo days , beginning on the
28th ultimo , consisting of three ounces of
bacon or Jerked beef and elx OUIICCH of rlco
for ndultK ) and half this a'lowanco for chil
dren under 14 years. th pittance given was
sulliclcnt only for ono-fourth ; to one-tenth of
tbo starving. No further relief has been
given up to date and1 the mayors of these
towns nro authority for stating that the
captain general bad ordered the discontin
uance of the food to the reconccntradoa ,
CUTS OFF THE SUPPLY.
This order from ttie captain general was
apparently given because of the Insufficiency
of the food supply for the Spanish HOldlers.
The mayor of Santa Clara lud alao told Mr.
Ilarker that the military commander had In
formed him that he was to glvo food to no
ono having relations In the Insurrection ,
which would Include 75 per cent of the desti
tute. Fcom thH Mr. Darker nald that however
sincere m y bo the desire to help the recon-
centradoa by the Spanish authorities , they
are powerless to do BD for want of means ,
and popular subscriptions have proved a total
failure , "btMUM th Cubtoi re poorly
fixed and the Spanish positively will contrib
ute nothing. "
Mr. Darker dwell * In nearly all hla com
munications upon the putctty of the food for
Spanish soldiers. In the letter ot December
14 ho sayo :
Tn my recent trips I found the Spanish
soldiers nro not only suffering for necr -
Mry food , but I was often nppenlod to by
thcso pitiable creatures for medicine , Ono
has only to look upon 'them ' to bo assured
of the need * complained of ,
In his letter of December 28 Mr. Darker
repeats hta observations upon the suffering
and destitution amcng the rocoucunU-ados ,
saying :
Hoiv could the situation bo otherwise ,
since the Island l.i producing- absolutely
nothing rave BOIUP growlftg cane nnd nt the
flamn time completely exhausted of nil food ?
Icelli'f alone can obtained from the outer
world In the way of charitable contribution.
To grind cane without Interruption would
be the means of saving the lives of thou
sands who. without this aid. within thirty
toforty days must die ot actual hunger.
Over a mouth since tlm planters were oill-
daily advised of Spain's Inability to provldo
protection In order to oper.ito tholr mills ,
'llild loaves the sugar grower entirely In
the bands of tho. Cubans In revolt as to
whether they will bo allowed to grind
without hindrance' or fear ot total destruc
tion of their property. I know that strict
orders have boon given to subordinate coin-
mnndera that under no circumstance * must
mills bo permitted to grind , under penalty
for violation of tbcl order for destruction of
property.
in many places In Mr. Marker's lottot
stars arc Inserted , showing that perilous have
been omitted. These omissions are In places
generally whcro ho deals with the condition
of the reconccnti'ados.
FROM SANTIAGO DE CtTHA.
The reports of the condition of affairs lit
Santiago are made by Consul P. F. Hyatt ,
beginning on November 15 last , Mr. Hyatt
had then but recently returned to the Island
and he bcgliw his reports with a review of
the conditions ot the Insurgents and of the
autonomists.
He had been disposed , he- said , to believe
that the Insurgents were weakening , and
tlrat the autonomists were -coming to the
front. After Investigation , however , ho was
convinced that such was not the fact. The
change of policy as expressed by C.\pt.nln
General Dlanco Is , as ho says , doubtless
modifying the feeling of resentment 'Whlcn
formerly prevailed , and should the experi
ment prove discouraging to the Insurgents
would probably smooth the way to pacifica
tion.
In this same commutilctitlon Mr. Hyatt
discusses the policy which the United States
slinulJ pursue. Among property holders ,
whether Americana or of other nationalities ,
he savs there Is but ono sentiment. This
sentiment is , "Hands off , " or such active
Intervention as will quickly terminate the
struggle. They , ho says , greatly deprecate
constant agitation , which makes the govern-
lug rtasses enemies to American Interests
and brings no corresponding advantage.
On November 2ii Mr. Hyatt says :
The text of the new autonomy ns pub
lished here Is not meeting- with favor by
the most ardent of the Spanish. There is ,
liovcver , n feeling of relief and safety
since the change In t'no captain general
ship.
ship.A
A portion of thin dispatch Is withheld by
the State department.
Writing on December 5 last Mr. Hyatt
said :
The reconcontrntlon edict Is relaxed , but
not removed , but many people have reached
n point where it Is a mnt er of entire In
difference to them vi'netlior It Is removed
or not , for they have lost all In the prob
lem of existence. A census of the Island
taken today , ns compared with the ono
taken three years ago , I.fool confident ,
would s'now thaf'twothirds of the resi
dents are missing , nnd the Spanish army
would make no better showing.
EFFECTS ARE DISAPPOINTING.
On December 14 M'r. Hjnlt wrcto :
The order of rcconcentrntlon Is now sat
isfactorily wiped out and so far as the
Spanish government Is concerned men doing
nearly ns they please. The Insurgents and
t'nelr sympathizers will unquestionably
take advantage of thn revocation to got
from the towns nnd cities what they need
and otherwise strengthen their canoe ;
The effeots on agricultural 'pursuits will
be disappointing , bfenusc t'no' great- major
ity of those who would or should take up
the work Joined the Insurgent forces when
compelled to leave their homes , and tVio
portion which came within the lines of re-
concontratlon arc women , children , old nnd
sickly people , most of whom seem to 'nave
little Interest In the problem of life.
There Is no one to take those people back
to the fields and utilize tholr remaining
strength. Their 'nouses nro destroyed :
their fields -overgrown with weeds ; they
have no seeds to plant , nnd If they had
they cannot llvo sixty or eighty days until
the crop matures , which , when grown ,
would more than likely bo taken by one or
the other of fno contending parties.
Closing this communication 'Mr. Hyatt
says :
I glvo It ns my opinion , nn opinion that
Is not biased In favor of Cuba , that Spain
will be compelled to prosecute a far moro
vigorous war than him yet been done If It
conquers peace In Cuba. I think I speak
advisedly w'nen I Hay that In this end of
the Island nt least there are many thousand
square miles whcro the foot of the Span
ish soldier Vina never trod.
WlUiln this zone the Insurgents have tholr
families , corral their 'norses and cattle nnd
raise their crops. Why Spain with a larpo
'body ' of as obedient and bravti soldiers as
ever shouldered a gun has not penetrated
these grounds and scattered to t'ne four
winds the comparatively .small body ot men
who arc there Is a question I will not at
tempt to answer.
As I write a man Is dying In the street
In front of my door , the third In a compar
atively s'nort time.
Mr. Hyatt's letter of December 21 deals
largely with the sickness and the death rate
on the Inland , which ho characterizes as hole
caust. Statistics , he taya , make a grievous
showing , but como far ftiort of tfie truth.
The disease , he rays , Is generally brought on
by Insuinclcnt food. Ho mentions some who
are attacked who have plenty , but thcso dlo
quickly , whllo others die or make very slow
recovery.
DISEASE AFFLICTS THE PEOPLE. „
The prevailing dlseano la oomctlnies called
naaludal fever , and at others la grippe , and
t Is epidemic rather than contagious. At the
date of thla letter from 30 to 40 per cent of
( Continued on Seventh Page. )
Thb most effective skin purifying and
beautifying fioap In the world , as well M
purest and sweetest for toilet , bath , and
nursery.
It ta the only preventive of pimples ,
blackheads , rod , rough , and oily slUn , rod ,
rough hands with shapeless nails , dry ,
thin , and falling hair , und slmplo liaby
blemishes. It U EO because it strikes at
the causa ot most complcxional disfigura
tions , viz. , 11 IK Ci.onnia ) , IUIIITATRH ,
I.'U'l.AMEU , OVUIIWOIIKKU , OR SLUOGI3IJ '
1'tillE.
_
I suffered tire rears with Acne. I have tried
nil klndsof inedrclncabut they did mono good
I have used nine oakcs of your BOAT , mid Iain
cured. My skin Is ns smooth ni nny baby.
l'eb.2-.M89t < . LKK L. I'ISlltn ,
W N. Cmni'ton ' Avo. , St. Louis , Mo.
Eefore using CUTICCKA SOAP , my fif.o and
baiuls wcro junta * rough as tlioy could bo and
my face was all covered with | > liuploi. I was
mt to look at , Imt after using CUTICUIIA
KOAItlirco week" my face was eiiual to velt ot.
Feb. C , 1S ! S. I'AUL DUl'llfe , Chnler. La.
plmj.ln . for
-4s
I was troubled lor eleht yenri irltb Vl
on the faro. 1 commenced uilnj CUTICUKA
BOAP. In a Tory § Uon time the plmuloi til
disappeared anjf
condition. AMtH JOSTfcH ,
Feb. IT , l8. . Plimont , AllegMqj CD. , It.