Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, April 23, 1898, Page 7

* CONSULS’ REPORTS ‘THEY TELL OF HORRIBLE CONDI- TIONS IN CUBA, ‘Many Details Cat Out and Names Suppressed to Prevent the Span- fards Taking Revenge—Repeti- mY of Tales of Cruelty Already Fa@ilar to Readers — Scenes of Starvation and Misery Snech as Only Spaniards Would Tolerate— Thousands of Women and Chil- dren and Noncombatants Have Pevishei, Washington, April 11.—A synopsis of the consular correspondence with regard to the sitvation in Cuba was transmitted to congress to-Gay. It was prepared in response to resolu- tions of inquiry by both house and senate. Lee's First Report. Tt was on Nov. 234 that C Lee made his first report to the ul General epartment of st edhe condition of affairs in Cuba. It ‘ollow Nov. 30th, United States consulate gen- ¢ral, Havana, Nov. 23, 1897. Sir:—I have the ‘onor to briefly submit a statement of what “pears to be the present condition of affairs this instance. irst—The insurgents will not accept auton- Second—A large majority of the Spanish subjects who have commercial interests and ‘wn property will not accept autonomy, but Prefer annexation to the United States, rather ndependent or genuine autonomy s panish flag. ,, Third—The Spanish authorities are doing ail in their power encourage, protect and pro- mote the grinding of sugar cane. The grind- ing season commences in December. Fourth—The insurgent leaders have given instructions to prevent grinding wherever it ‘can be done, because by preventing the export of sugar the Spanish revenues are decreased. it will be very difficult for the Spanish au- thorities to prevent cane burning, because one man at night tart a fire which will burn hundreds of a s just as a single individual could ignite a prairie by throwing a match into the dry gra “Fifth—1 am confident that Gen. Blanco and ndo, his chief of staff, as well as Dr. Conosto, the secretary general, with all whom I have had conversations, are perfectly co! scientious 1 e to rel ve the dis- gs from the effects of on order, but unfortu- hey have not the means to carry out evolent purp vicinity ma are assuming bet- able committees, etc.; ‘ared for and fed * I witnessed died while I Blanco will give $100,000 to the re Testimon On Decembe ion containix ejas, the edii the r of the Madrid El Heraldo, who had j ned from Pitar del Rio the of the Spanish u sco and the Cuban forces wu in which Canalejas was quoted as tthe Spanish forces had di lor, but that the prov- t out of 14,000 Spanish between three and four thousana were able ate, remainder being ick at hoi or in prieons and towns; at _he believed autonomy premature and was inclined to the adoption of energetic military action for the purpose of pacifying the prov- ince; that the truth should be known in Spain, where public opinion and the press had been deceived regarding the war and the so-called pacificaton of the Western provinces. Under Dec. 7th, Gen. Lee sent a communi: eation to the department regarding the meas- ures for the relief of the reconcentrados, much of which is not made public. In the portion \) -®iven out Gen. Lee says: “I see no effects of the governmental dis- tribution to the reconcentrados, I am in- formed that only $12,500 in Spanish silver has teen delivered to the Havana province out of the $100,000 said to have been set aside for the purpose of relieving those on the island. Reports from all parts of the province show that fifty per cent have already died and many thoee of them left will die and many of these are women and children. As to Autonomy. “The condition of these people is simply ter- rible. I hear of much suffering in the Spanish hospitals for want of food. In some paris of the island, I am told, there is a scarcity of tood for soldiers and citizens and that even cats are used for food purposes. It is a fair inference to draw from existing conditions that it is not possible for the governor general to relieve the present situation with the means @t his disposal.’ On Dec, i3th came the following: “The contest for and against autonomy is a most unequal one. For it there are five or six head officers at the palace and twenty or ce W ‘oops only thirty persons here in the city against it. First are the insurgents, with or without arms, and the Cuban noncombatants; second, the great mass of nonbearing arms—t must be a change, ne Spaniards, bearing or e latter desiring, if there annexation to the United States: indeed, there is the freest apathy con- cerning autonomy in any form, no one asks what it will be or how it will come.” Dec. 14th, Gen. Lee sends another com- munication ‘saying that the total number of econcentrados in Havana province will reach 150,000 and that the death rate from starva- 4 tion will be over tea per cent. For the relief of these people he said $12,500 in silver have een set apart. H Dec. 28 Gen. Lee makes the first communi. ae cation about the new scheme of autonomy. f He says that he has been informed that the authorities are engaged in forcing an autono- 4) Suptio-cabinat and arranging fie the mone Jugs to take the required cath on June 1, and i mhave an election th. days thereaft om my present information most of the Spaniards will in from voting and near- ly all the Cubans, the Cuban independent republic, and the Spaniards rre- ferring tion to the United ates ruther than auton On the night of the: £ith ——* dnst there seems to have been a concerted plan over the island to testify the disapprckation of the people to the proposed autonomistic plan of the Spanish governrient. He goes on to describe hcw it culminates «about two o'clock on the macning of the 25th, ‘when a mob assembled in the principal square -with cries of 4 “Death to Autonomy” <) and ‘viva Weyler."’ He says the men in the mob had stones in their pockets, and some of 6, them were armed with weapons. ‘They made a demonstration, too, against the office of the Diaro De Larmarin, a paper published in this town favoring autonomy, but were disposed by the military police and soldiers." The same day Gen. Lee acknowledges the «eceipt of President McKinley's proclamation calling upon the people of the United States 40 make charitable contributions for the relief of the sufferings. Then Gen. Lee makes the following statement: “] have the honor to state as a matter of public interest that the ‘reconcentrado order’ ‘of Gen. Weyler, former governor general of this island, transformed about 400,000 self-sup- porting people, principally women and children, {nto a multitude, to be sustained by the con- ‘tributions of others or die of starvation, or of (fevers resulting from a low physical condition, ‘and being massed in large bodies without change of clothing and w'thout food. Their )homes were burned, their fields and plant beds destroyed, and their livestock driven away or el Rio and.Matanzas and Santa Clara have aied of staivation or from resultant causes [and the deaths of whcle families almost sim- Sitaneously or within a few days of each other Ind of mothers praying for their children to |fe relieved of the horrible surroundings by \Reath are not the least of the many pitiable igeenes Which are ever present. In the provinces Feerpuerto Principe and Santiago de Ctba, Shrere the ‘‘reconcentrado order’ could not be Mitsyeed, the great mass of the people are self- ne eet average of ten cents worth of food 0 20,000 people would be an expehditure of 600 par day, and of covrse the most hu- ‘ane efforts on the par tof cur citizens carnot we to accomplish such a gigantic relict and * Pecat portion of these people will have to be = The Recent Riots. oned to their fate.”” ra ‘Lee enclcsed in this communication an jal to the Dizrro Marina, which vigorous- Jenourced the “‘seditious tumult” of the di fore as a victory for Gomez and the enemies Spain. ‘On the same day he also sent to the t a statement of th mortality of «illed. The estimate that probably 200,000 of ! [%he rural population in the province of Pinar | Santa Clara, 5,489 death: previous to 18! showing that while there were in that town in the several years which included 1,487 in one year from an epidemic of yellow fever, there Were in 1897, cwing to the concentration order, 6,891 deaths out of the total population of 14,000, Jan. 12, 13, 14 and 15 Gen. Lee seit cablegrams to the department with recard to the ricting and the demonstrations against autenomy and Blanco and three newsyaper offices. Jar. 13 he said some of the rioters “threatened to go to the United States con- sulate.”’ “Ships, he sald, “are not now needed; may be later. If Americans are in danger ships should move promptly for Havana. Uncertainty anc excitement widespread.” The ricting ceased the next day, and Gen. Lee reported all quiet. On the 18th Gen. Lee sent a dispatch marked confidential, regav-ding the rioting. It fojlows: “Sir: The recent disorders in this city are to be primarily attributed to a group of Spanish officers who were incensed at articles appearing in three of the newspapers of Ha- vata, El Reconcentrado, La Discussion and El Diario de La Marina. ‘THe first was very pro- nounced against Gen. Weyler and his methods, La Discussion had been suppressed by Weyler but its publication was permitted to be resumed by Blanco, and the last had been an ultra~ Spanish organ, but had been converted by the present authorities to a It is prob- able that the Spa vere first pro- voked by the denuncia f Weyler in the colimns of one of these papers, and deter- mined to stop it, and afterwards, being sup- ported by the mob, turned the demonstration into an ulti-autonomistic affair. “T send to-day analysis of the autono- mistic plan. The intense opposition on the part oi the Spanish arises trom the fact that the first appointments of the officers to nut into form its provisions were made generally out- side of their party in order .to show the Cubans in arms that autonomy was introduced or their benefit and protection. * * * * The intelligent Spaniards * * * * see no prosperity in the future, but rathar wars and more confusion in the same old attempts to make the waters of commerce flow in pnnatural channels, The lower nish classes have nothing in mind when autonomy is mentioned except Cuban local rule, hence their oppo- sition, * * ¢ 4 Insurgent Victories. Jan. 21 Gen. Lee transmitted a copy of the decree which established the autonomitic regime on the Island of Cuba. On Jan. 15-22 Gen. Lee reported by cable ¢aily that all was quiet in Havana and that the recent rioting had caused some delays, but that no difficulty was apprehended as to the landing of supplie Féb. 4 he reports the receipt of moneys from various sections of the United States for re- Nef purposes and the manner in which it is be- ing distributed. Feb. 10 he telegraphed the state department as follows: “Captain general returned yesterday; met with no success of any sort. Spaniards every- where unfriendly; rumors of coming demon- stration against him here. I think him an ex- cellent man but in an unfortunate position; three serious combats reported within a week, lack of physical strength.” The same day he sent to the state department @ statement of the condition of the towns in the neighborhood of the city of Havana made ‘by a person he had sent to those places for the purpose of inspecting the number and condition of the starving. The statement covers four towns in the neighborhood of Havana, and is largely a repetition of the awful tale of suffer- ing which came from the old people of the island, At Melina Del Suras the statement says that it is impossible for the mayor, owing to the unhealthy p ing and the want of resources, to relieve the miserable people, “who die in great numbers from starvat fever and smallpox. There are cther towns in the same condition, for nes, Cata~ lina and Nadduga, whi could be in some’ degree relieved if ntry people were allowed to leave the town freely in search of focd. In come towns this is entirely proh:bited; in others ay a tax! In every town th g noticed is the un- healthy condi he men and their total lack of physical strength."* At Cataline de Guines the statement reports the condition of the recone dos as sad and desperate. There are, it says, zones of cul- tivation,”’ and the reconcentrados are not al- lowed to leave the town in search of work or food even with a military pass. Food is so scarce that one must walk four or five miles before finding a sweet potato. In these dis- tricts the relief given to the reconcentrados by Gen. Blanco is a farce.” The land near the town comprised in the zone for cultivation, the statement says has been rented by four Spaniards who have wealth and influence. and they employ the few reconcen- trados who are able to work, at 30 or 40 cents per day, but nobody can leave the town with- out a pass good for a month and which costs 20 cents. The worl:men have to leave at 6 o'clock in the morning, and not being able to take meals with them are obliged to work until 6 o'clock in the evening without food. The women who go in search of vegetal are sometimes deprived of them on their way back ‘by guerillas. In fifteen days 200 reconcentrados ve died in Guines from starvation. “One of the few protectors of the reconcen- trados, in fact, a heroic one," says the state- ment, “is a young man named Jose Amohedo, whose father and mother died attending the suffering people and who himself has given up eight houses belonging to him as dwelling places for the reconcentrados, all the contents of a grocery store which he possessed and who is as destitute as they are but always attend- ing to those who suffer." Systematic Relief. March 1 Gen. Lee reports that the distribu- tion of food, medicines and clothing to the des- titute is proceeding satisfactorily. “The work,” he says, ‘has been well organ- ized and systematized wnder_ the supervision and direction of Miss Clara Barton, president of the Red Crogs of the United States, and her active and experienced assistants.” He says that the number of poor and destitute is so large that it is impossible to re- lieve large numbers in each locality, but that he can state with confidence that under the present system of distribution the supplies are not lost or wasted but reach those for whom they are intended. March 14 he incloses a letter from Consul Barker of Sagua, who requests him to trans- mit the following letter, which is addressed to him (Gen. Lee): “Dear Sir: I will thank you to communicate to the department as quickly as possible the fact that the military commander and other officers of the military positively refuse to al- low the reconcentrades to whom I am issuing food in its raw state to procure fuel with @hich to cook the food. In addition, they prohibited this class of people (I only giving food to about one-fifth of the destitute, the authorities hav- ing quit altogether) from gathering vegetables within the protection of the forests, telling them the Americans propose to feed you. and tothe Amerc ni ycu must Icox! * * * Yours very truly, —Walter B. Baker, Consul.’” March 18 Gen. Lee informs: the department that the governor general by decree March 5 prorogued in all parts to March 31, 1899, the decree of the general government of April 19, 1807, relative to the suspension of legal pr ceedings against real estate what reservation of what may be agreed upon by the insular chambers in due season. March 24 Gen. Lee cables that the work of relief is progressing and gives details about the distribution of supplies, and adds: ‘*Have Leen greatly assisted by Mr. Klopsch.”’ March 28 Gen. Lee reports that instructions have been given by the civil government of Havana that the alcadoes and other authorities shall not give out any facts about the reconcen- trados, and if any of the American relief com- mittees should make inquiries concerning them such inquiries must be referred to him. Gen. Lee's dispatches conclude with a dis- patch under date of April 1 transmitting the decree of the governor general terminating the concentration order. ESSN SBE AS HORRIBLE SAMENESS. Death and Devastation in All Sec- tions of the Istand. There is one communication from Owen Mc- Garr, consul at Cienfuegos, under date of Jan. 10, informing the department that the sugar mills in his district had been grinding since the first of the month. He says the ut- mest diligence is required to prevent the firing of the care fields, and concludes: “The sugar crop is the support of all classes, especially the laboring classes, and should it he Gestroyed a famin wou'd be inevitable. "The communications from Mr. Brice, consul at Matanzas, number only seven or eight, and most of them are brief. The correspondence from him begins with Nov. 17 last and closed with Feb. $8, 1898. Probably the most striking feature of Mr. Brice’s communications is a distinct article written Jan. 1$ last and de- voted to Cupan destitution. In this he notes the receipt of a circuiar letter of the state department dated ten days’ before. “This,” he says, ‘intimated that help 1s +0 be extended by the United States to the starv- ing people of Cuba. The news of this relief las been known.” he cont:nuez, “for the past twe weeks and has extended all over the province. This consulate has been over- whelmed with people of all classes, asking to be remembered when the relief comes Mr. Brice then gives a number of facts Mlustratirg the suffering in the province. He says there are in Matauzas province alone 80,000 people who are in actual starving condi- Poole, ion and misery existing in Cuba. tion and require food, clothing and medicini Continuing, he says: “In addition to the above there aré thousaras of families of the better classes and former'y well-to-do who to-day are living on one ‘neal a day and that very scant. They have suid or pawned furniture, jewelry, cld;ring. et to eke out an existence until all is gone, or rearly so. Too proud to beg, they suffer in silence and may die of starvation. The laush- ters of a former governor of this province Were seer begging on the streets (insgnite) of this city. Many of these people ca'l on me privately at my residence, asking and praying for God's sake to be remembered when this relief comes from the United Staves. One has to be here, know and mingle with these to fully realize the terrible ies-itu It is to be hoped that this relief from the United States will come quickly, for hundreds are ¢éy'g dally of starvation. Conditions are dvoadful and no relief afforded by the Spanisa au- thorities."* In his first communication of the serles 4a'rd Nov. 17 Mr. Brice stated that neither tte Spaniards or Cubans of that section were ir sympathy with the proposed autonomy and reforms. He noted the issuance of the order to municipal authorities to issue rations and clothing, but says that no attention was paid to it. In this communieaticn he places the death rate at over eighty persons daily, nearly all of whom were dying for want of food, medicines ané clothing. ‘As I write thi “a dead negro two hund e, starved to death. died some time this morning and will ‘ie there, for days, Mr. Brice also notes the {ssuance of an order allowing the reconcentrados to return to the country, but he says the restrictions In ich as to practically prohibit. * he says, ‘what would they do money, food or shelter?” Adding: “Only those who can obtain employment on sugar plantaions can live. Insurgents say no one will be allowed to grind In the province of Matanzas. The situation is indeed deplora- ble, and I am free to say no real help can he expected from the Spanish government, and the fate of the remaining reconcentrados 13 slow, lingering death from starvation.” Writing Dec. 17 Mr. Brice says that the re- Nef offered to reconcentrados and other people by the Spanish authorities is ineffectual. “I have,’ he says, ‘personally visited the head masters of distribution stations. Two thousand rations were given out for a few days only to 8,000 persons. There are more than 12,000 starving people in this city to-day. One out of four or six receives two ounces of rice, one-half ounce of jerked beef and sometimes @ small piece of bread per diem. Even this ration of food has been discontinued since the llth inst.” Mr. Brice mentions several in- stances of distress, among others the following: In a family of seventeen living in an old lime kiln all were found dead except three, and they barely alive. He says again that Gen. Blanco's order allowing reconcentrados to re- turn and cultivate the crops is inoperative and of no avail. Writing Jan. 8, he says: “The people are shut up in the cities and towns like rats to starve. We have fifteen or eighteen families of American reconcentrados who own property in the country, and were they allowed to go to their homes could make a good living. All these have begged and pleaded with the authorities under Blanco’s order to go and were in every case refused.”” Province of Santa Clara. Consul Barker covers the conditions existing in Santa Clara province in a number of com- munications beginning Nov. 20, 1897, and clos- ing March 24 last. His letters constitute one long story of distress, of sickness, detitution and death, until indeed the picture as drawn in the plain language of official communications is revolting. Mr. Barker devoted comparatively little space to political questions, but one or two. of his letters are along these lines. Prob- ably the most notable of these is his communi- cation of Jan. 10, in which he volunteers some suggestions to the department of state. From this communication the following extracts are taken: “When Spain will admit defeat no mortal, in my humble judgment, dare predict. That her plan of settlement is a faiwe is not to be questioned. Pending this admission on her part thousands of human beings, guiltless of having taken any part in the insurrection, are dying for want of sustenance. This condition must continue to increase. The United States in taking action relative to Cuba—which seems inevitable—desires to avoid a clash with Spain. Then let congress alter our citizenship laws by amending the statute relative to the declara- tion required of persons becoming citizens by naturalization so that the subjects or citizens of any other government at present residing at Cuba may go before any United States consul in that island and make declaration of inten: tion of becoming a citizen of the United States which shall entitle them to recognition as citi- zens until the expiration of two years, when they be required to reside in the United States until five years shall have elapsed before be- ing granted naturalization papers. With such a privilege I am confident 90 per cent of the resident Spaniards, the hitherto dominant party and taxpayers, will avail themselves of this opportunity of rebuking the mother country for attempting to foist upon them changes in the existing laws of the island. Such a step would cause the home subjects as well as the govern- ment to acquiesce without disturbance in the loss of the island.”’ Mr. Barker then suggests that the United States shall offer her good offices to Spain with a view of securing an armistice of ninety days’ duration for the purpose of discussing terms of settlement between Spain and the insurgents, the United States to be umpire. Pending nego- tiations he would have all troops quartered and held in the large fortifed coast towns in order that the reconcentrados may return to the country and employment. He adds that the relief from the United States must be contin- ued or the people must starve so long as there is an armed Spanish soldier in the country, “since these people, for fear of being mur- dered, do not go to their country homes.” Marrowirg Destituticn. Mr. Rarker devotes much space to the suffer- in 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 Jan. 1 and ending Nov. 15, 1897, at 80,851. He savs this is the offictal record and that fully 235 per cent should be added to cover deaths, of which no record was kept. “Undeubtedly,"" he says, “one-half the recen- ecentrados have died, and to-day Spanish sel- diers are companion victims of the surviving non-combatants. This appalling death roll is mute yet convincing proof of the terrible de- ftiuction of life of the main policy pursued in attempting to subjurate the island. With me the conviction is firmly rooted that within sixty days 90 per cent of the populace will reach a state of craving hunger, nor do I feel that I am speaking chimerically without in- cluding the rank and file of tre Spanish army. The true status, as viewed at present, will bear out this opinion. The suffering among the troops, as well as the reconcentrados, sim- ply beggars portrayal, while discontent ripens daily.” On Dec. 13 Mr. Barker relates the particu- lars of a visit he had made to five of the principal railroad towns in his consular dia- trict, which tour had been undertaken to verify the previous statements. Speaking of this trip, which covered the towns of Santa Clara, Cruces, Esperanza, Jicotea and Santa Domingo, he says: “The destitution 1s simply too harrowing to recite and must become intnsified each day. The death rate for last month shows an in- crease of ahout 25 per cent. In these towns T got my information from the mayors of each. From them I learned that while there was an issue of food running from three to five days, beginning on the 28th ult., consisting of three ounces of bacon or jerked beef and six ounces of rice for advits, with half this allowance for children under fourteen years, the pittance given was sufficient only for one-fourth to one-tenth of the starving. No further relief has been given up to date, and the mayors of these towns are authority for stating that the captain general had ordered the discontinu- ance of the food to the reconcentrados. This order from the captain general was apparently given because of the insufficiency of the food supply for the Spanish soldiers. The mayor of Santa Clara had already told Mr. Barker that the military commander had informed him that he was to give food to no one having relations in the Insurrection, which would include 75 per cent of the destitute. From this Mr. Barker eoncludes that, however sincere may be the desire to help the recon- certrados by the Spanish authorities, they are powerless to do so for want of means. He also states that all popular subscriptions have proved total failures, ‘‘because the Cubans are poverty-stricken and the Spanish will contrib- ute nothing.” In Santingo de Crba. The reports of the condition of affairs at Santiago are made by Consul P. F. Hyatt, be- ginning Nov. 15 last. Mr. Hyatt had then but recently returned to the island. and he begins his reports with a view of the conditions of the insurgents and autcnomists. He had been dis- posed, he said, to believe the insurgents avere weakenIng and that the autonomists were coming to the front. After Investigation, how- ever, he was convinced that such was not the fact. ‘‘The change of policy as expressed by Captain General Blanco ‘s, as he says, doubt- less medifying the feeling of resentment which formerly prevailed, and should the near future prove discouraging to the insurgents it would doubtless smooth the way to pacification.”* this same ecmmunication Mr. Hyatt discu: the policy which the United States should pur- gue. Among property holders, whether Ameri- ——————— eans or citizens of other nationalities, he says there is but one sentiment—this sentiment is “hands off;"’ or such active intervention as quickly terminate the struggie. They, he says, greatly deprecate constant agitation which makes the governing classes enemies to Ameri- can interests and brings no corresponding ed- vantage. On Nov. 26 Mr. Hyatt says: i “The text of the new autonomy as published here is not meeting with favor by the most ar- dent friends of Spain. There is, however, a feeling lof lirelief and safety since the change in the captain generalship.” A portion of this dispatch is withheld by the state department. Writing Dec. 5, Mr. Hyatt said: “The concentration order is relaxed, but not removed, but many people have reached a point where it is a matter of entire indifference to them whether it is relieved of not, for they have lost all in the problem of existence. A census of the island taken to-day as compared with one taken three years ago I feel confident would show that two-thirds of the residents are missing, and the Spanish army would make no better showing."’ A Bitter Feeling. Jan. 21 Mr. Hyatt details some of the par- ticulars of the visit of Capt. Gen. Blanco to Santiago. He mentions a conversatiog he had with Col. Marsh, of Gen. Blanco's staff, and says that the latter upon leaving him said to hin I shall be at all times most happy to use whatever influence I may have with Gen, Blanco in securing a favorable resolution of any matters that you may desire to present to him.” As a result of this interview Mr. Hyatt secured the release from customs duty of a number of future consignments of quinine. In this communication Mr. Hyatt mentions the destruction of a railroad train by dynamite bombs near Santiago at the time of Gen. Blanco’s visit, saying that it was believed that insurgents were responsible for the destruc- tion, because they believed Gen. -Blanco to be on the train. Two cars were severed into atoms, five passengers were killed outright and twenty-two badly wounded. Mr. Hyatt writes Feb. 1 last as follows: “The era of good feeling is passing away, while bitter words and cruel acts are again coming to the front. Those engaged in works of mercy are denounced for keeping alive « tribe that ought to be dead, but it cannot be sald there is no excuse for harsh judg- ment. The stoppage of all agricultural pur- suits and the blowing up of cars containing innocent people cannot be justified even under the guise of war. Extremists of both sides seem able to dominate the sentiments of their respective parties, while a deep feeling of personal hatred pervades their breasts. Gen. Blanco's mild and humane policy meets with but a feeble response from his own followers, while the insurgents laugh at the old man who throws sods and grass instead of stones. Autonomy is already a dead issue, while buy- ing insurgent leaders thus far is not a marked success, the insurgent generals having already imprisoned several officers suspected of venai- ity.” Mr. Hyatt ends this letter by quoting Mr. Marsh, attributing to him the following senti- ment: ‘Spain fails to comprehend that Cuba has, as it were, two mothers—a political cne, which is Spain; 'a commercial one, which is the United States—and the political mother fails to see that the commercial mother has any rights, while the commercial mother cannot shake off her responsibility, for God has made them next-door neighbors Mr. Hyatt closes this letter as follows: “I do not believe that the Western continent has ever witnessed death by starvation equaled to that which now extsts in Eastern Cuba.” In Sagua La Grande. John Jova, vice consul at Sagua La Grande, under date of Nov. 18, 1897, gives his views of the autonomist policy promised by Spain. He takes strong ground against it and says that an automomist party in that district could not exist. After giving some of his reasons he sa. “Taking ell these facts Into consideration, it is hard to see in what way Spain is going to establish this new system. It will always be without a stable foundation, without a basis and maintained by a very infirm, insignificant auxiliary, In the meantime the reconcentrados, a majority of whom were innocent persons who had no more aspirations than to till their little farms, continue perishing. It is impossible to describe the extent and intensity of such tre- mendous suffering, of iniquitous, unjust and sinful inquisition to annihilate thovsands of women and children. It this Gcdless combina- tion could be accurately represented it would seem an exaggeration. Induced by fellow feel- ing, with sensibility of heart, moving among the’ crowd of famished beggars one can scarcely do more than commiserate the undeserved mis- fortunes. No history in the world, ancient or modern, saw an instance of this frightful, dreadful suffering. Perhaps civilization has not seen {ts ljke. In conclusion I beg to state in my humble judgment that the efforts toward the enforcement of the reform of autonomy will prove altogether futile.”’ —_+—_. THE MAINE DISASTER. Important and _ Interesting, Points Are Developed. The consular correspondence in part was devoted to the Maine disaster, and in this part of the correspcnderce some important and interesting points are developed. The corre- spcudence consists largely of cablegrams ¢x- changed by Assistant Sccretary of State Day and Consul-General Lee. The first of the tele- grams 1s dated at Havana Jan. 12, and relates to the riots which were then occurring in the city. This and the subsequent telegrams upon the same subject have been published either in whole or in_part. On Jan. 24 Gen. Lee was notified by the state department that the Maine would call at Havana in a day or two ard was directed to make arrangements for an interchange of friendly calls between officers and authorities. Under the same date Gen. Lee advised a postponement of the Maine's visit for six or seven days, that the excitement might abate. Later ¢3 the samc-uay Gon. Lez tat the Maine weuld arrive In Havana the next day, and was asked to co-operate with the authorities for her friendly visit. Wiring the state department the next day Gen. Lee informed the state department that the Spanish authorities professed to think the United States had an ulterior purpose in sending the ship. “Say it will obstruct autonomy, produce ercitement and most probably a demonstra- tion. Ask that {t is not done until they can get instructions from Madrid, and say that if for friendly motives, as claimed, delay is un- important.’”’ ‘The telegrams from Jan, 25 to Feb. 4 relate merely to the reception of the Maine and the exchange of visits between her officers and the civil and naval authorities in Havana. On Feb. 4, Assistant Secretary Day in- formed Gen, ‘Lee that the secretary of the navy thought it imprudent for sanitary rea- sons to keep the Maine longer in Havana. He asked if some vesels had been kept there all the time and requestd his vishrdiu shrdlu all the time and requested his views. In reply Gen. Lee said he thought there would be no danger to the health of the vessel's crew before May. ‘We should not relinquish the position of peaceful control of the situation or conditions wotld be worse than if the vessel had never been sent, Americais wovid depart with their families ip haste if no vessel was in the harbor, on account of the distrust of preserva- tion of order by the authorities. 1f another rict occwrs it will be against the governer general and autonomy, but it might include an anti-American demonstration also. A first- class battleship should replace the present one tf relieved as an object lesson and to counter- act spanish opinion of our navy, and we should have a torpedo boat with it to preserve communication with the admiral ‘The next telegram of importance was sent by Gen, Lee early on the morning of Feb. 16, announcing to the state department the de- struction of the Maine. The telegram has been published. During the forty-eight hours that followed Gen. Lee kept the department in- formed of the occurrences in chronological or- der. In a dispatch of Feb. 28 he said that after the divers under Capt. Sigsbee had made a cursory examination of the wreck, ‘‘the Spanish government would like to unite with ours in having the bottom of the ship and harbor in the vicinity jointly examined.” ‘The next day Judge Day informed Gen. Lee that this government had already instructed an (investigation of the disaster which would be conducted independently. He added, however: “This government will afford every facility it can to the Spanish authorities in whatever investigation they may sec fit to make upon their part” ‘The first information of the cause of the ex- plosion was given by Gen, Lee on Fet. 22, when he telegraphed: “Copper cylinders ammunition found intact in ten-inch magazine starboard side this morning. Seems to show that magazine not exploded. Evidence beginning to prove ex- plosion on port side by torpedo.’” Gen. Lee informed the department on Feb. 28 that arrangements had been concluded for both governments to conduct independent in- vestigations of the disaster, his correspondence with Gen, Blanco being transmitted in full, In concluding his letter to Blanco Gen. Lee id: “ST am quite sure that neither government has any other object except to ascertain all the facts connected with the explosion of the Maine and that the great desire of both gov- ernments is to proceed harmoniously with the work,” At this point correspondence between Gen, Lee and the state department concerning the Maine disaster abruj terminates so far as Some | | NAVY STILL GROWING Two MORE OCEAN KYTIOUNDS HAVE BEEN ED. The Navy Department Has Now Ac- quired All Four of the American Line Steamers — Latest Additions Being the Paris and New York— Two Coasting Sienmers Also Par- chased — Negotiations Reopened With Chile and Argentina for the Purchase of Two Warships and Several Torpedo Boats—Prospect of Getting the O'Higgins. Washington, April 17.—Several im- portant and decisive steps in the work of war preparations were taken by the navy department. It was decided to assign the naval reserves of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland and Michigan to the tive auxiliary cruisers hereafter to be known as patrol boats. These ships are the Prairie, the Dixie, the Yankee, the Yosemite and either the Venezuela or Yorktown, the latter of which was purchased yesterday. The question of the American line steamers was also wound up with the decision to charter all four of them, the St. Louis, the St. Paul, the Paris and the New York. ‘The first two mentioned have already been acquired by the department, though the form of acquisition was tentative, the department being unde- cided whether it would purchase these two only or charter all four. With the announcement that these magnificent ships had been added to the auxiliary fleet came the statement that the de- partment also had purchased the York- town of the Old Dominion line and the Yumuri of the Ward line. With these additions the fleet of converted vessels now includes the pick of the ocean liners and coasting steamers running under the American flag. As in all instances the prices paid were with- held by the department, Warships and Yorpedo Boats. But of greater moment than any these developments was the reopen of negotiations for the purchase of two warships and several torpedo boats from Chile and Argentina. One of the cruisers is the Chilean O’Hig- gins, just completed at an English yard and regarded as one of the most formidable of her class affoat. These negotiations are being conducted through Mr. Charles R. Flint of New York, who has large commercial and financial interests in both countries. Mr. Flint held extended conferences with the secretary and other officials. While Mr. Flint would not say how far the negotiations had progressed, he intimated that the international af- fairs of Chile and Argentina were as- suming such a satisfactory shape as to warrant the presumption that they were not averse to parting with a por- tion of their navies, Orders have been issued to the naval reserves of Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New York and New Jersey to hold themselves in readiness for duty on the patrol ships. It is the in- tention of the department to shape all matters for an emergency, but the ia will not actually go into service aboard the ships until it is certain that hostilities are to come. The _ patrol ships will be assigned to the Atlantic coast line and form a part of the gen- eral plan of coast defense. Eas ENGLAND WOULD NoT Jot of ng Anti-American Coribiietian | Will Be Frowned Down. ‘London, April 17.—The Daily Chron- icle, taking it for granted that there is some truth in the reports of a new European concert for ¢cercion, devotes | am editorial to urging England not to join. It says: “Our concern is to see that England is not once more dragged at the heels of despots and made to play the game of the latest of the rot- ten tyrannies that encumber the earth. We have good reason to say that there are strong friends of America in the present government and we hope Lord Salisbury is one of them, but it is im- portant that the feeling of the country should be adequately represented both in London and in Washington. “Our present purpose is to insist that our government does its best by using every means in its power to defeat any anti-American combination. If there be any doubt about the feelings of the great majority of the nation we shall be happy to try the experiment of marching a hundred thousand London- ers through the metropolis with the union jack and the stars and stripes in combination. It is the business of the mother country to stand by her chil- dren of the West as stiffly and strong- ly as one country can by another.” Other London papers have editorials in a similar strain. Fi EL REMEMBER THIS EDITOR. Any His Case Must Be Attended to by the First Troops That Land. St. Paul, April 17—The New York Herald's special cable to the Pioneer Press from Havana says: In an edi- torial La Union Constitucional declares that the United States congress looks more lige a negro club or a meeting of savage Indians han the deliberative body of a civilized nation. The Yankee people, it says, in spite of being com- posed of several elements and boast- ing that they are a model civilized na- tion, are but a repetition of the red- skin Indians who occupied the Amer- ican plains. McKinley, the editorial says, continues to gratify the passions, fearing much more defeat than univer- sal ridicule. eee Coal Contraband of War. Kingston, Jamaica, April 17. — The British colonial authorities here have instructions from the home govern- ment to declare coal contraband in the event of war. porate, Insurgents Continue to Fight. Madrid, April 17. — It is announced here that {m spite of the armistice the insurgents continue their incursions, and it is added that the government has received news to the effect that new filibustering expeditions are being organized in Florida for Cuba. _ — ae yr THE CAUSE OF DYSPEPSIA. From the Republican, Scranton, Pa. The primary cause of avepepsls is lack of vitality ;the absence of nerve force ;the loss. of the life-sustaining elements of the blood. No omen can properly perform its func- tions when the source of nutriment fails. When the stomach is robbed of the nour- ishment demanded by nature, assimilation ceases, unnattfral gases are generated; the entire system responds to the discord. A practical illustration of the symptoms and torture of dyspepsia is furnished by the case of Joseph T. Vandyke, 440 Hick- oN. St., Scranton, Pa. in telling his story, Mr. Vandyke says: “Five years ago 1 was afflicted with o trouble of the stomach, which was very aggri vating« I had no appe- tite,conld not enjoy my- self at any time, and es- pecially was the trouble severe when I awoke in the morning. I did not know what the ailment was, but it became stead- ily worse and I was in constant misery. “T called in my family physician, and he diag- nosed the case ascatarrh rel ed i He pre- scribed for me and I had 7 the prescription filled. 1 _ ™ Misery. took nearly all of the medicine, but still the trouble became worse, and I felt that my condition was hopeless. I tried sever- al remedies recommended by my friends but without benefit. After I had been suf- fering several months, ‘Thomas Campbell, also a rcsident of this city, urged me to try Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills for Pale People. “He finally persuaded me to buy a box and I began to use the pills according to directions. Before I had taken the second box I began to feel relieved, and after tak- ing a few more boxes. I considered myself restored to health. ‘The pills gave me new life, strength, ambition and happiness.” Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills cure dyspepsia by restoring to the blood the requisite con- stituents of life, by renewing the nervo force and enabling the stomach to prompt- ly and properly assimilate the food. These pills are a spe~ific for all diseases having their origination in impoverished blood or disordered nerves. They contain every element requisite to general nutrition. to restore strength to the weak, good health to the ailing. Pawnshop Talk. Superintendent—Johnnie, you make out of the expression, rent their garments?’ Johnnie—Three golden balls, sir. LIE WINS A BATTLE. WELL-KNOWN GUEST OF IN- DIANA MINERAL SPRINGS HOTEL THE PROUD LIAR. what do hey Capt. H. S. Cole Convinced the Advance Should Be Made Despite Gen. Gregg's Order—He Runs the Risk of Court Martial and Disgrace, But Victory Saves Him. Indiana Mineral Springs, Ind., April 11.— (Special Correspondence)—Warlike dis- patches in the morning newspapers stirred upageneral discussion amonga half score of gentlemen in a corner of the smoking room of the Indiana Mineral Springs Hotel today. Several veterans of the civil war who have been regaining health by means of the, Magno Mud Baths and Lithia Water herd took a lively interest in the discussion. Many interesting stories of the late con- flict were told. “In the campaign before Richmond in the last months of the war,” said Capt. H. 8. Cole, of Fergus Falls, Minn., “1 was guilty of a distortion of an order that, had the battle which it caused been adefeat for us, would have had sad results for me; fortunately the falsehood I told rescued u: from a perilous position and we won a victory.’ . Capt. Cole's regiment was the famous First Maine Cavalry which by special order of the War Department has seven more battles on its colors than any other carried by any regiment in the Union army. The First Maine also has the record of having turned more of its troopers into preachers at the close of hostilities than any other abs pearaes of the northern army, while several of the men who have bs governors of the Pine Tree stat; gingo 1863 were at the front with tno First Maine, But it was while 06 was on thestaff of Gen, Chas. F, Smith, whocommarded a briga2o of the Second Caval: corps, the he: which was Gen. D. McGregg, one of tho best cavalry captains in the north or south, that the incident happerei. _ “Our brigade was in a desperate condi- tion,” said Capt. Cole, ‘‘when Gen. Smith sent meto ask Gen. McGregg for re-inforce- ments. I found the Pennsylvania fighters and delivered my message. He thought- fully stroked his beard. “Give my compliments to Gen. Smith,’ he said, ‘and tell him he can’t have a — re-inforcement.’ It was the first time I ever heard Gen. McGregg swear, and I was convinced that it was due to the serious condition of his command. I was also con- vinced that our brigade should fight its way out, so when I galloped up to Gen. Smith I determined to somewhat change his superior’s orders. “What success?) he asked. ‘Gen. McGregg can’t send any re-inforcements, and desires you to attack,’ I said. He was surprised, but the word was given. In- spired by our ‘il we routed the enemy and gained a safe place. “Some time afterward I told Gen. Smith what I bad done.” “What happened?” asked one of tke other veterans. “Drinks on the general,” said the man from Minnesota, who added that with a few more Magno Mud Baths he would be in a fit condition to take a hand in the im- pending war with Spain. The man who gives to advertise his charity, has no charity worth advertis- ing. The Twentieth Century. The 20th century will begin Jan. Ast, 1901, and end with 2000. People did not reckon time from A. D. 1, but waited until about the 550th year of the Christian era. People who begin to take Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters, im- mediately after the first outbreak of Dyspepsia or kidney trouble, will date their cure from then. About the only thing they sell at a church fair is the public. THE FREIGHT. BEST SCALES, LEAST MONEY. JONES OF BINGHAMTON,N.Y GROCERY SALESMEN WANTED. To sell Groceries on Commission in Mon- tana, the Dakotas, Wisconsin an! Min- nesota. Only men with ex;erience need ap,ly. : YERXA BROS. & CO., Wholesale . epartment,