Mr. Sherman to Mr. Woodford.

No. 61.]

Sir: I inclose for your information copy of the Department’s note of the 6th instant to the Spanish minister at this capital, calling attention to the suffering inflicted upon the rural population of Cuba who have been forcibly concentrated in the towns; also copy of a dispatch from our consul at Matanzas, relating to the same subject.

Respectfully, yours,

John Sherman.
[Inclosure No. 2.]

Mr. Brice to Mr. Day.

(Inclosure No. 1 printed in Foreign Relations, 1897, p. 509.)

Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report for your earnest consideration:

During the past two weeks death from starvation (among reconcentrados and poor people) has rapidly and alarmingly increased. The figures given are under the actual number of deaths, as many of these people die unaccounted for.

[Page 597]

Over 2,000 (I have the list of names) have died in this city—want of food—since January 1 up to October 1, 1897. Since latter date the daily average death rate has been over 45 persons. Sixty-two died last Sunday; of these 57 from actual starvation. Normal death rate of Matanzas City prior to Weyler’s concentration order 6 persons daily (not including soldiers).

In the interior towns of province the situation is beyond belief. In some towns one-third to one-half the population has disappeared. I inclose a clipping from Spanish paper at Colon, translated. It only tells part of the story. Such things are not usually allowed published. A careful estimate from reliable sources gives the number of deaths from starvation and diseases incident thereto over 22,000 in the province (not including this city). I should say that 5,000 more added would be no exaggeration. If no prompt measures of relief are afforded these people, sixty days hence the majority of them (reconcentrados) will be exterminated, as predicted by a prominent general of Cuba.

Local authorities are powerless and unable to cope with the situation. Cities and towns are bankrupt and can give little or no relief to the starving thousands. Last Monday morning six to seven hundred starving women unexpectedly raided the market and carried off everything in sight. Pandemonium reigned for an hour or more. We are likely to have riots and mobs in the near future if no relief is given. Allow these people to go out into the country and plant crops, and in less than sixty days all will be well and starvation a thing of the past.

I am, sir, etc.,

A. C. Brice,
United States Consul.
[Subinclosure—Translation.]

horrible scenes.

The correspondent of La Union de Colon at Jaguey Grande, under date of 24th instant, writes as follows:

“It is estimated that over 6,000 souls arrived at this town in compliance with the concentration order. Of these 6,000 it is scarcely possible that two-thirds remain, the rest having died of hunger, and to judge by what is seen, many others will soon die for similar cause. The deceased are daily seen to be carried to the cemetery by their own relations, and sometimes, as it recently happened, two weak and lean children were carrying their father. Horror! They were carrying him in a codfish box, tied with a rope to prevent it from falling to pieces. It is useless to state that they had to stop at every step, and such was the sight until they arrived at the cemetery. Do you believe anyone rendered assistance? Not a soul, because the relatives have to dig the graves, and nobody accompanies the corpse, to avoid the performance of the job.

Until late days the dead were carried in boxes, palm husks, and any way. They now have a kind of rustic bier; but as there are no coffins or boxes the sight is the same. Absolute abandonment reigns here. The deputy mayor, Don Manuel Fernandez, cacique of this town, whose leave must be had to do anything, and the justice of the peace, his loyal servant, might well try and alleviate so much misery instead of using their activity, the former to matters he should not touch and the latter to illtreat the poor concentrated people, venting his fury to the extreme of clubbing a poor woman in the street.