[Inclosure.]
Mr. Springer to
Mr. Day.
United States Consulate-General,
Havana, October 20, 1897.
No. 675.]
Sir: In the most northern part of this
city, close to the entrance to the harbor, in proximity to the
morgue, the public jail, the Punta park and battery, etc., are found
“los fosos,” the foss, ditch, or moat of the old city walls, part of
which are still standing [Page 599]
The space within these walls has been utilized for a number of years
past by the city government as a place of deposit for its
street-cleaning apparatus, its mules and carts, and as a general
storehouse for all such public works material, and as a place also
of detention and shelter for vagrants and street beggars. At the
entrance to the place and on the street corner is the morgue. Within
the limits are erected a number of buildings for various uses of the
city government, but the largest is a two-story wooden building of
about 200 feet front by 70 deep. This was erected to serve as a
shelter to hundreds of homeless and houseless vagrants who roamed
the streets, begging by day and sleeping in doorways and porticos at
night. The city has also for some months past been issuing here
twice a day, free to all applicants, rations, consisting of bread
and the peculiar Spanish “rancho,” a soup of beans, potatoes,
lentils, cabbage, codfish, and pork, the latter often rotten and
rancid. But within the past three months hundreds of families of the
“reconcentrados” have been brought into Habana from the neighboring
towns of San Miguel, Campo Florida, Jaruco, and even Aguacate, and
huddled into these quarters without any further provision made for
them than the bare floor space. As to their food, I am told that the
rations now issued amount to 1,000 twice a day, and this coarse, and
for the most part unsuitable, food is eagerly taken and ravenously
devoured, and even then found inadequate.
The misery and sickness prevailing among these “reconcentrados,” the
greater part of them women and children, is simply indescribable,
and the mortality among them, due to inanition and fever,
frightful.
Having been informed that an American woman was among these
“reconcentrados” I visited the “fosos” yesterday morning. I found in
one part of the building referred to, which has now been given up
altogether to their use, over 500 women and children of all ages,
from a puling infant of a few weeks old to an anæmic girl of 17
years, crowded into a space where only 200 should be accommodated,
with due regard to the laws of hygiene and decency. I learned that
their condition has been greatly improved within a few weeks past,
or even days, thanks to the initiative of a few Cuban families. Beds
have been brought in, clothing obtained, and medicines furnished to
the sick, but all due to private charity, as the Government is
indifferent and provides nothing, not even medicines, although the
ayuntamiento has assigned two physicians to the place and a hospital
steward, who told me he was overworked and could not during the day
distribute the medicines prescribed and required by all—medicines
provided by private charity. Some attempt at a register and
organization is now being made, although at first no statistics were
kept. The sexes are separate, and the number of men, much less than
that of the women and children, some 200, are kept in another part
of the building. I was told by one of the physicians of a case where
a man actually died from thirst. Weak and unable to help himself, he
had called vainly for water for three days, and when given him he
drank deeply and died in fifteen minutes. I saw one orphan family of
ten little children, boys too weak to stand, emaciated, nudity and
indifference to common decency everywhere, hungry, misery, and
starvation, and the sad look of woeful resignation in the eyes of
all.
I was informed that the American woman I was in search of would be
found under such a bed, in such a corner of the room. I found her in
a bed, which she had occupied only two days, having rested on the
bare floor over six weeks and sheltered herself under the bed of
another woman. She was but “one more unfortunate,” who had become
ill and diseased, thrown into the streets, picked up starving, and
sent to the “fosos,” all the city hospitals being full to
overflowing. Here she has existed for six weeks, nearly starved, but
is now improving. She has no family or friends, simply “one more
unfortunate,” and did not care to give her real name or any
particulars of her life beyond that she was born in New York and had
been in this city six years.
The attention of private charity is being drawn to the miserable
condition of these poor, defenseless “reconcentrados,” and I learn
that they are now being gradually better cared for. I am told that
the condition of those who are still reconcentrated in the country
towns is simply inconceivable, and that the Government is
indifferent to all this misery, considering extermination by
starvation a just punishment and a fitting war measure against this
people for the crime of insurrection and efforts to obtain their
independence.
I am, etc.,
Joseph A. Springer,
Vice-Consul-General
