to humanity, and so contrary to all Christianity. They did not fail to find persons animated with like sentiments, who, putting aside all fear of the present situation, organized a private committee with the exclusive end of aiding materially and morally the reconcentrados. This neither has been nor is at present an easy task. The great number of the poor and scarcity of means make us encounter constant conflicts. This conflict is more terrible with the official elements and in a special manner with the mayor of the city and the civil authorities, who try by all means to annihilate this good work. The result of the collections are very insignificant if we bear in mind the thousands of people who suffer from the reconcentrations; but it serves for some consolation to see that in Havana some 159 children and 84 women are well cared for in the asylum erected in Cadiz street, No. 82, and 93 women and children are equally well located in a large saloon erected for them in the second story of the fosos, with good food and proper medical assistance, as also everything indispensable to civilized life.
According to the information which we have been able to acquire since August until the present day, 1,700 persons have entered the Fosos proceeding from Jaruco, Campo Florido, Guanabo, and Tapaste, in the province of Havana. Of these, only 243 are living now and are to be found in Cadiz street—82 in the saloon already mentioned and 61 in the Quinta del Rey and the Hospital Mercedes, the whole amounting to about 397, and of these a great many will die on account of the great sufferings and hunger they have gone through.
From all this we deduct that the number of deaths among the reconcentrados has amounted to 77 per cent.
Mr. Lee to Mr. Day.
No. 717.]
Havana, December 3, 1897.
Sir: Referring to my cipher telegram of the 1st instant, which I beg to confirm, reading as follows:
Assistant Secretary of State, etc.:
Inform the Department that he has learned from the United States consul at Matanzas of an extensive and dangerous conspiracy, under the ex-governor of the province, directed against Americans, action against them to be contingent upon movement of the United States Government in favor of independence to Cuba.
I have the honor to state that rumors have been more or less frequent regarding the riotous intentions of some of the dissatisfied elements toward citizens of the United States dwelling here and in other parts of the island. Any riotous demonstrations here must come from the Spanish noncombatants or from the volunteer forces. I do not think there is any danger from the former, many of whom seem to be in favor of annexation, rather than for real autonomy or for an independent Cuban Republic. And I am inclined to think if General Blanco can manage the volunteers as yesterday he said he could, the trouble from that source is diminishing. The origin of the mobs in this city in the past has always been located in the ranks of the volunteers, who alone have organization and arms.
The Governor and Captain-General is now investigating the Matanzas rumors and will, I am sure, deal promptly with any conspirators found there.
