Page:Messages of the President of the United States on the Relations of the United States to Spain (1898).djvu/65

 36 to the four winds the comparatively small body of men who are there, is a question I will not attempt to answer.

As I write a man is dying on the street in front of my door, the third in a comparatively short time.

United States Consul.

Santiago de Cuba, December 21, 1897.

I respectfully report that sickness and the death rate on this island is appalling. Statistics make a grievous showing, but come far short of the truth.

The principal disease is known by various names. Calentura, baludol fever, la grippe, etc., is thought by physicians to be brought on by insufficient food. I know some that are attacked that have plenty. These, however, usually make a good recovery, while the others die or make very slow recovery.

The disease is endemic rather than of a zymotic or contageous character. From 30 to 40 per cent of the people are afflicted with it at the present time.

Yellow fever continues in all parts of the island, and smallpox in some places, but are insignificant as compared with the prevailing disease. Out of a total of 16,000 soldiers recently sent to Manzanillo, nearly 5,000 are in hospitals or quartered on the people. I have not learned whether it has attacked the insurgents or not; presumably yes, for Cubans elsewhere are not exempt, as in yellow fever.

An extremely strong effort is being made to increase the strength of the autonomist party. The governor sends for men of supposed influence and asks them to join the party and work to make it successful. He argues that it is a patriotic duty in which all good citizens should aid.

As yet planters are all at sea as to whether they will grind cane or not. It is no secret that they will have to make terms with the insurgents if they do, and I understand that an agreement by which 50 cents per bag, or about 15 cents per 100, will be paid for Cuban hands off. Planters say this will leave them no profit, but leave their plantations in better order for future operations.

The three Rivery brothers, American citizens and owners of coffee, cocoa, and orange groves, are about to return to their places. They are absolutely penniless, and say they would have surely starved but for the food issued from this consulate. I shall continue to supply them with food, and issue a month's rations of such food as rice, beans, codfish, crackers, etc., as their homes are over 30 miles away. I have made myself, personally (not my Government), responsible for the transportation of themselves, their families, and goods, as it seemed desirable to get them on their estates as soon as possible.

Dr. Henry S. Caminero, United States sanitary inspector, has just informed me that there are in this city over 12,000 persons sick in bed, not counting those in military hospitals. This is at least 35 per cent of the present population. Quinine, the only remedy of avail, is sold ten times higher than in the States.