New-York tribune., 1873-12-23
THE PRISONERS.

THE PRISONERS.
DETAILS OF THEIR REIRAsE-THE PRISONERS LED
TO BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE on THEIR WAY
TO ExECUIIoN-TIIER JOY on BOARDING THE
JUNIATA-sTATE OF INSECURITY.
lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRBUNE.l
WASHINGTON. Dec. 22.-The following has been
received from a special correspondent:
KEY WEST Fla, Dec 22.-The United States ship
pinta Commander 6arrnge. arrived tonight from
Santiago dc Cuba with official reports for Admiral
scott IN regard 10 the surrender OF the Nlrglnlus
prisoners which took place in the harbor of Santiago
on the 18th of this month special correspondent
NJ THE TRIBUNE accompanied the Pinta, and brings
the following account of the trip and incidents of
the surrender. The Pinta left Key West eight days
ago with Lieut.. Aulick Palmer, a special mes
sencer OF the Navy Department who carried instruc-
iions in regard TO the surrender TO Lieut.
Rraine of the .unata. The Pinta arrived at Havana
on the following morning and landed Lieut.. Palmer
who went thence overland by rail to Batabauo. and
thence by steamer to Santiago de Cuba, while the
Pinta went TO some place with duplicates of his dis
patches The Pinta arrived on the morning OF
Thursday the 18th, ahead of Lieut. Palmer. but
found that the prisoners 1jj in number, bad been
surrendered a few hours before.
IL appears that the Spanish authorities to the last
moment kept the poor wretches in ignorance of their
them to suppose that they were to be executed
Priests were with them taking their confessions and
diving declarations. and implOrng them 10 look to
God for pardon. They taken out of prison
In despair. hut on their way 10 the slaughter
uen rs they supposed, their eyes fell upon
1le Jnniata hyng the faS of the United
States When they realized the truth scene oc-
Cured which bcggars description. The enthusiasm
knew no bounds. They were speedily transferred to
the deck of the Tuniata and gave vent to the most
extravarant but touching demonstrations of JOY
embracing each other, some crying, some kissing
and Others audby offering thanks to the Almighty
for their deliveTance from the horrors of their dun
reon and the prospect of an ignOminious death
On the night before the surrender the Off
cars and crew of the Juniata were stationed
q; quarters. her guns being turned on the city. The
SPANISH volunteers having been excited to oI'en
rot by the rnihor that the surrender was TO take
place. a large number of volunteers went III a body
o. the Governors palace and begged permission to
n tempt the capture of the Juniata. saying that
fhey could do il with knives alone. The Governor
refused to grant permission Our officers believe
ilat the application made in earnest, and not
fw regret that it not favOrably entertained as
the Juniata alone, not to speak of the Kansas and
Tiuta. would have been more than a match for the
Issailauts.
rame to the ship from Commander Braine for the
piymaster TO issue all the blankets and peajackets
~ his depart nent to the prisoners who were hardly
q: TO be seen in their rags This speedily done :;
b.. as there was still great desttutiOn orders
fr every man on board to give their own blankets
AID wearing apparel in the good cause promise
being made that all would be re-
placed on the arrival of the ship at Key
West The officers and men cheerfulv complied
tn this order only preferrng that il sbonid be
Issued as a request in which case they would have
pLeycd with just as much alacrity. Every heart
WAS touched by the pitable condition of the
prisoners. The poor fellows report that they were
barbarously treated but when the Pinta left they
had given few details beyond what have already
found way into THE TEIBUNE. They say that when
The officers from the Tornado boarded the Virgnius
ene of them, in hauling down the flag of theUnited
States tore it into ribbons, and tTampled on IT.
prtng with>an oath, This is what have wanted "
The sitnation in Santiago de Cuba is reported still
very serious A large majority OF the population is
tp sympathy with the Cuban cause but the NOlun-
teers control everything with a high hand. II is
believed that the surrender would not have been
made at last but for the firm stand taken by Com
nander Braine aud the prevailing impression that he
would proceed 10 oextrememeasnres if there was any
,sifing or Dos tponement Only week ago 2j cIti-
Hial had been gone through with, without any evil
5elce being adduced against them, they wore told
10 20 home On the way they cruelty waylaid
and killed only one escaping he was rddied
with bullets and dangerously wounded. Americans
continually in fear for their lives and bitterly
complain that nothing has been done TO redress their
wrongs II is not safe for an American officer to 20
ashore alone at Santiago. All along the rlver line
Spanards are erecting batteries.
The Pints. left on Friday evening about sun
Wt, arriving here tonight about o'clock, max
ng remarkably swift passage. The surrender took
Mace at MORO Castle six m1es below Santiago. A
receipt was given for the prisoners ii was reported
n Santiago that when il found that the Vir-
Einus had been towed out of the harbor OF Havana,
Large number of naval officers Of hgh grade ten
fered their designations TO the Home Government
by telegraph.