Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-23
Huge Charnel Houses Soon to Be Thrown
Open for All Time.
AMERICAN TROOPS READY TO MARCH IN
Spaniards Preparing to Turn Everything
Over to Uncle Sam.
CARRYING AWAY EVERYTHING PORTABLE
Friends and Relatives Of Prisoners
within the Gloomy Walls Anxious
for the Fate of Their
Loved Ones.

AONCu o"eSs
Copyright 1885, by Press Publishing Coz
HAVANA, Dec. 22.--(New York World Ca
blegram-Special Telegram.)-(By Way Of
Key West, Fla, Dec. 22)-Cabanas and
Moro are being prepared for delivery over
to the Americans. Every article capable
of being moved has been taken away, all
the swords have been destroyed or packed
in huge cases for transportation to Spain
and the interiors Of these huge charne1
houses, which have held many Spanish
secrets have been prepared for the flood
of light which will be thrown on them when
the American troops march in. Secrecy as
dark as the grave has been maintained in
regard to both these places, and the destiny
OF their thousands OF prisoners Is still un-
known. Friends and relatives Of missing
men wait anxiously to ascertain whether
they still linger in dungeons or have gone
the way OF thousands Of others in the bloody
laurel ditch. Captain General Castellanos
paid visit to Cabanas yesterday to see
for himself the progress Of the prepara-
tions for the departure. The Spanish gov
ernment is exceedingly anxious not to leave
behind a trace showing the gross irregu-
larity with which trials were conducted or
the exact number OF victims who have gone
to their doom there.
During the last two days La Machina
wharf has been crowded with departing
Spanish soldiers. On Monday there sailed
the French steamer La Navarde with the
Barbastro battalion and the Miguel Gallart
with the San Marcial battalion and the pro-
visionals of Havana. Yesterday the French
steamer Cheribou sailed with over 500 sick
and the battaIions Of Union Peninsular and
San Quntin.
Will Die on the Way Home.
The sight as these men embarked was
pitiful In the extreme. Sallow, wan, filthy,
with starved look and scarcely enough
strength to carry their rifles. Even Of these
who still retained regimental formation
many will die on the way home. The men
were scarcely able after quick march
through town to hold their place in the
boats taking them to the transports and
several tainted from sheer exhaustion c.,
the way.
AS for the sick, their condition was beyond
description. Suffering from all kinds OF
diseases, principally fevers and horrible
skin complaints many ded before they were
lodged on board the fearfully crowded trans
ports. One poor fellow on La Machina wharf
asked for water and was given large glass
Iced. He took a huge gulp and fell back
dead, the shock Of cold on his weakened
frame killing him on the spot.
Before the Cherbou sailed a permit from
Spanish official enabled the World corre-
spondent to go aboard and ascertain the con-
dltions. The ship was crowded from truck
to keelson, having more than 1000 men on
board, 900 Of whom were sick. These lat
ter unfortunates were crowded in cots on
the lower deck and surrounded by filth Of
all degrees and a stencil unbearable. They
had been only ten hours aboard, but eight
had died already and their bodies awaited
burial when the ship got to sea. Uncared
for, living and dead lay together, bodies
touching in some cases, a dead mans stiff
fened arm resting on the shoulder OF a
still suffering comrade. Three doctors and
several hospital corps will go with the
ship. but there is total absence Of medi-
cine and supplies. One doctor estimated
that 80 per cent would die on the voyage.
Harrison Called Down.
HAVANA, Dec. 22.-Major Russell Har-
rison. the provost marshal, who on Tuesday
raised the stars and stripes over Fort Atares
without orders and In contravention OF the
promise Of the United States evacuation
commissioners that no American flags should
be raised in Havana or its suburbs until
January /. was today formally repri-
structed to lower the flag Lieutenant Lee
reported few hours later to headquarters
that the flag had been lowered. Never
theless at the hour Of filing this dispatch,
4:30 p. M, 1t Is still flying on tall staff
over the famous fort, plainly visible from
the harbor and city.
Major General Lee, having received a
cable dispatch from General Alger saying
that the secretary OF war understood that
there were thousands Of persons starving In
Havana and directing him to feed them
without delay" Immediately ordered Lieu
tenant Colonel Wood to distribute rations
and to make systematic efforts to feed the
helpless, carefully avoiding waste.
Destitute Persons in Havana.
There are hundreds in Havana today
who, though not actually starving. are In
deplorable state Of weakness and disease,
the effects Of the cruel recommendation
policy. They need hospital treatment, which
is not always available Much OF the
wretchedness Is due to the neglected con-
dition OF the tenements. Every day or so
the relief distributors come upon dead
bodies, terribly emaciated. Two were found
In the suburb of Cerro yesterday. 1t Is
dimcut to distinguish between the profes-
sional vagrant and the really deserving
cases. but the committees with local knowl-
edge are able to render excellent service.
The Cuban colonel, Raoul arrange, with
GOO horsemen, paraded In Jesus del Monte
today and then marched out again to camp
The transport Minnewaska, which left
Savannah for Cuba December 10. with the
Forty-ninth Iowa regiment, arrived here
this afternoon.
Today the Spanish transport Ciudad de
Cadiz and Nsustra sailed for Spain, the
former with 1885 men and officers, bound
for Santander. and the latter with 1888 for
CadiE.
frG,p n