The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-18
FROM A SPANISH PRISON.
a PhiIadelphian Who Espoused Gu
has Cause, Writes Home. ...


Philadelphia. March 17.-About three
months ago VIII H. Tams, courageous,
and filled with zeal for the cause of Cuba
Libre" left this city to join the insur-
gents and battle for their cause. His ca
reer as a recruit was brief. for he was
soon captured by the Spariards. who car
ried him to Lisbon and thrust him into a
prison ship, with a number of other
Americans. including five PhiladelphiaIs.
Some of these men have already been
shot. the ordinary rights of prisoners of.
war being denied them by the blood
thirsty Spaniards. Expecting to meet the
same fate which he says would in re-
aIity be relief from the horrors Of the
Spanish prison young Tams is still brave
and loyal TO the cause which he espoused.
Ills latest letter TO his mother. Mrs. NJ.
]. Tams of 23lS Lancaster Avenue, is as
follows:
Lisbon, Portugal, Feb. 2S, 1898.
Dear Mother:
/ am still here and do not know when
! viii leave, and / wish | could receive a
letter from you and hear how you all are:
but l am fixed so I cannot receive any. |
have just heard about the blowing up of
one of our warships in the harbor of
Havana. If il is true. of course that will
mean war, and | will soon either be re-
leased or shot as a rebel. There were five
men shot couple Of days ago that were
captured along with me, so my turn may
come any time and If there is no pros
pect Of being released soon, | would well
come death in any shape, for this con-
fnement and the treatment we receive
IS worse than any death that would
come; ii is something fearful.
The little grub we get TO eat Is not fit
for hogs to eat, and my left arm that is
broken gets attended to about once in two
weeks. The bandage that was put around
ii in Havana has been removed but. once,
and / suffer untold agonies from it. and
my leg is healing nicely, which, as l told
you, was broken along with my arm. Ny
arm will never come straight L am sure.
for there is an angle in it about "a
degrees that ! am sure will never come
back 10 its place any more, so you see |
am pretty well done out. | would not care
/ If / could get out on the field and fight the
devils. l would be willing to take what
comes; but to be cooped up in the hold OF
ship, it is not very nice.
If ] had not been knocked unconscious,
I would never have been captured alive,
for ! swOre the devils would not ever
take me alive to waste away in Spanish
dungeon. / have written TO the American
I minister here, bat / do not know if my
letter was taken TO him or not. If it was
delivered ! will no doubt hear from him
soon and know what Is to become of me
but I have little hopes. as I was taken
prisoner while in action and with arms on
my person, so that counts me a rebel
and / have no claims on the United
States, unless they want to protect their
citizens Of which ] have no hopes. Sc
/ ] guess / win have to take my medicine
/ like a man. l only wish we had another
4 General Jackson; then we could do as we
! wished
! Nothing can be looked for to uphold the
+ honor of our flag. We will neither fight
nor take advice from others. and the
name of Mckinley is a regular by-wort
among the Spanards, and every time II
/ is used it is with curses; also every Other
I American. and our flag Is not considered
as good as a rag in their eyes, and when
! ever II is seen it is torn TO pieces. Well
| ] will now have to close. for | have Il
take my chances to get this off Hoping
TO see you all in short time, | send Low,
TO all. From your son,
WILL II. TAMS.