Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-15
Admiral Grateful Over Span
ish Prisoners Treatment.
He Pays Visit to His Sailors Camped
at Seavy's Island.
Advises Them to Do Their Duty and Not DIS
grace Their Country.

day, to visit the sailors of his fleet
held at Scavcy's island as prisoners OF
war, and to inspect the quarters in
which the well and sick were confined,
must have been little astonished at
several things which occurred here and
on his way through New England.
So far as the reception which was
given to him in this old city goes, the
Spanish admiral might have been the
leader of a victorious American army
or the hero of some extraordinary act
of bravery to the glory of American
arms. Upon the arrival of the train
about IL there was crowd of from
1900 to 1000 waiting to welcome Ger
vera. Three cheers for Admiral Ger
vera!" shouted someone in the crowd,
and the response was prompt and full.
Another thing that probably sur
prised the admiral was The honors
with which he was received at the
navy yard. He was escorted to Ad
miral Carpenters private carriage and
conveyed to the launch and thence to
the government landing at the navy
yard. Here he was met by Admiral
Carpenter, the commandment, and at
the headquarters the marine guard,
under command of Capt. keiton and
Lieut.. Hatch, We're drawn up in line
and the military salute for an admiral
was given. The same distinguished
official consideration was shown the
admiral during the whole time he was
on the island.
The prison camp on Seavcy's island
Is about mile from the commandments
headquarters, and Admiral Cervera
obi in tol
to the stockade. Here The admiral was
treated to the greatest surprise of the
day probably. AT any rate he express
ed himself to Admiral Carpenter after
the inspection as extremely grateful
for the kind treatment which had been
accorded the prisoners.
The admiral found his old sailors
clothed, clearly housed and Well fed.
Indeed he arrived just before the dim
ner hour and so had an opportunity to
see the 1900 odd prisoners file up to the
mess for their rations. The food was
served in an open space between the
quarters of the prisoners and a tenn
porary pavilion which answered the
purpose of a mess room. After re-
ceiving their rations it was but ster
step to the pavilion, and there on long
ing their pea soup and hard tack with
! relish that indicated excellent appe-
ties.
At the stockade Cervera was met by
Col. James Forney, L. S. NJ. c., in
charge of the prisoners, who had been
drawn up in line to meet their old
commander. There was quite a little
party within the stockade who wit
nil ba -jGit
party of women. friends of Col. For
ney, made themselves comfortable on
grassy knoll and watched the ad-
miraI as he passed along the lines with
his head uncovered, glancing to the
right and left at his men. Later these
same women tested the bareback, a
part of the regular bill of fare of the
prisoners.
After passing through the lines the
admiral visited the quarters assigned
to the Spanish officers, and sat AT
their mess for few moments.
The Spanish sailors in the stcckadt
are a very different looking lot than
they were when first brought to the IS
land They look strong and well. They
are decenty clothed, and every mar
has pair of shoes and two pairs OF
seen barefooted or with shoes on sim
ply. but these instances are very rar'
and occur only in cases where is some
thing the matter with the feet.
Admiral Cervera made a brief ad-
dress to the prisoners, in which he
said he was glad to see his men agar
and to see them so pleasantly situated
He hoped that they would, while pris-
oners, conduct themselves in such {
manner as would not reflect any dis
credit upon .opain. He also referred
the fact that peace was at hand ant
that they would all soon return l.
Spain.
After lunching with Admiral Carpenter
the Spanish commander visited the ma
rne hospital, where the sick Spaniard;
are located. As the stocky form of thu
admiral came into view. Medical Directo
Parsons, clad in spotlcss white. acting a
escort the faces of the almost GONZALES
cent patients pressed closer to the screen
at the windows. The visit here was an
ticipated and the sick prisoners all kney
about what time to expect the admira
Earlier in the day they were told to pre-
pare for his coming and it was told il
this connection that the inmates of tn
marine hospital did not show any par
ticuar enthusiasm or demonstrate an
particular desire to receive the admira
However, Ccrvera came to the marin
hospital, passed through the differer
wards, speaking word here and Their
to patient. He next visited the tw
temporary annexes, especially built ia
the reception of patients.
AT the conclusion of the inspection, Al
miral Ccrvera came out on the lawn, an
beckoncd the Spanish prisoners who ha
been detailed as nurses and cooks. Wit
barred head, he addressed them much
the same strain in which he mad spoke
at the camp. He told them that he ha
good reports of their conduct from til
surgeons in charge, and he hoped the
would work and do their duty the sam
as though he We're still their commando
lie referred to the fact that the war W.
over, and said that they who were :
nobiy doing their duty in the care ,
Spain's sick and wounded would evs,+,
ally be cared for themselves in Snaip
Admiral Cervera is grateful. A 5ov,
times, today after his visit he EXPRESS,
his gratitude on the way in which +,