The evening times., 1898-03-17
FROM A SPANISH PRISON.
a Philadelphian Who Espoused Gu
ba's Cause, Writes Home.

Philadelphia, March l7,-About three
months ago Win II. 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 SpaEiards who car
ried him to Lisbon and thrust him into n
prison ship, with number of other
Americans, including five Philadelphiaas
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-
ality be a relief from the horrors of the
Spanish prison. young Tams is still brave
and loyal to the cause which he espoused.
His latest letter to his mother, Mrs. NJ.
]. Tams, of 33iS Lancaster Avenue, is as
follows:
Lisbon, Portugal, Feb. 2S 1898.
Dear Mother:
/ am still here and do not know when
I will leave and | wish | could receive a
letter from you and hear how you all are /;
but | am fixed so l. cannot receive any. /
have just heard about the blowing up of
one of our warships in the harbor of
Havana. If ii 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 a 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-
inement and the treatment we receive
is worse than any death that would
come; 1t 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
IL in Havana has been removed but once,
and / suffer untold agonies from 1t. and
my leg is healing nicely. which, as ! told
you, was broken along with my arm. Ny
arm will never come straight, / am sure,
for there is an angle in IL about %
degrees that | am sure will never come
back to 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 / would be willing to take what
comes; but to be cooped up in the hold of
a ship, IL is not very nice.
If | had not been knocked unconscious,
] would never have been captured alive,
for / swore the devils would not ever
take me alive to waste away in a Spanish
dungeon. | have written TO the American
minister here, but | do not know II my
letter was taken to him or not. If il was
delievered | will no doubt hear from him
soon and know what is TO become of me /;
but | have little hopes. as ] was taken
prisoner while i'm action and with arms on
my person. so that counts me a rebel
and j have no claims on the United
States, unless they want TO protect their
citizens. of which ! have no hopes. So
| guess | will have TO take my medicine
like man. | only wish we had another
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-wOrd
among the Spaniards, and every time IL
is used it is with curses; also every other
American, and our flag is not considered
as good as "A rag in their eyes, and when
ever il is seen il is torn to pieces. Well,
| viii now have to close, for | have to
take my chances to get this of. Hoping
to see you all in a short time, / send love
to all. From your son.
WILL II. TAMS.