The Portland daily press., 1898-07-12

| marine guard whatever few belongings
he possessed.
1t was pathetic sight from beginning
to end. and such as would bring the tears
to many eyes. The poor wretched
creatures struggled up the hillside, clad
for the most part in rags, some of them
being covered only with the fragrants of
tablecloth or blanket while others had
on portions Of what was once uniform.
When they landed some were SO weak that
they could not stand and laid on the
ground till stretchers we're brought, and
by the aid of their comrades we're carried
to the main road where they were placed
on the grass.
Here the rays of sunshine and the cool
refreshing breezes from across the
Piscataqua seemed to strengthen themsand
most of the exhausted ones were, little
later, able to follow the others to the
place where they were mustered. Many
of the prisoners had wounds that were
still unhealed. The crew Of the Cristobal
Colon were landed in body. They were
better clad and evidently better fed than
the other men, for they bore sem blanoe
of the Spanish sailor in makeup. They
brought ashore with them bagsnlled with
clothing and many articles which go to
make up the outfit Of sailors.
Thirty members of the Colon's crew
were, however, severely wounded and had
to be carried on stretcheIs.
~
wi messed by thousands of people on shore
and in boats and it may be said with all
sincerity that during the two hours occu-
pied with the task not a sneer or jeer
was heard or an act performed which
might have given offense to the poor men.
The most interesting part of the land
ing of the men was the duty performed
by Captain e. Diaz Moreu of the Cristobal
Colon, the once hearty and jovial officer,
the favorite captain of the Spanish navy,
standing on the height of land where the
men came ashore, clad in a tatterod uni
form of white duck trousers and blue
coat, book in hand, the mastering officer
of the Spanish prisoners. His heavy voice
called out the names of the prisoners and
credited each to the vessel of which the
Individual was once member
When the muster.out, as it seemed to
be, was finished, the men were formed in
line and were marched into the temporary
barracks which will serve as prison for
them. Of the number landed, forty have
been taken to the hospital, suffering for
the most part from wounds, while not a
few ara victims of minor ills.
OF the officers, there wers ten, four
lieutenants, three surgeons, two ensigns
and one paymaster, and these through
some misunderstanding over orders from
Washington, were returned to the st.
Louis.
1t is understood tonight, however, that
these same officers will be landed again
tomorrow. OF these officers, two sur
eeons, Acofie Muicry and Cabinet Monso-
sinos of the Colon will be quartered at
the naval hospital and will assist the
regular naval staff III charge of DR.. Henry
Derr. All the petty officers who are with
the prisoners will remain to assist In
maintaining discipline. The line officers
| Will be quartered ut the marine barracks.
1t was an interesting sight to watch
the way in which the Spa ish prisoners
accepted the fortunes Of war, their i1n-
prisonment on Seavey's island. After
breaking ranks they looked about and
saw mattresses and couches, and many
other comforts which had not been their
lot for many years, in the barracks, and