The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-12
A PATHETIC SIGHT
Spanish Prisoners Landed at
Seavy's Island.
THEY WERE CLAD IN RAGS
Not a Single Jeer From the Crow d
Which Witnessed the Dsbarkation.
How the Spanish Officers Ac-
cept the Fortunes OF War.

to port in the steamer st. Louis from
Santiago, numbering 692 of the men
who formed part of the crew of Ad-
miral Cervera's squadron, are Tonight
sleeping peacefully and in comparative
comfort In the new barracks erected for
them on Seavy's island. Around them
is a guard of lbs marines.
The work of d~ebarkation was accom-
plished in Just two hours under the
direction of General Ferney. The pris-
oners were marched to the highest part
of the sland, where, on a plot of ground
each man deposited, under the eyes of
the marine guard, whatever belong
ings he had. 1t was a pathetic sight
from beginning 10 end. and such as
would bring tears to many eyes. The
poor, wretched creatures struggled up
the hillside, clad for the most part in
rags, some of the men being covered
only with the fragments of a table
| cloth or a blanket. while others had on
portions OF what was once a uniform.
When the men landed. some of them
were so weak that they could not stand,
and lay on the ground until stretchers
were brought and were carried by their
comrades to the main road, where they
were placed on the grass.
Here the rays of the sunshine and the
cool, refreshing breezes from across the
P~iscataquis seemed to strengthen them
and most of them were later able to fol-
low the others to the place where they
were mustered. Many of the prisoners
had rounds that were still unhealed.
and their heads and arms showed the
effects of the terrible battle in which
they had fought. The crew of the Girls
tobal Colon were n in a body. They
were better clad and evidently better
fed than the other men, for they bore
a semblance of the Spanish sailor in
makeup. They brought ashore with
them bags filled with clothing. Thirty
members of the Colon's crew were, how
ever, severely wounded. and had to be
carried on stretchers.
The unloading of the crowd was wit
messed by thousands of people on shore
and in boats, and II may be said with
all sincerity that during the two hours
occupied with the task not a sheer or
a jeer was heard, nor an act performed
which might have given offense to the
prisoners.
The most interesting part of the land
ing of the men was the duty performed
by Captain Moru of the Colon, the once
hearty and jovial officer, the favorite
l captain of the Spanish navy. standing
on the height of and where the men
came ashore. clad in a tattered uni
form of white duel trousers and blue
coat. book in hand, the mastering Of
ficer of the Spanish prisoners. His
+, heavy voice called out the names Of
; the prisoners and credited each to the
, vessel to which the Individual was once
, a member When the muster-out, as
: Ii seemed to be, was finished. the men
were formed in line and marched into
temporary barracks, which will serve
as a prison for them
$ OF the number landed 40 have been
: taken to the hospital suffering from
wounds, while not a few have minor
ills. Among the officers wounded were
10 fourth lieutenants, two ensigns and
one paymaster, and these, through
some misunderstanding Of orders from
d Washington, were returned TO the 81.
Louis. 1t is understood tonight, how
: ever, that the same officers VIII be
landed again tomorrow.
: The line officers will be quartered Al
the marine quarters. 1t was an in
teresting sight to- watch the way the
Spanish officers accepted the misfor
tunes of war. After breaking rank
q they looked about and saw mattresses
and couches and many other comforts
,r which had not been their lot for man.
s. years I'm the barracks. and as the!
n looked them over they appeared to &C
lie cent the situation with much cheerful
t. ness. They walked u with wha
J. appeared to be a digniied air, AM
seemed to grow happy as appetizinI
rs odors were waited TO tnem from IN
j. large kitchen.
la one of the most touching incident
Of of the day was the farewell Captain I
Diaz Morou OF the Cristobal Colon too
A of his crew Just before he went bac
ct TO the st. Louis. Few who saw IN
tenderness with which ne walked oow
the line and a~ffectionately embrace
each seaman as IL he was his SON coul
NJ refrain from tears. When the music
r. had been completed Captain Moro
M turned to Colonel Fsrney OF the Amer
car corps ana asked permission to sa
ut a few parting words TO MS men. ct
:. request was readily granted. but Cal
tain Morou, instead of making a fol
- NAL and eloquent address to the I'm
" walked IN to the man at the head OF
W and. taking him warmly by the nan.
tenderly kissed the grim sailor on u
cheek. =,
en- commander they wept as IL their hear
no would break. and as the captain wake
no down the line. shaking the mana al
Ut kissing each sunburned cheek, each ma
lot threw his arms around his commah
IN er's neck and gave him a most near
IN embrace. AS Captain Morou came
Dr. the Colon's marine guard. the captain
orderly. in an outburst OF grief. sprai
from the ranks and threw his arr
about his captains neck like a Gnu
When finally the captain reached I
hit end Of the long line, he turned ana,
a voice shaking with emotion, said
TT few words of farewell TO the crew as
in whole. AS ne finished the half-clad m
in surrounded him, grasping his arms a
'as legs and trying for one last embrace
he The grassy banks of the rockoou
at prison island face the entrance OF I
led harhor. The island has an area or abe
re. 100 acres. and is just across the han
ere from Fort Constitution. About hve aci
ng, of this comprise the prison yard or {
iy captives.
OF The space will be enclosed win
knnce airht feet in height. Outside q