The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-22
AWFUL STORY OF SUFFERING.
CONDITIONS OF SPANISH
CAMP AT SANTIAGO.

Poor, Emaciated. Death-Lfke Sol
dierS Drift in to BOARD Transports.
Disease and Negligence Make the
Camp OF Spanish Prisoners Veri-
table HeII-NO Medicines and No
Attendants in the SO-Cnlled HOspi.
taIs-Tears Dim Americans Eyes
as They Behold the SickeninG
Professions as They Drought in
the Sick ON Litters.
Cores ondence of the Associated Press.
Santiago de Cuba. Aug. 19.-Since the
surrender of Santiago one thing has been
uppermost in our minds, namely, the
health and condition of the brave Ameri-
can soldiers who fought and were vietori-
GUS And this was very proper, the men
certainly deserve whatever could be done
for them upon this score.
In consequence Of protest from COM
manding officers the orders from Wash
ington as to the disposition Of the army
were changed, and our troops are embark
ing daily for the health giving breezes Of
the North.
To-day the first of our Spanish prison
ers We're put on board the transports we
have hired TO take them home. Ten thou
sand of these men have been in camp for
more than three weeks, just outside Of the
city limits. They were much nearer to
the palace than out own men. They were
our prisoners and we one and all avoided
the roads that led near their camps be-
cause of the vile odors that arose there
from.
To-day, as the Spaniards passed through
the city on the way 10 the docks, we saw
sights that brought tears to the eyes of
men who are not readily moved to tears.
Down on the dock in a narrow strip
of shade, from a warehouse, some 200
Spanish soldiers waited orders to move
onto the lighter which would convey them
to the much talked of Spanish hospital
ship Alicante. These men were thin and
of a sickly panor, hollow-cheel1ed and
weak.
I'VE are the well men who have brought
the sick into town on litters," they ex-
planned.
Down on the wharf, being loaded on the
steam lighter Bessie. We're long lines of
Faces that looked deathhead, every line
of the skull marked on the yellow skin,
protruding teeth over the lips which would
not close. one man grasped in a claw
that had crushed them, three American
hard tack. Others had food hidden I'M
der their scant covering. Their weight
was as nothing, yet four well men stag
gered under the burden of one stretcher.
Down the city streets came other pro
cessionS of stretchers. Vauquished and
sick, weak, pitiful moaning. staggering,
they drifted into town all day long When
the city surrendered the prospective re-
turn to Spain brought joy to many hearts,
the fulfillment of the promise was sad.
Ten American ambulances have been de-
tailed to help carry in those unable to
walk, and we have erected tents on the
dock where the sick can wait until the
lighter is ready for them.
1T was not camp out there" said
a Spanish officer sit was a graveyard
Between 200 and 300 went into the hospital
daily. Hospital? It was not hospital
there were no medicines, there were 10
attendants. Forty are dying every day
and the trenches are full of the dead
We have saved you many a 800 for pas
sage money to Spain. That camp has
been nearer hell than anything in the
war. There are 5000 out there yet, only
a thousand came IN to-day, put they won
last long. Dysentery-camp dysentery
we call it, and it is worse than the pla-
gue-is carrying them off"
A white haired officer with stars and
bands on his sleeve but so thin and weak
and pale that he looked more like skele-
ton than a man, walked down the wharf,
supported by his wife, who was as much
in need of support as he was himself
over loose board they both tripped and
fell. There are two young children in the
party who cried almost continuously.
Finally they all got on board; the woman
to spend ten days on a filthy, horrible
troop ship. There are many women going
thus-wives of officers who cannot pay for
a passage. These Spanish troopships bid
fair to rival old time slavers in the misery
and suffering that will be confined within
their sides on the voyage back to Spain.
Our own soldiers were sick, but the
condition of the Spaniards is so many
times worse that our men seem strong and
healthy compared to them. The Spaniards
were not in this condition when they NOV
ed to their death camp three weeks ago.
zEVTIlRIAM SAUVS