The Portland daily press., 1898-09-05


say, 'Buenos Americanos,' (Good Ameri-
cans.) Az fast as we got them fixsd up
We would put on clean working clothes,
give them something to eat and then
stow them away.
1.-The Spanish fleet surgeon was among
the wounded. He had an injured foot
and was considerably bruised. He seemed
very intelligent, but could not get him
to assist US in the care of the prisoners. L
guess he was hurt more than we gave
him credit of bcing, for have since
learned that he died shortly afterward.
Eve were ably assisted by two Spanish
medical men, an assistant surgeon and a
pharmacy man, the equivalent OF what
used to be called the surgeons mate.
They worked faithfully and tirelessly
and were a great help to us in caring
for the sick aud wounded.
"The next morning they all seemed to
be getting along comfortably-so comfor-
tably, in fact, that some of them were
playing practical jokes on one another
The well ones among the prisoners began
their joking in few hours after they
became satisfied that we did not intend to
punish them.
lone case was particularly funny. A
Cuban who had volunteered in the Span.
ish navy at Santiago took his capture
very much at heart. About five hours af-
ter he came on board he dropped on his
hands and knees and began a moaning
and wailing that was piueous in the ex-
treme. went to him, thinking he must
be in great pain, and I tried to find out
What the matter was with him, but he
only sobbed and screamed the louder. 1
examined him and found that he had no
wounds. One of the Spanish officers
came up to him, and after minutes
conversation began to kick the prostrate
fellow. This seemed to me to be rather
harsh treatment, and was curious to
see what would be tie outcome. The
Cuban got up and went off after receiving
the kicking. I ascertained that some of
the Spanish prisoners had frightened him
by telling him that as he was Cuban
We would
CUT OFF HIS EARS
and otherwise torture him, and then hand
him over to the Cuban insurgents and
they would finish him. That was the sole
cause of his grief. suggested to the
Spanish officer that he administer kick
ing to his mon who had frightened the
Cuban, and he proceeded to follow out
my suggestion.
GHOST of the sick ones among the pris-
oners were suffering from malaria and
dysentery. They were not emaciated.
Many Of them over ate when we dealt out
rations to them, and were taken sick dur
ing the night. They had been long
time without meat or bread, but had
plenty of rice, sweet potatoes and canned
vegetables. They also seemed to have had
plenty of money. Most of those who
were captured with their clothes on had
money in their pockets. Some had gold
pieces and many Spanish banknotes.
"On one of the Spanish ships the crew
had attacked the paymaster, cut his throat
and looted his apartments. The pay
master of the Colon threw open the vaults
in his apartments during the battle, and
allowed the men to help themselves. Ad
miral Cervera and his son, a bright youth
who spoke good English, were among the
prisoners brought aboard the Iowa.
Young Cervera had quite supply Of
coin. gave him S. in American money
for 25-peseta gold piece, which I
brought home as q pocket piece. He
traded several of these pieces with the
officers of the Iowa.
"We were planning to have Fourth
of July smoker on the Iowa, and had
saved up little champagne and beer for
the crew share the occasion with us. But
this encounter with Cervera's fleet
changed our plans. When the Spanish
prisoners were brought aboard officers
were ordered below and the Spaniards
with our champagne and beer, drank to
our health. Thus vanished our smoker ;
| "We had our Spanish visitors with US
only "a hours. Then the sick and wound
ed were transferred to our ambulance
ship, the Solace, and the others were
taken aboard the transport Harvard. They
all seemed contented."
IdE dOSPlIAL AL Sol6ONh4.
DR.. Simons, accompanied by two sur
geons from the battleship New York, had
been putting in day in the army hos
pital at Siboney when the Santiago fight
took place. Asked about the conditions
there, he replied: "We found plenty of
medicines and dressings, but not enough
surgeons or enough to eat There were
only three army surgeons on duty there,
and they had been working steadily with
out sleep for 4S hours. We took temporary
charge and gave them long rest. There
were about $50 men in the hospital when
we arrived. and all that night they were
coming in from El Caney in all condi-
tions. Fully 100 were added to the hos
pital roll during the short time we re-