The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-13
MAJ EvD IN 4 ooUHr.MAnr1AL,
Spain Asked De 20 Investigate the killing OF
Prisoners on the Harvard.

Prisoners on the Harvard.
wAsHINoToN, Sept. 12.-At the request Of
the Spanish Government. made through the
French Embassy. the Wal Department hs
begun an investigation OF the tragedy aboard
the United States auxiliary cruiser Harvard
by which q number Of the captive sailors from
Cervern's ships lost their lives. Tho prison
ers we're under guard OF volunteers on the Har-
ward on the night Of July 4 of Santiago when
the affair occurred. Tho Ninth Massachusetts,
and part OF thesThirty- fourth Michigan reRi-
ments had Just arrived of Santiago on the
Harvard. Some OF the volunteers were de-
tailed TO watch the Spaniards. and in the be-
lief that the prisoners had mutiuied the
guards fired into the ranks OF the captives.
Several were killed and others were wounded.
The investigation. which is now In progress,
may result In q court-martial. Lieut.. Col. e.
8. Dudley. Assistant Judge Advocate General
Of Volunteers. is now ut Portsmouth. N. H..
where he has taken testimony from United
States marines and Spanish prisoners who
Witnessed the affair. According to the under
standing In Official circles here the Spanish
Government wants to make It appear that the
prisoners were shot without cause. None Of
the army and navy officers asked about the
affair to-day had ever heard Of any claim for
indemnity by one nation against 2 patton with
Neither the Navy Department nor the War
was responsible for the killing Of the Span
iards. At the time the affair happened. the
SS eTyer Pe % InTsssir SRs the FsG srssedy ~ % 4 tSat he
could make a report to his Government on his
ret to Spain; This z re9nest, It was said to- to-
the case remained unsettled until, the French
Embessy renewed the request in behalf OF the
ment. asked the War Department whether It
an AZ lRRSf %IlIis4S s; X taS EsF a RsSaFtaassPP; e f lSlFsf
$SsasSS; d t%Si ss,ss r sIsdifIRf e t sSs Killing {Hn h sent
Massachusetts. and Michigan, asking them e
the spaniards on The Harvard when the shoot
Ing occurred, Capt, Cotto1 of the Harvard. In
duty Fe se tSe f sTme. ts Bat 4 RshIS as Seen R asser TsTf that at
the guards were from the Massachusetts, reRi-
Capt. Cotton's report. now in the possession
OF. the War Department, says that the affair
might have been avoided. but he does. not
According. to his version some Of the Span
iards had been sleeping on q deckhouse Of the
TTSseesseer men 10 st SPtedd tn sne eiim nGa on 1t tRe% d iecGiSHSsR;
and were warned of by the sentinel.
Not understanding. or pretending, not, to
come forward. The sentinel then ran toward
them with his bayonet advanced. He was at
cries. fired into. the prisoners. killing and
wounding q number ofthem.
Another report says hat. the sentinels had
been strictly enjoined not to allow any Of the
prisoners to climb on the deckhouse. BECAUSE
In carrying out HIS orders n sentinel was as
saulted and 1t was necessary to fire into the
Spaniards, who were swarming oyer the deck
tiny. The Spanish defence is that the prison
ers thought the ship was on fire and they
flames.
There is some feeling over the matter in or
to believe that the War Department was remiss
IN. not making an investigation when request
ed the first time and thus creating an impress
afford TO have the true story told.