The times., 1898-08-10
THEY LIKE THEIR LIFE.
The Spanish Prisoners Are Pleased
With Their Treatment

The Spanish prisoners at Annapolis
have been treated with uniform courtesy.
says an Annapolis correspondent. You
ought to be proud OF your country" said
a Spanish officer to one of our local Offic-
ials, because you have such good peo-
pie" The captives seem to think they
cannot speak too highly of picturesque
America as they call it, One OF them,
roaming about this quaint old town, said:
Il do not know l am a prisoner. ex-
cept l cannot go home. Admiral Ger
vera has favored a large number of per-
sons with his autograph. especilly the
children of American naval officers One
miss asked him for his autograph
which he gave. and then handed her his
pencil, which she now values highly.
Capt. EuIate's autograph has also been
obtained by few persons. Some of the
Spanish officers have taken TO the wheel,
and at times may be seen riding around
the academy grounds. Spanish officers
are teaching naval academy children
Spanish, in return for which the children
are giving them lessons in English.
Capt EuIate is always a prominent
figure pacing up and down the walk He
is fond of children. and has children
around him whenever he sits in the grove
near the Herndon monument. He has lit
tie conpanionship with his feIlow-officers
at least so far as his outdoor life is con-
cerned. His wounds are still sore. and
whenever a friendly hand is land acci-
dentally on his back he jerks cOnvul-
sively with the pain it gives him. on
GERS wives are allowed 10 enter the naval
academy at will, but the children are re-
quired to have a grown person with them
The Spanish officers have now become
so familiar with the residents of An
napoiis that they attract no more than
a passing glance Some look so much
like Americans that they can hardly be
told from them. Whenever they come
into town they usually bring one of their
number to talk English for the rest in
making purchases. Admiral Cervera has
made many purchases and has become
so we'll acquainted that he habitually
speaks to several residents by
name One day he spent an hour In
store reading newspaper None OF
the Spanish officers visit the State House.
This is unusual, for strangers usually
are interested in a building so intimately
connected with the history of the father
of his country. One Spanish officer. how
ever. likes our country so we'll that he
has expressed his intention never TO re-
turn to his own.
The Spanish gold pieces are accepted
by the shopkeepers as readily as if they
were American coin. The prisoners con-
tinue to talk of the fight off Santiago
They say the American missiles
came like hail The Spanish sailors
auartered on the Santee with the Amer
leans sailors hobnob with them as cor
dially as if they were comrades in arms
The Spaniards are splendid mimics-
They fairly talk with their hands.
When one cannot understand their
words their gestures are SO emphatic as
20 carry much of their meaning. The
seaman posses this faculty as much as
the educated officers. One of the sailors
was explaining the difference between
Spanish gunners" he said, do this way"
then made as if to fire without aim,
puff" American gunners do this way -
he continued He. then took deliberate
aim. struck himself in the forehead
threw up his arms and fell back as if
dead.
The sailors. being servants of the Off
GERS. go out only with them. except
with special permission. The officers
seem to be getting merry. Two this
morning were heard singing softly IN
English in the street, after the Ball, -
third whistling an accompaniment
The hardest test of Spanish politeness
comes at the raising of flag TO the
masthead of the academy staff at morn
ing colors' Those of the Spanish off,
GERS who happen TO be present at the
ceremony never fail 20 stand at attention
and salute the flag.