Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-12
Disc NJ BARK ED.
Spanish Prisoners Housed in Their
Temporary Quar- ers at Portsmouth.
Some Sad and Affecting Scenes.

Portsmouth, N. H., July 1.-THE
Spanish prisoners, who were brought
to this port in the auxiliary cruiser ST.
Louis from Santiago. numbering COZ of
the men who formed part of the crew OF
Adimarl Cervera's squadron, are to-
night sleeping peacefully and in COM
parative comfort in the new barracks
erected for them ON Seaveys island.
Around them is a guard of 125 marines.
The work Of debarkation was accom-
plished in just two hours under the di-
rection of Col. Ferney.
1t was a pathetic sight from begin
ming to end and such as would bring
tears to many eyes. The poor, wretch
ed creatures struggled up the hillside
clad for the most part in rags, some Of
the men being covered only with the
fragments of a tablecloth or 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 laid 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 sun
shine and the cool, refreshing breezes
from across the Piscataqua seemed to
strengthen them, and most of the ex-
hausted ones were little later able to
follow the others to the place where
they were mustered
Many of the prisoners had wounds
that were still unhealed and their heads
and arms showed the effects of the ter
rIble battle in which they fought.
The unloading of the motley crew
was witnessed by thousands of people
on shore and in boats, and it may be
said that during the two hours occu-
pied with the task not a sheer or a jeer
was heard nor an act which might
have given offense to the prisoners.
When the muster out, as it seemed
to be, was finished, the men were
formed in line and marched into the
temporary barracks which will serve
as prison for them.
Of the number landed forty have
been taken to the hospital, suffering
for the most part from wounds, while
not few are victims of minor ills
The line officers will be CHARTERED
at the marine barracks
One of the most touching events of
the day was the farewell Captain E.
Diax Morou, of the Cristobal Colon,
took of his crew just before he went
back to the st. Louis.
Few who saw the tenderness with
which he walked down the line and
affectionately embraced each seaman
as if he was his son, could refrain
from tears. Captain Morou assisted
Col. Forney, of the marine corps, in
his labors as mastering officer. This
work took time, as each mans name
and description had to be recorded,
but at last it was over and then Cap
tain Morou turned to the American
officer and asked permission TO say
few parting words to his men. Inc
request was readily granted, but capt.
Morou, instead of making a formal and
eloquent address to the long line, walk
ed up to the man at the head OF 1t, ana
taking him warmly by the hand, Ten
derby kissed the grim sailor on the
cheek. When the men saw the action
of the commander, they wept as II
their hearts would break, and as the
captain walked down the line shaking
each by the hand and kissing each
sun-burned cheek, each man threw
his arms around his commanders
neck and gave HIM most hearty en-
brace.