Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-12
SPANISH PRISONERS.
ORR CAPTIvEs At PORTSMOUTH
H. H. COMFORTABLE.
THEY Arb 4 WRETCHED BODY.
Most of Them Are Clad I'm Rags
Many Are wounded--strikingF Farce
well to His Men Of u Favorite Csp-
tain.

PORTSMOUTH, N. H., July 1.-The
Spanish prisoners who were brought "a
this port in the auxiliary cruiser 81. Louis
from Santiago, numbering 6s2 OF the meN
who formed part OF the crew Of Admiral
Cerveras squadron, are tonight sleepin&
peacefully and In comparative comfort liz
the new barracks erected for them ou
Seaveys Island. Around them Is a guaro
OF 125 marines. the pick Of the corps %
the marine barracks on the Atlantic coast
1t was pathetic sight from beginning
to end, and such as would bring tears 10
many eyes. The poor. wretched. creature4
struggled up the hillside. clad for the mose
part in rags, some of the men being covers
ed only with the fragments of O tables
cloth or a blanket. while others had CO
portions OF what was once a uniform.
When the. men landed some OF then1f
were SO weak that they could not stand
and lay on the ground until stretchers4i
were brought, when, by the aid OF theiqs
comrades, they were carried TO the main
road, where they were placed on the
grass. Many Of the prisoners had wounds
that were unhealed. and their heads anti
arms showed the effects OF the terrible
battle in which they fought.
The crew of the Cfistobal Colon wer&
landed In O body. They were better cladi
and evidently fed than the other mem
for they bore q resemblance TO q Spanist4
sailor in their makeup. Thirty members
OF the Colon's crew were, however. 50
verely wounded and had To DO carried 90
stretchers-
NO WORD TO GIVE OFFENCE.
The unloading OF the motley crowd waa
witnessed by thousands OF people on shore
and in boats, and Il may be said with al
sincerity that during the two hours Occur
pied In the task not sneer nor JeeD
was heard, nor an act Performed which
might have given offence to the mon.
The most interesting part OF the landS
ing Of the men was the duty performed
by Captain T.. Diaz Moreu, OF the Cr3st14
bal Colon, once hearty and tovial on
Ger, the favorite captain OF tho Spanish
navy standing on a height near whore
the men came ashore. clad In . tattered
uniform OF white duck trousers and blue
coat, book IN hand. the mastering of,cse
Of the Spanish prisoners. His heavy voico
called out the names OF the bris0nerA
and credited each to the vessel TO whic0
the individual once belonged. When ths
rnuster-out, as II seemed TO be, was flns
ished, the men were formed In line ane
marched into the temporary barrackA
which will serve as a 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.
TOUCHING INCIDENT.
One of the most touching incidents 81
the day was thu farewell Captain Aoreu
took of his crew before he went back "
the ST. Louis. Few who saw the tender
ness with which the former bix-hearted
and jovial commander walked down the
line and afrecticnately embraced each
seaman as III he was his only son could
refrain from tears
Captain Moreu turned 10 the Amerieau
officers and asked permission TO say =
few parting words 10 his men. The re-
Quest was readily granted. but Captain
Moreu. instead OF making an axecticnate
and eloquent address TO the men, walked
up TO the line. took sailor by the hand,
and kissed his grim check. When the
men saw their commanders action they
wept as the Captain weat down tho hneS
grasplna each hand and kissing eaca
man on the check.
When he reached the END OF the inno
line ne turned. and. In q shaking voice.
said o few words Of farewell 10 The ere0
as q whole. As he finished. the hs1S-oiao
men surrounded him. grasping hiS erm@
and legs. all trying to take : Isl -
trace.