The western recorder., 1898-07-14
PRISONERS OF WAR
.ouchInr Scenes witae.sed at Portsmouth
Wheo c~rv<rn.s Men Were Landed


rouchInr Scenes Witnessed at Portsmouth,
whea Csrvsrs's Men Were Landed
Portsmouth. y. H.. July 11.-The
Spanish prisoners, who were brought
10 mort In the auxiliary cruiser st.
Louis from Santiago. numbering G92
of the men who formed parT of the
crew of Admiral Cervera's squadron.
are tonight sleeping peacefully and
in comparative comfort In the new bar
racks erected for them on Seavey's Is
land. Around them Is n guard OF IL
marines
The work of debarkation was ac-
complished In Just two hours under the
direction Of Colonel Ferney. The pris-
oners were marched to the highest
part of the island. where. on plot OF
ground, each man deposited under the
eyes of the marine guard whatever be-
longings he possessed.
II was n pathetic sight from begin
ming 10 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 with the
fragments of n tableclotb or a blanket.
while others had on portions of what
was once a uniform.
The unloading of the crowd was
Witnessed by thousands OF people on
shore and In boats, and II may be said
with all sincerity that during the two
hours occupied with the task not a
sneer or jecr was heard, nor an act
performed which might have given Of
fense TO the prisoners.
When the muster-out. as II seemed to
he, was finished. the men were formed
in line and marched into the temporary
barracks. which will serve as n prison
for them.
or the number landed, forty have
been tnkcn to the hospital suffering
for the most part from wounds, while
not few have minor ills.
1t was an Interesting sight to watch
the way in which the Spanish prison
ers accepted the fortunes Of war. Az
ter breaking ranks, they looked about
and saw mattresses and couches and
many other comforts which had not
been their lot for many years In the
barracks, and as they looked them over
they appeared to accept the situation
with much cheerfulness. They walked
around with what appeared to be n
dignlfied air. and seemed to grow hap
py rs appeiizlng odors We're waited 10
One of the most touching incidents
of the day was the farewell Captain L.
Diaz Mora of the Cristobal Colon took
Of his crew just before he went back
10 the st. Louis. Few who saw the
tenderness with which he walked
down the line and affectionately EN-
braced each seaman as IL he was his
son, could refrain from tenrs.
When the muster had been com
pleted Captain Moru turned to Colonel
Forncy of the American marine corps
and asked permission to say n few
parting words to his men. The request
was readily granted. hut Captain
Moru. instead of making formal and
eloquent address to the line. walked
up to the man at the head of 1t. and.
taking him warmly by the hand. ten
derly kissed the grim sailor on the
cheek. When the men saw the action
of the commander they wept as If
their hearts would break. and MS the
captain walked down the line. shaking
each by the hand. and kissing each
sun-burncd cheek, each man threw his
arms around his commanders neck
and gave him most hearty embrace
As Captain Moru came to the Colon's
marine guard, the captain orderly. in
an outburst of grief, sprang from the
ranks and threw his arms about his
captains neck like child.
When. finally, The captain reached
the end of the long line. he turned, and
In n voice shaking with emotion, said
n few words of farewell to the crew
as whole. As he finished the half
clad men surrounded him. grasping his
arms api legs, all trying for one last
embrace.
Ti:s grassy banks of the rock-bouud
prison island faces the entrance of the
harbor. The island has an area of
about 100 acres. and is just across the
channel from Fort Constitution. About
five acres OF this comprise the prison
yard of the captivcs. The space will
he enclosed with fence eight feet In
height. Outside this fence, seven feet
from 1t. barbed wire fence is to be
constructed. besides which these SEN
tries will be placed. At commanding
points platforms have been construct
ed. thus making an attempt TO escape
a most hazardous proceeding.