The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-21
ECHOES OF THE WAR.

eral Shafte- has not notified the war
department. of the disgraceful conduct
of Sylvester Scovel, the New York
World correspondent. who slapped his
face during the ceremonies incident to
the occupation of the governors pal
ace in Santiago and the raising of the
United States flag over the capitu-
lated city, but 1t is believed here that
the dispatch printed in the New York
Herald today is reliable. Mr.. Morri-
son, assistant adjutant general, says
the offense is a most serious one and
that it is punishable by death. Ac-
cording to the reports Scovel was ar
rested and is now in custody. The
method of procedure is the appoint
ment of a military court by General
Shafter. This court is composed of
officers who are supposed to be unpre-
JUDGED, but it is hardly possible they
could be free from bias when called
upon to try a case so outrageous,
especially when their commanding Off
Ger had been insulted in such public
manner and under such humiliating
circumstance. According to informa-
tion obtainable here, the American off,
GERS, accompanied by a regiment of
regulars entered the city of Santiago
with the vanquished Toral and his
staff and took possession of the pal
ace the seat of municipal government.
There was much pomp and display,
both fitting to the occasion, and at
sharp noon, Captain McKittrick, Lieu
tenant Wheeler and Lieutenant Miley
ascended to the cupola to unfurl the
American flag. ScOvel, in a very Off
cious manner, attempted to make him
self part Of the commission assigned
to raise Old Glory. The guards forced
him to retire. This so angered him
that he pushed his way through the
crowd to General Skaters side and in
sultingly slapped his face The gem
eral was ignorant of ScovePs treat
ment at the hands of his soldiers, and
was at a loss to know the cause of
his conduct. He ordered the cores
pondent arrested, however and the lat
ter is now said to be in a strongly
protected guard-house. Scovers fate
rests entirely in Skaters hands so
long as he is within his jurisdiction.
The court-martial can sentence Scovel
to be shot, and there is no power on
earth that could save him. Even the
president could hardly interfere, with
out approving Scovers action, so that
the peppery young man may have to
suffer severely for his temper.
William S. Ayars, of Wilkes Barre
fourth engineer of the auxiliary cruis.
er Harvard, writes to his father con-
cerning the battle of July 3, at San.
tiago and the scenes that followed
With reference TO the latter he said
THE Iowa had over 200 prisoners--all
she could accommodate-and We got
over 600 more, who are now here or
the after upper deck. Night before
last they broke their limits and ir
the confusion that followed six were
killed and several wounded. They have
made the second cabin into a sick bay
and went in there after the firing
OF all the terrible sights l ever saw
that was the worst. They had nc
clothes on them when We got them
(most of them) and they had beer
given white duck suits like our men
There was one shot in the shoulder
and in the leg and one sleeve was al
there was of his clothing that was not
literally crimson. There was also
many badly wounded. and burned men
when we got them. for the iron ships
in burning grew very hot and where
the men had been hanging to their
sides they had been horribly burned
in many cases. There were two doctors
among them and we have two and ar
apothecary, besides many of the mer
are trained in rough surgery, so w,
have no lack of means of making them
n
of their officers here as well-hand
some, fine looking men--all of them
who are treated as our own officers
eating in the saloon and having tn,
liberty Of the ship; though of course
not allowed to circulate among thei
| men,"
There are in Camp Alger about 20. 90,
soldiers in eighteen regiments. Located
| among them are thirteen Young Men!
| Christian association tents and work.
| ing FOR them there are thiYty-six sec
retaries, two evGngelists,, and one
| leader of music, touching about 16 ,0OC
of the whole number on the field. Min,
| of the secretaries came from thu
| Springfield school of Christian work
ers. and are paid by a fund RAISED
] within the officers of that institution
ten are sent from and paid by stat,
| or local Young Mems Christian Asso
citation committees. The opportunit.
! for hand TO hand" Christian WORK
among the soldiers in this camp /.
wonderful. Most of the soldiers seen
to appreciate that this is a crisis IL
their lives, and not only do not evad,
| but put themselves in close contac
with Young Christian Association men