Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-14
PRISONERS At PORTSMOUTH
Over 500 Spaniards Brought on the st.
Louis--Admirai Ccrvcra says lie Has
Been We'll Treated.

Been Well Treated.
Portsmouth, N. H., July 1O.-The auxil-
iary CRUISER ST. Louis with more than 500
Spanish prisoners, arrived in Portsmouth
harbor at $50 o'clock this morning. The
big Liner LETT Guantanamo at + o'clocl,
Tuesday afternoon, July .. and did not
make stop until sho dropped anchor in
Portsmouth harbor. Including the pri-
soners there were ,03G people on the boat
and OF this number there were 81 sick and
wounded Spaniards under the care of sur
geons Admiral Cervcra is confined to h =
cabin, having been quite i'll for the past
three days. although he was able to be
dressed this morning. Capt. Eulate of
the Nizcaya, Is also quite i'll from his
wound IN the head.
Health officer f.. $. Towle went on board
and visited the sick. finding that most of
the sickness was due to wounds received
IN the battle. He saya there is no evil
dence of yellow fever or contag ious
disease.
Al Of the Spanish commiss oned officers
have been on parole and had the freedom
OF the ship with one exception, and he was
tho governor Of Santiago de Cuba who
was trying to escape from the city on Adj
miral Cerveras flagship when she was
destroyed on that memorable morning of
July ). He refused to sign the parole pa =
pers and was consequently confined in one
OF the cabins under guard. The remain
der OF the prisoners were confined he
tween decks and closely guarded. A de-
tachmcnt Of ~ marines from the L. 5. ).
Brooklyn under Lieut. Borden and q ma
rlnes from the L. S. S. Msrbleheld were
put aboard the St. Louis when she left
Guantanamo for the north to guard the
prisoners but they had little or no trouble
with the men.
The prisoners, as well MS nearly all the
Spanish officers, are dressed in clothes of
every description. as most Of them had
come aboard with very little clothing AMI
what they are wearing was given them by
the officers and men from the American
fleet.
Admiral CerVera remained i'm his cabin
or the starhoard side during the trir.
Health Officer Towlc visited him and was
warmly greeted He shook hands with
the health officer and in good English said
ne was situated very pleasantly on the
beat and had received nothing but the
kindest and most considcrate treatment
from both officers and men ever since ne
had been taken prisoner. He presents the
appearance of a broken hearted man and
keenly feels the loss of his feet, contain
ing the pick of the Spanish navy.
The crew of the st. Louis have had
nothing to DO with the prisoners since
away from them as possible. There ara
number of Spanish surgeons on board
who have taken good care Of the sick and
wounded prisoners. There are about n
of the latter, the remainder being III from
the effects of exposure ana shock during
the battle. No one Is allowed on board
the prison ship and none of the officers
or crew is allowed ashore.
At 1850 the first officer from the st.
Louis, Ensign Paine, arrived at the navy
yard to officially notify Admiral Carpen-
ter Of the arrival of the vessel Admiral
Carpenter has perfected the arrangements
to land the prisoners at their quarters on
Seavey's Island tomorrow afternoon.
CERVERAS STATEMENT.
Admiral Cervera came on deck late this
afternoon and consented to talk with the
representative of the Associated Press
who came out to the ST. Louis on a tug
You ask me-" he said how / like Am
erica, and | answer you that l have al
ways liked and | may say loved your
people but this war has been my duty
and the men under me- knew that the
American fleet clearly outclassed us, but
1t was question of lighting either inside
or outside the harbor. | have many
friends in America and have only the
kindliest feelings for them. but every man
has duty to perform to his country and
There has been much feeling IN Spain
and | want all Spain to know the truth
that every ship of my squadron fought
until the last, and when we could DO nc
more we surrendered. | have much
interest to know the exact situation ir
Spain, Capt. Goodrich has treated us al
as well as any one could possibly be treat.
ed, My officers have occupied quarters In
the saloon and we can not complain"
\ telegram was taken out to Admral
Ccrvcra at half past ten o'clock tonight
Nothing is known as to the sender or pur.
port of the despatch.
QUARTERS AT ANNAPOLIS READY
Annapolis, July 10.-Capt. p. II, Cooper
superintendent of tho Naval Academy, has
completed his preparations for the care
of the 80 Spanish officers, including Ad,
mral Corvera, recently captured ON San
tiagC. He announced to-day that he OK
pectcd the arrival of 40 OF the prisoners