The Meeker herald., 1898-08-27
PRISONERS AT PORTSMOUTH.
Cervsrs's Men Are Being Taught Several
Important ThingA

I3fVV2A4
Important ThingA.
There has been very little trouble
with the prisoners. Colonel Forney of
the marine corps, who is in command
of the camp, holds police court when
ever necessary, but has seldom been
required to enforce discipline. Occas-
ionally there is quarrel among the
prisoners or case of insubOrdination,
and there is a guard house in which
such men are confined. AS a rule the
prisoners treat the American officers
and the guards with the greatest def
erence and obey orders promptly, but
they do not show the same respect to
their own officers. AS rule they are
not intelligent and only n few of them
have any education. They appear to
have been recruited from the very
lowest classes of Spain, and among
them is large number of conyicts
who were taken aboard the cruiser
Cristobal Colon ut the Canary islands.
The greatest difficulty has been
found In compelling the prisoners to
observe the sanitary regulations and
to cultivate habits of cleanliness. They
are required to wash their clothing
and bathe frequently, Mt least twice n
week, either In the river or in n bath
house that has been provided for
them. When they arrived they Were
positively filthy and We're utterly indif-
ferent to all the laws of hygiene. This
made 1t necessary to frame regula-
tions, which have been energetically
enforced. Now, after an experience of
n month, they are beginning to recog-
nize the advantages of bodily cleanli-
ness and decency. and they may be
able to introduce some North Ameri-
can notions into Spain upon their re-
turn.
Every prisoner has been furnished
with a full outfit of clothing, as com
plete and of the same materials as is
provided for the seamcn of our navy.
Each man has hammock, one blank
ct, hair mattress, one suit of blue
clothing. two suits of white, three
pairs of socks. two suits of under
clothing, two hats and one pair of
shoes. The most of them seem so
keenly to appreciate the value of such
Il wardrobe as to suggest that 1t is II
new experience in their lives.
All of the prisoners are inveterate
gamblers, and when they first arrived
the officers had Il great deal of trouble
from this source, until Colonel Forney
issued an order forbidding all betting
and games of chance. Now when they
are detected violating this regulation
their money is cOntiscated and used as
a fund to purchase stationery and post
age stamps for those who wish to
write letters. Not only would they
play for money stakes, but many gam
bled away the clothing that was issued
to them.
The officers have endeavorcd to keep
up with events of the war and the ne
gotiations for peace, but the sailors
show very little curiosity on the sub
ject. Occasionally one of them asks n
question as to the progress of the war
and repeats the Information he receives
to his comrades, but they are SO well
fed and 80 comfortably housed that
they are perfectly cOntented, and evil
IDENTIFY prefer to remain as the guests
of Uncle Sam. No man thus far has
attempted to escape.
The authorities at Washington have
been endeavoring through the French
ambassador to arrange with the Span
ish government to take them home,
but the ministry at Madrid thus far
has shown no intention or desire to do
so. It costs about $500 a day to feed
them, without considering the expense
Of the hospital and of maintaining
guard of 118 men. Now that the peace
protocol is signed and hostilities are
suspended the efforts to persuade the
Spanish government to arrange for
their return will be renewed.