Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-08-27
DISEASE and DEATH.
story Of Fearful Suffering in the
Spanish Camp.
soldiers Died Like Doss-Brave Men
Who Went Down Before Disease.
The Wen Mcn Looked Like
So Many Skeletons.
Correspondence Of the Associated Prcss)

So Many skeletons.
Correspondence OF the Associated Prcss.)
SANTIAGO DE CuBA, Aug. 9.-Since the
surrender of Santiago one thing has
been uppcrmost in our minds, namely,
.hc health and condition of the brave
soldiers who fought and were vic
torious, and this was very proper. The
men certainly deserve whatever could
be done for them upon this score In
consequence of protests from com
handing officers, the orders from Wash
ngton as to the disposition of the army
we're changed and our troops are en-
barking daily for the health-giving
breezcs of the North.
Today the first of our Spanish prison
ars were put on board the transports
we have hired to take them home. Ten
thousand of these men have been in
camp for more than three weeks just
outside Of the city limits, We, one and
all, avoided the roads that lead near
heir camps because of the vile odors
that arise thercfrom.
Today as the Spanards passed
through the city on the way to the
locks we saw sights that brought tears
TO the eyes of men who are not readily
moved to tears Down on the docks in
4 narrow strip of shade from a ware
house, some 200 Spanish soldiers waited
orders to move on to the lighter which
would convey them to the much-talked-
IF Spanish hospital ship Alicante.
Thesa men were thin and of a sickly
pallor, hollow checked and weak.
awe are the well men who have
brought the sick into town on stretch
erS, they explained.
Ten American ambulanccs have been
detailed to help carry in those unable
to walk, and we have erected tents on
the dock, where the sick can wait until
the lighter is ready for them.
''lt was not a camp out there, said
Spanish officer. "lt was a grave yard.
BetNccn 200 and 800 went into the hos
pital daily. 1t was not hospital
| there were no medicines, there were no
attendants. Forty men were dying
every day, and the trenches are full OF
the dead. We have saved you many
$50 passage money to Spain. The camp
has been nearer he'll than anything in
the war. There are 5000 out there yet,
only thousand came in today, but
they won't last long, Dyscntery, camp
| lysentery we call it, and it is worse
than the plague, is carrying them off. y
Down on the wharf. being loaded on
the steam lighter Bessie, were long
lines of stretchcrs, each with its pitiful
burden. Faces that looked like death
heads, every line from the skull marked
on the yellow skin, protruding teeth
over which lips would not close. One
man grasped in claw that had crushed
them. three American hard tack crack
arS. Others had food hidden under
their scant covering Their weight
was as nothing, vet four well men stag
gercd un Ter the burden of one
,tretcher Down the city streets came
other professions of strctchcrs. Van
quishcd and sick, weak, pitiful, moan
ing, staggering, they drifted into town
al day long. When the city sur
rendered. the prospective return to
Spain brought joy to many hearts; the
fulflmcnt of the promise was sad.
A whte-haircd officer, with stars and
bands on his sleeves, but so thin and
weak aud pale that he looked more like
skeleton than man, walked down
the wharf, supported by his wife, who
was as much in need of support as he
was himself Over loose board they
both tripped and fell. There are two
Young children in the party who cry
almost continuously. Finally they all
got on board, the women to spend ten
days on filthy, horrible troop ship.
There are many women going thus
wives Of officers who cannot pay for a
passage.
These Spanish troop ships bid fair to
rival old-time slavcrs in the misery and
suiferings that will be confined in their
sides on the voyage back to Spain.
Our own soldiers were sick, but the
conditions of the Spaniards is so much
worse that our men seem strong and
healthy compared to them. The Span
iards were not in this condition when
they moved to their death camp, just
three weeks ago.
just how far we arc obliged to pro-
vide care for vanquishcd foe is a qucs.
ton now being discussed in this town
Every one admits and has admitted
that the Spaniard has been a good
enemy, a good fighter, and the Ameri
cans who took off their hats to the
Spanish officers on the 18th of July did
so with true tonnage to brave men: A.
the pitiful lines Of Spanish prisoners
stagger through the streets of this city
for the next week or so, fcebly step
ping out of the way of pedestrians
looking fearfully at rafting carts. ii
contrast to them, the Americans who
Sec them will be again inclined to un
cover their heads, prompted by the
same feeling of homage to brave men
TWO DESPERADOES.
They Fought In the Street Mt Fayetteville
Ark, and One Is Dead.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark, Aug. al.-A dcs
perate fight to the death occurred here
this afternoon in the business part o.