The evening times., 1898-06-23
Engineer Recruits.
SPANISH PRISONERS.
They Have Good Quarters mt Fort
McPhersOn and Are Well Treated.


Atlanta, Ga. June 23.-There are six
teen Spanish prisoners of war at the Fort
Mcpherson barracks They are of the
original twenty. who. headed by Col.
Vincente de Cortijo. were captured the
first week of the blockade on the north
coast of Cuba. They Were returning
from a consultation with Gen. Blanco.
at a point in the province of Matanzas.
and were captured by the Nashville. The
prisoners were on the Spanish ship Ar
gonauta.
Col. Cortijo and Surgeon Julian. the
leading officers. with their servants.
were exchanged recently for Thrail and
Jones, the American newspaper cor
respondents. The sixteen who remain
are equally divided between officers and
privates. and without distinction as to
rank receive all the privileges and con-
sideration which prisoners of war can
have.
Two weeks ago. because of the close
ness and discomforts of the military pris-
on proper, the captives were removed 10
the post ballroom, large stone build
ing with long windows and thorough
equipment of doors. In this airy room.
which is 120 by 50 feet, all the prisoners
sleep on neat cots. There are no bars
to the windows. Instead. awnings pro-
tect the apartments from the sun In the
day, and at night cool breeze comes
from the shaded reservation.
These prisoners swing in hammocks.
read books and papers and not infre-
quently American newspapers All OF
the officers. with the paEc exception of
one or two, are noncommissloned- READ
English fairly well. and talk the language
- ,I..V.- .ag.N n av-
binary conversations. They are provided
with books and papers by the officers at
the post, with whom they are on friend
iy terms. The prisoners are no longer
guarded by negro soldiers. but by privates
of the Fifth United States Infantry. and
captives and guards are on excellent
terms-to a degree, personally intimate.
The Spanish prisoners continue to wear
the uniforms of their government ac-
cording to their rank. These uniforms
are made of light blue linen. They wear
vet the uniforms worn at the time OF
their capture. They have not been pro-
yided with any clothing by the United
States Government. They wear fancy
cloth slippers, and as no requirement mas
been made for additional garments none
has been furnished, even temporarily. As
a matter of fact. all the men had changes
of clothing when captured.
The meals of the prisoners are eaten in
the post mess hall, and the men received
the same rations as are furnished to tho
United States officers and men. They are
taken to the hail a half-hour before the
usual meal hour, and have finished wneh
the hour for the soldiers to eat has ar
rived. The prisoners never couioiaia VI
tha,r food or treatment. and do not hesi-
tate to say that they are receiving better
treatment all around. and more consid-
eration than they expected or had hoped
for. ra.
In their living apartments. the ballroom.
tables are provided with pencils and tab
lets and they are permitted to write to
their friends in Spain. All letters. OF
course. are subject to official inspection.
Visitors are not permitted to speak with
the prisoners and no outside local COM
munication is permitted whatever. This
is a precaution that is strictly adhered to.
ANY afternoon, il you are permitted in
the barracks reservation and you walk
with an officer by the ballroom. You can
see the prisoners pleasantly chatting
with one another, smoking, playing chess