The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-11
REronr on cEnYBRA,s oEETorns.
They Say They Were treated Inhumanly
and Brutally While Prisoners Of war.

and Brutality while Prisoners of War
WASHINGTON. Oct. 10.-An Official document
has been received in Washington from Madrid
which gives the full report Of the spanish on
Gers Of Cervera's feet regarding their treat
ment after falling into the hands Of the Ameri-
cans as prisoners OF war. The following ex-
tracts are taken from the report:
when we were taken ~ honorable prison.
ers by the Americans, after the loss Of our gal
liant feet. we were driven aboard an American
ship. the name Of which we were unable to as
certain. and huddled together like sheep in q
pen in the hull OF the ship. without sufficient
air to breathe. with no accommodations to
sleep. with no water to drink. and little or
nothing to eat. Oflcers and mon were all
treated with the same ~discourtesy and incon-
sideration. No respect was shown to
those OF rank. but all suffered the same
fate. Instead OF treating us like honor
able prisoners OF war. who had been captured
after one OF the most heroic struggles which
was ever witnessed In naval warfare, we were
treated more like dogs. and finally our men
were shot to death for no other apparent pur-
pose than to afford amusement to the Ameri-
can sailors and marines. and to give them q
target practice. The charge that there was
mutiny among us Is entirely without founda-
ton and absolutely false. although we would
- Aou uLlplO " bS VIM
we obeyed every command given US by our
captors.
THE trouble was begun by a Qu~nrtermaster-
Sergeant. who saw q prisoner going upon the
upper deck. where he endeavored to fnd q cool
place to sleep. as he was Ill and suffering from
foyer. The American sailors occupied all Of
the comfortable quarters and bowed US no
mercy. Finally q Ruardsman passed by on
watch. and. observing the sleeping prisoner.
proceeded to awaken hin by piercing him with
the point Of his sharpened b%ayonet. His cries
for mercy aroused the attention Of the guards
men on watch. and they ran to that portion
Of the deck and began amusing them
selves by increasing the pain Of the
poor captive and thrusting him with
their bayonets. When they had concluded
their sport they gave him an order to 60 below.
where the remainder OF the Spanish prisoners
were duartered. He ran below. closely fol-
lowed by the Americans on guard and being
pierced by their bayonets at every step. His
cries also aroused the attention Of his COM
rades, who started up to learn the cause Of the
trouble When the Americans on guard had
reached the hold OF the vessel they saw our
HELPLESS prisoners huddled together and pro-
testing against the outrages. This was suf-
flcient to cause them to make thrusts with
their bayonets upon others. who were COM
Hiltting no ouence "haVeNeF other than seeK-
ing to stay the attacks upon their unfortunate
fellow prisoners.
There was much excitement and our pris-
oners implored their captors to desist from
their attacks upon helpless and defenceless
men. The pleas OF our men were answered
with ieers and curses by the Americans. who
by this time had greatly increased in numbers.
other sailors having come to enjoy what to
them was sport. Several OF our officers OBJ
served that there were among the Americans q
number OF men OF rank. who joined in with
their s~ubordinates and made no effort to pre-
thing to the last without resistance,
onlv stalking IN nreyent the havoneta from