Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-07-11
THE SPANISH PRISONERS.


The auxiliary cruiser st. Louis ar
rived at Portsmouth, n. H., yesterday,
bringing from Santiago Admiral Ger
vera, SO Spanish officers and COS Span
ish sailors. The Admiral is slightly
sick, but he spoke in warm terms Of
the courtesy shown him, and returned
his thanks to the various American ma.
val officers. The sailors will be detain-
ed at Portsmouth, but the st. Louis
will take the Admiral and his officers
to Annapolis. They may shortly be
paroled and allowed to return to Spain.
PORTSMOUTH, n. H., July 1.-THE
auxiliary cruiser Harvard arrived late
last night with 400 Spanish prisoners
taken with Admiral Cervera'5 feet of
Santiago. These prisoners, with Adj
miral Cervera, 81 officers and 638 Span
ism sesmen, which arrived yesterday on
The ST. Louis, will be landed to-day.
The seamen will be confined on Seavey
Island here, while the Spanish officers
will be taken 10 Annapolis. The St.
Louis will not start with them on the
return south until Wednesday.
Among the prisoners were Admiral
Cervera, his staff IRON the fig ship In
finta Maria Teresa, his son, Angel Ger
vera, aud all the surviving captains of
the defeated Spanish fleet, except the
desperately wounded first captain Of
the Maria Teresa, who was put on board
the hospital ship Solace. The prisoL ers
gave no trouble whatever during the
voyage. Many Ct the officers aud men
were brought aboard in condition that
excited pity.
, Captain Goodrich took them in hand
at once, made an address to the officers
in which ne explained in courteous but
clean cut English that if they
would sign q parole, giving their
word Of honor not to incite the
men by word or deed into any
efforts to capture or destroy the ship,
or to act 10 any manner not consistent
with the position of paroled prisoners
OF war, he would permit them to 60
where they pleased within certain re-
s.ricted limits and would otherwise
treat them 10 every respect as if they
were his guests.
The officers listened attentively and
fastened to accept the otfer-all but
one. He is Lieutenant Caprites, vol
unteer officer, formerly political gov
ernor OF Santiago, and who was serving
on the Viscaya when that vessel was
destroyed. Caprites refused to sign
the parole and was placed in confne-
ment and under charge Of 8 sentry.
With the exception OF four invalid
officers on their way home from the
fleet, and who had table set for
them there, the Spanish officers had
the main saloon to themselves and
were furnished with the same meals
supplied to Captain Goodrich and his
officers.
Admiral Cervera and his staff Off
GERS had a separate table. Such OF the
officers as had lost their clothing were,
Oh the order OF Captain Goodrich, fitted
cut from the governments supply Of
clothing on hand.
Not until the St. Louis reached port
were any of the prisoners permitted to
know where they were going. They
were naturally very curious to know,
but IS every one except the captain
was equally in the dark they did not
fiud out. While oil have reason for
great SORROW, Captain Eulate, of the
Viscaya, seems to be the most depress
ed OF the lot. He is the only Que OF
the captains who has not an independ-
ent income, and there seems 10 be
general impression among them That
they will all lose their com omissions for
having lost their ships.
Admiral Ceryera remained in his
cabin during all the trip. Health o.
Gcer Towle visited him wheu the ship
reached Portsmouth and was warmly
greeted. He shook hands with the
health officer, and in good English said
he was situated very pleasantly on the
ship and had received nothing but the
kindest and most considerate treatment
from both officers and men ever since
be had been taken prisoner.