The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-23
STORY OF HORROR
FROM SANTIAGO
TIE FEARFUL CONDITION OFspANIsH
PKl>ONEitS
They are Dying by the Doxrns Bcing
Shipped Home, Though Many are Un-
nbie to Stand-Tho Prnspects Aboard
tho Tronpshlps.

| correspondence or Associated Press.
Santiago dc Cuba, Aug 10.-Since
the surrender of Santiago one thing
has been uppermost in our minds,
namely, the health and condition of
the brave American soldiers who
fought and were victorious. Aud
this was very proper; tho men GER
tniniy deserve whatever could be
done for them upon this score. In
consequences Of protest from COM
manding officers, the orders from
Washington as to tho disposition of
the army were changed and our
troops arc el-bnrkinG daily for the
health giving breezes Of the north.
Today the first of our Spanish
prisoners were put on board the
transports we have hired to take
them homo. Ten thousand of these
men have been IN camp for more
than three weeks, just outside Of the
city limits. They we're much nearer
to the palace than our own men;
they were our prisoners, aud we,
ono and all, avoided the roads that
led near their camps because of the
vile odors that arose therefrom.
Today rs the Spaniards passed
through the city on the way to the
docks, wo saw sights that brought
tears TO the eyes Of men who are
not readily moved to tears. Down
on the docks, in narrow strip of
shade from warehouse, some 200
Spanish soldiers waited orders to
move on to the lighter which would
convey them to the much talked of
Spanish hospital ship Alicante.
These men were thin and of sick
~ pallor, hollow checked and weak.
ave are the we'll men who brought
tho sick into town on litters," they
explained.
Down on the wharf, being loaded
Oh the steam lighter Bessie, were
long lines of stretchrrs, each with
its pltiful burden. Faces that look
ed like death heads, ev..y line of
the skull marked on tho yellow skin
protruding teeth over which lips
would not close. One man grasped
in claw that had crushed them
three American hard tack. Others
had food hidden under their scant
coverings. Their weight was us
nothing, yet four we'll men staggered
under the burden of one stretchcr.
Down the city streets came other
professions of stretchers. Van
quished and sick, weak, pitiful,
moaning, staggering, they driftod
into town all day long. When the
city surrendered, the prospective re-
turn to Spain brought JOY to many
hearts; the fultilment of the promise
was sad.
Ten American ambulances 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.
cit was not a camp out there"
said Spanish officer, "it was q
graveyard. Between 200 and 800
went into the hospital daily. Hos
pital? It was not hospital, there
were no medicines; there we're no
attendants Forty are dying every
day, and tho trenches are full of the
dead. We have saved you many a
$50 for passago money to Spain.
There arc 5000 ont there yet, only
1000 came in today, but they won't
last long. Dysentery, camp dysen-
terry we call it, and it is worse than
the plague, is carrying them Off"
A white haired officer, with stars
and bands on his sleeves, but 30
thin and weak and pale that he
looked more like skeleton than Il
man, walked down the wharf, sup.
ported by his wife, who was az much
in need OF support as he was him.
self. Over Il loose board they both
tri pped and foil. There are two
young children in the party who cry
almost continually. Finally they ali
got on board; the women to spend
ten days on filthy, horrible troop
| chin Thara ora ,,oop,, ,,,o,nnr ,,o;,1