The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-12
CERVERA'S MEN LANDED
SPANISH PRISONERS CHARTERED ON
SEAVEY'S ISLAND.
Several Pathetic Incidents During the
DEGRADATION - Assignments
for the Officers.

prisoners, who were brought to this port III
the auxiliary cruiser st. Louis from SAINT
iago numbering 692 of the men who formed
part of the crew of Admiral Cervera's
squadron. are tonight sleeping peacefully
and in comparative comfort in the new
barracks erected for them Seavey's
island. Around them is a guard of 125 ma
rines The work of debarkation was accom-
plished in just two hours under the direction
of Colonel Ferney.
1t was just 2:45 o'clock this afternoon
when the first barge loaded with Spanish
subjects left the ST. Louis and were taken
to Greely's Landing. the landing so-called
from the fact that it was here Lieutenant
Greedy and the survivors of the Inflated
Lady Franklin Bay expedition set foot on
American soil for the first time after they
had been brought back from the frozen
North by Captain, now Commodore Schley.
in 1884. An hour later 357 prisoners had been
landed and were marched to the highest
part Of the island, where on a plot of
ground each man deposited, under the eyes
of the marine guard, whatever few belong
ings he possessed.
1t was pathetic sight from beginning to
end, and such as would bring tears to many
eyes. The poor. wretched creatures strug-
g!ed up the hillside, clad for the most part
in rags. some of the men being covered only
with the fragments of tabecloth or a
blanket, while others had portions of
what was once a uniform. When the men
landed some of them were so weak that
they could not stand and lay on the ground
until stretchers were brought and were car
ried by their comrades to the main road,
whore they were placed on the grass.
Here the rays of sunshine and refreshing
bTeezes from across the Piscataqua seemed
to strengthen them, and most of the
hausted ones were little later able to fol-
low the others to the place where they were
mustered; Many of the prisoners had
wounds that were still unheaed, and their
heads and arms showed the effects of the
terrible battle in which they fought.
The, crew of the Cristobal Colon were
landed in a body. They were better clad
and evidently better fed than the other men,
for they bore resemblance of the Spanish
with them bags filled with clothing. Thirty
members of the Colon's crew were, how
ever, severely wounded and had to be car
ried on StretcherS.
The unloading of the crew was witnessed
by thousands of people on shore and in
boats, and 1T may be said with all sincerity
the task not sheer or Jeer was heard
nor an act performed which might have
given offense to the prisoners.
The most interesting part of the landing
of the men was the duty performed by
Capt E. DiaZ Morou. Of the Cristobal Co
lon, the once hearty and jovial officer, the
favorite captain of the Spanish navy, stand
ing on the height of land near where the
men came ashore, clad in a tattered uni
form of white duck trousers and blue coat,
book in hand. the mastering officer of the
Spanish prisoners His heavy voice called
out the names Of the prisoners and credited
each to the vessel to which the individual
was once a member. When the muster
out, as it seemed to be, was finished the
men were formed in line and marched into
the temporary barracks, which will serve
as prison for them.
OF the number landed forty have been TAX
en- to the hospital suffering. for the most
part from wounds while not a few are
victims of minor ills. OF the officers there
are ten-four lieutenants, three surgeons,
two ensigns and one paymaster-and these.
through some misunderstanding over or
ders from Washington were returned to the
ST. Louis. 1t is understood tonight. how
ever. that these same officers will be landed
again tomorrow. The line officers will be
CHARTERED at the marine barracks
1t was an interesting sight to watch the
way in which the Spanish prisoners ac-
ranks they looked about and saw mattresses
and couches and many other comforts.
years. in the barracks, and as they looked
them over they appeared to accept the stu
alton with much cheerfulness. They walked
around with what appeared to be dgnified
air and seemed to grow happy as appetiZng
odors We're waited to them from the large
kitchen.
day was the farewell Capt. e. Diaz MOrou.
of the Cristobal Colon. took of his crew just
BEFORE he went back to the ST. Louis. Few
who saw the tenderness with which he
walked down the line and affectOnately en-
braced each seaman as if he was his son,
could refrain from tears while the whole
scere will be remembered by those who wit
messed it as one of the touching examples of
the devotion and reverence in which the
Seamen of every war ship holds his COM
mander. The crew of the Colon had landed
with the rest of the prisoners and with them
Forney, of the marine corps. in his laDOrS
as mastering officer. This work took time,
as each mans name and description had to
be recorded but at last it was over and then
Captain Morou turned to the American Off
Ger and asked permission to say a few part
readily granted. but Captain Morou in
quent address to the long line,
walked up to the man at the head of it,
and taking him warmly by the hand. ten
derby kissed the grim sailor on the cheek.
mander they wept as if their hearts would
break and as the captain walked down the
line shaking each by the hand and kissing
each sunburned cheek, each man threw his
arms around his commanders neck and
gave him most hearty embrace.
As Captain Morou came to the Colon
marine guard, one Of the men. the captains
orderly. in an outhurst of grief, sprang from
the ranks and threw his arms about his
captains neck like child. When finally
the captain reached the end of the long
line he turned and. in voice shaking with
the crew as a whole. As he finished the
half-clad men surrounded him, grasping his
arms and legs. all trying for one last en-
brace.