The Monte Vista journal., 1898-07-16
PRISONERS or WAR
rsseai.s sessss Mitae.ssA 81 Pssss.'
Whea Csevsea's Men Wsrs Landed

Teoeesog eoe0es WltaesesA 81 heete0oofh
Whsa Csevses's Men Wsrs Landed.
Portsmouth. n. H.. July 1.-the
Spanish prisoners. who were brought
to port In the auxiliary cruiser 81.
Louis from Santiago, numbering OOc
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 bar
racks erected for them op Seavey's is-
land. Around them Is q guard Of l2J
marines.
The work Of dcharkatIon was ac-
complished In Just two hours under the
direction OF Colonel Ferney. The pris-
oners 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 be-
iongings he possessed.
II was pathetic sight from begin
ming to end. and such ms would bring
tears to many eyes. The poor, wretch.
cd creatures struggled up the hillside
clad for the most part in rngx, some
OF the men being covered with the
while others had on portions Of what
was once a uniform.
The unloading OF the crowd was
Witnessed by thousands Of people on
shore and In boats. and II may be said
with all sincerity thnt during the two
hours occupied with the task not a
sneer or n jeer was heard, nor an act
performed which might have given of.
fensc to the prisoners.
when the muster-Out, as II seemed to
he. was finished, the men were formed
In line and marched into the temporary
barracks. which will serve rs . prison
for them.
OF the number landed. forty have
been taken to the hospital suffering
for the most part from wounds, while
not a few have minor Ills.
1t was an interesting sight to watch
the way In which the Spanish prison.
ers accepted the fortunes Of wnr. Az
ter breaking ranks. they looked about
and saw mattresses and couches and
many other comforts which had not
been their 10, for many years In the
barracks. and M they looked them over
they appeared TO accept the situation
with much cheerfulncs. They walked
around with what appeared to be n
dignihed air. and seemed TO grow hap-
py MS nppe,izing olorx were waited TO
them from the large kitchen.
One OF the most touchIng Incidents
OF the day was the farewell Captain E.
Diax Moru OF the Cristobal Colon took
OF his crew Just before lie went back
to the 1t. Louis. Few who saw the
tenderness with which he walked
down the line and afYect!onateiy en-
brncesl ench seaman ax II he was his
sOn. could refrain from tears.
When the muster lad been CON-
pleted Captain Mora turned to Colonel
Forney OF the American marine corps
and asked permission to sny q few
parting words 10 his men. The request
was readily granted. but Captain
Moru. instead OF making formal and
eloquent address to the line. walked
up to the man at the head OF II. and,
taking him warmly by the hand. ten
derly kissed the grim sailor on the
check. When the men saw the action
Of the copmander they wept NJ II
their hearts would break, and aa the
captain walked down the line. shaking
each by the hand. and kissing each
sun-burned check. each man threw his
arms around his commanders neck
ana gave him most hearty embrace.
As Captain Moru came 10 the Colon's
marine guard. the captain orderly, In
nh outburst Of grief, sprnng from the
ranks and threw his arms about his
captains neck like a child.
When. finally. the captain reached
the end Of the lon: line. he turned, and
In a voice shaking with emotion, said
a few words Of farewell TO the crew
as a whole. As hc finished the half.
clad men surrounded him. grnsping his
arms md legs. all trying for ono Inst
embrace.
The grnssy hanks Of the rock. bound
prison island faces the entrance OF the
hnrlor. The islnnd has an area Of
about 100 acres. and is Just across the
channel from Fort Constitution. About
fivc acres OF this comprise tho prison
yard Of the cnptives. The space will
t,e enclosed with fence eight feet In
height. Outside this fence. sevcn feet
from II. a barbcd wire fence In to l,c
besides which these sen.
tries will bc placed. AZ commanding
roints platforms have been construct.
s-l. thus making an attempt 10 escape