The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-22
WORSE THAN THE PLAGUE
The Spanish Prisoners Are Dying
Like Sheep.
TRENCHES FULL OF DEAD
The Encampment Was n Vast Grave
yard 80 Faces Which Looked Like
Death's-H Heads Walking
Skeletons.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
Santiago de Cuba, Aug. 9-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, and this was very proper.
The men certainly deserve whatever
could be done for them on this score.
In accordance with the protests from
commanding officers. the orders from
Washington as to the disposition of the
army were changed and our troops are
now embarking daily for the north.
To-day the first Of our Spanish pris-
oners were put on board the transports
we have hired to take them home. Ten
thousand of the men have been i'm camp
Tor more than three weeks, juss out
side of the city limits. They were much
nearer to the palace than our own men
They were our prisoners, ami we. one
and all, avoided the roads that led near
thlr camps because of the vile odOrs
that arose therefrom
To-day as the Spaniards passed
through the city on the way u the
docks we saw sights that brought tears
10 the eyes of men who are no. readily
moved to tears. Down on the docks, in
narrow strip of shade, at a ware
house, some 200 Spaniards awaited or
ders To move onto the lighter which
would convey them to the much Ia lked-
of Spanish hospital ship Alicante. These
men were thin and of a sickly pallor.
hollow-cheeked and weak.
we are the well men who have
brought the sick into the town on lit
ters," they explained.
Down on the wharf, being loaded on
the steamer Bessie. were long lines Of
stretchers, each with its pitiful burden
Faces that looked like death heads.
every line of the skull marked on the
yellow skin, protruding teeth over
which lips would not close. one man
grasped i'm a claw that crushed them
three American hardtacks. Others had
food hidden under their scant covering
Their weight was as nothing. yet four
well men stagger under the weight on
one stretcher.- Down the city streets
came other professions of stretchers
Sick, weak, pitiful, staggering, they
drifted into the town all day long
When the city surrendered the prospec-
tive return TO Spain brought joy to
many hearts-the fulfillment of the
promise was sad.
The American ambulanees have been
detailed to help carry in those unable
to walk, and we have erected tents on
the docks where the sick can wait until
the lighter Is ready for them.
TT was not a camp out there" said
a Spanish officer 1T was a grave
yard. Between 200 and 300 went into
the hospital. 1t was not a hospital
There were no medicines: there was no
attendance. Forty men were dying
every day and the trenches are full Of
the dead. We have saved you many a
$50 for passage money to Spain. That
camp has been more hell than anything
in the war. There are 5000 out there
yet only 1000 came in to-day. but they
won't last long. Dysentery. camp dy-
sentery we call 1t, and IL is worse than
the plague. is carrying them off"
A white-haired officer with stars and
bands on his sleeves, but so thin and
weak and pale that he looked more
like a skeleton than a man. walked
down the warf supported by his wife.
who was as much in need of support
as he was himself. over a loose board
they both tripped and fell. There are
two young children in the party, who
cry almost continuously. Finally they
all got on board. the women to spend
10 days on a filthy. horrible troop ship
There are many women going thus
wives of officers who cannot pay for a
passage.
These Spanish troop ships bid fair TO
rival time slave ships i'm the mis-
cry and suffering that will be confined
within their sides on the voyage back
to Spain. Our own soldiers were sick /
but the condition OF the Spaniards Is
many times worse than that of our
men, who are strong and healthy com
pared with them. The Spanish were
not in this condition when they
marched TO their death camp just three |
weeks ago. How far we are expected |
to provide care for the vanquished is !
question now being discussed i'm this
town. Everyone admits and has ad-
mitted that the Spaniards have been !
good enemy, a good fighter. and the
Americans who took off their hats to
the Spanish on the 17th of July did !
so with true HOMAGE To brave men. As
the pitiful lines of Spanish prisoners /
7tagger through the streets OF this /
city for the next week or so. feeblv |
out oI the way of pedastri- |
ans. looking feHrfully az rattling carts.
and I'm sad contrast to the strong men
In brown. the Americans who see them /
will be inclined 10 again uncover their /
heads prompted by the same feeling Of :
homage to brave men.