The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-08-24
DISEASE AND DEATH.
Misery and Untold Suffering VIII Mark
the homeward Joruney of SpaIn's
Cuban Army-WeIaht NOthIna.

OluC0 O00 SURRENDER OF 6AuUlARO
one thing has been uppermost in
our minds, namely, the health and
conditioH of the brave American SOL
diers who fought and were victori-
GUS, and this was very proper. The
men certainly deserve whatever
could be done for them upon this
score. In consequence of protests
from commanding officers, the or
ders from Washington as to the dis
position of the army were changed
and our troops are embarking daily
for the health-giving breexes of the
north.
Monday the first of our Spanish
prisoners were put on board the
transports we have hired to take
them home. Ten thousand of these
men have been in camp for more
than three weeks just outside of the
city limits. We, one and all, avoid
ed the roads that led near their camps
because of the vile odors that arose
therefrom.
To-day as the Spaniards passed
through the city on the way to the
docks we saw sights that brought
tears to the eyes of men who are not
readily moved by tears. Down on
the docks in q narrow strip of shade
from a warehouse some 200 Spanish
soldiers waited orders to move on to
the lighter which would convey them
7 to the much talked of Spanish hos
pital ship Alicante. These men we're
thin and of a sickly psller, hollow
checked and weak.
1--WE are the well men who brought
the sick into town on stretchers,
they explained.
Down on the wharf being loaded on
the steam lighter Bessie were large
lines of stretchers, each with its pitt
full burden. Faces that looked like
death, every line from the skull
marked on the yellow skin, protrud-
ing teeth over which lips would not
close. One man grasped in claw
that had crushed them, three Amer
lean hard-tack. Others had food
hidden under their scant covering.
Their weight was 30 nothing, yat
four we'll men struggled under the
burden of one stretcher. Down the
city streets came other professions
of strstchers. Vsnquished and sick,
weak, pitiful, moaning, staggering,
they drifted into town all day long.
When the city surrendered the pros
pective return to Spain brought JOY
to many heart; the fulfillment of the
promise was sad.
been donated 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.
"lt 10 not . camp out there" sale
Spanish officer. ut was a grave
yard. Between 400 and 300 went into
the hospital daily. 1t was not a hos
pital-there were no medicines, there
were no attendants. Forty men wert
dying every day and the trenches
are full of the dead. We have saveC
you many a 500 for passage none.
to Spain. The camp has been neare
hell than anything in the war. Their
are 5000 out there yet, only 1000 cam
! in to-day, but they won't last long
! Dysentery, camp dysentery we cal
it, and it is worse than the plague, /
carrying them off,"
IA white-haired officer with star
and bands on his sleeves, but so thi
. and weak and pale that he locke
, more like a skeleton than n man
walked down the warf, supported b
his wife, who was as much in nee
of support as he was himself
Over . loose board they both trippe
and fell. There are two young chill
3 dren in the party who cry almol
constantly. Finally they all got o
board, the women to spend ten day
3 on q filthy, horrible troop SHY
2 There are many women going thus
3 wives OF officers who can not pa
5 passage.
2 These Spanish troop ships bid fa
3 to rival old-time slavers in the mi
3 cry and sufferings that will be col
Q fined within their sides on the vo,
3 age back to Spain.
Our own soldiers were sick, bl
the condition of the Spaniards is I
much worse that our men see
strong and healthy compared
them. The Spaniards were not
this condition when they moved
"A their death camp just three =eel
50 ago.
30 Just how far we are obliged