The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-22
TIE CHASTITY REALITIES.

AAAS OAAhSA ~ ANksFAkAAALON
OFWar shown In the PitIFal Condition Of
the Spanish Prisoners Who Are Return
ing Homs-Thsir Camp OatSIds Santiago
Has Proved to be VeritRbIs Graveyard.
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 deserving whatever
could bo done for them upon this score.
In consequence of protests from COM
mandlng officers. che orders from
washington as to the disposition of the
army were changed and our troops are
embarklng daily for the health giving
breezes of the north.
To-day the first Of our Spanish prison.
ers 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 ilmits. They were
nearer to the palace than our own men.
They were prisoners and we one and all
avoided the roads that led near their
camps because Of the vile odors that
arose therefrom.
To-day as the spaulardS passed
through the city on their way to the
docks we 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 ware
house, some 200 Spanish soldiers waited
orders to move to the lighter which
would convey them to the much talked
of Spanish ship Alicante. The men were
of sickly pallor. hollOw-cheeked, weak
and thin.
Tho We'll Mon Bad Enough.
1--WE men are the well men who have
brought the sick into town on litter" +"
they explained.
Down on the wharf, being loaded on
the steam lighter Bessie, were long lines
Of stretchers, each with It's pit1tul bur-
den. Each looked like death had set
every line OF the skull marked on the
yellow skin, protruding teeth over which
lips would not close. One man grasped
In a claw that had crushed them, three
American hardtack. Others had food
hidden under their scant covering. Their
weight was as nothing. yet four we'll
men staggered under the burden of one
stretcher Down the city streets came
other professions of strebcherN Van
quished and sick, weak, pIHful, moan
Ing, staggering, they dritted into town
all day long. When the city surrender
ed the prospective return to Spain
brought joy to many hearts the fulfill
ment of the promise was sad.
Ten American ambulanccs 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.
Not Camp, a Graveyard.
at was not camp out there" saa q
Spanish officer; ut was a graveyard.
Between two and three hundred went
into the hospital daily. Hospltal7 It
was not hospital; there were no medi-
cines. there were no attendantA Forty
men were dying every dny, and the
trenches are full OF the dead. We have
saved you many n $50 for passage money
to Spain. That camp has been nearer
hell than anything In the war. There
are 5000 out there yet, only n thousand
came In to-day, but they won't last
long. Dysentery, camp dysentery we
cali It, and It Is worse than the plague,
Is carrying them on"
a whltc-hnired officer with stars and
bands on his sleeves, but go thin and
weak and pale that he looked more like
a skeleton than n man, walked down
the wharf, supported by his wife, who
was us much in need of support as he
was himself. over loose board they
both trIpped and fell. There ure young
| children in the party who cry almost
continuously. Finally they all got on
board; the women to spend ten days on
a filthy, horrible troop ship, There nre
many women going thus-wlves Of oiil-
| GERS, VINO cannon phS IOI puSbuEts
The Spanish troop ships bid fair to RI
| val the old-tlme Blavers in the misery
and Buffertngs that will be confined
within their sides on the voyage back.
In PItifuI Condition,
Our own soldiers were sick, but the
condition OF the SpAniards Is so many
times worse that our men seem Btrong
and healthy compared to them. The
| Snanlards were not in this condition
when they moved to their death camp,
| Just three weeks ago. Just how far we
are obliged to provide care for n van
auishee foe If n question now being dis
cursed IN this town. Every one admits,
and has admitted, that the Spanish
have been n good encmy, good fighters,
and the Americans who took off their
hats to tho Spanish officers on the nth
OF July did 80 with true homnge TO brave
men. As the pitirul lines OF Spanish
soldiers Ftagger through the stCcets Of
this city, for the next week or so. fecbly
stcpplng out OF the way OF pcdestrl-
anI, looking fearfuiiy at rafting carts
and In sad contrast to our strong m"a
| In brown, the Americans who see them
| win be inclined again to uncover their
hcnds. prompted by the same feeling II
| homage 10 brave men.
---Ia---
Soldiers Want 10 Qnu.
SAN FRANCISCO. August 2l.-Thc