The Red Cloud chief., 1898-07-15
SPANISH PRISONERS,
Admiral Cerrara and 1s5 Others Reach
Portsmouth on the st. Iou,s.

Portsmouth on the st. Louis.
PoRTsNo, N. n. H.. July 1e.-TA
auxiliary cruiser st. Louis, with 54e
Spanish prisoners. including fifty-four
officers, arrived in Portsmouth harbor
at $3.50 o'clock yesterday morning, and
a few minutes later dropped anchor
just above Fishing island. The big
liner left Guantanamo at 6 o'clock
Tuesday afternoon, July 5, and did not
make a stop until she dropped anchor
in Portsmouth harbor. Including the
prisoners, there were i,036 people on
board the boat, and out of this num-
Der there are ninety-one sick and
wounded Spaniards under the care of
surgeons.
Admiral Cervcra Is confined to his
cabin. having beer quito i'll for the
past three days. Captain Eulate, who
was commander of the vizcaya, and il
among the prisoners, is also quite i'll.
having been wounded in the head dur
ing the battle off Santiago.
All of the Spanish commissioned Of
fcers have been on parole and had the
freedom of the ship with one cxcep-
ton, and he was the governor of San
tiago de Cuba, who was trying to es-
cape from the city on Admiral Ger
vera's flagship when she was destroyed
on that memorable morning of July
3. He refused to sign the parole pa
pers, and vas consequently confined
in n of the cabins under guard. The
remainder of the prisoners were CON
fined between decks and closely guard
ed. "A detachment of twenty-eight
marines from the u. s. S. Brooklyn,
under Lieutenant Bordan, and twenty
n marines from the U. :. s. Marble
head were put aboard the st. Louis
when she left Guantanamo for the
North. to guard the. prisoners, but
they had little Or 10 trouble with the
men. The prisoners, as well as nearly
all the Spanish officers, are dressed in
clothes of every description, as most
of them had come aboard with very
little clothing, and what they are
wearing was given them by the officers
and men from the American fleet.
1t Is understood hat Admiral Ger
vera has accepted an invitation to stay
at a hotel at Newcastle, about four
miles from the navy yard.
Admiral Cervcra's stay at the hotel
will. however, be short, as the st.
Louis will coal as soon as the Spanish
sailors arc landed and will then leave
for Annapolis with the Spanish Of.
iccrs.
1t is understood that the steamer,
after she discharges her prisoners, will
coal at Newport News and then take Q
large number of troops to Cuba.
Admiral Cervera came on deck and
consented to tslk to representatives Of
the press, who went out to the st.
Louis in a tug.
"You ask me" he said, show I like
America, and 1 answer hat / have
always liked, and 1 may say loved,
your people, but this war has been .
duty with me and the men under me.
l knew that the American feet clearly
outclassed US, hut il was a question of
fighting either inside or outside the
harbor. / have many friends in Amer
lea, and have only the kindliest feel
ings for them, but every man has q
duty to perform to his country, and
all Spaniards tried to perform that
duty. There has been much feeling in
Spain, and want all Spain to know
the truth, that every ship of my squad
ron fought until the last, and when
we could fight no more we surren-
dered.
Il have much interest t. know the
exact situation in Spain.
Captain Goodrich has treated us all
as well as anyone could possibly be
treated. My officers have occupied
quarters in the saloon, and we cannot
complain"