Hutchinson gazette., 1898-07-14
St. Louis Arrives at Portsmouth
With 746 Prisoners.
CERvERA ONE OF THE NUMBER.
Ho Ia Ill, As Is Captain Enlais OF the
Vlzcaya - Governor OF Santiago Is
Among tho Prisoners, the Only Onlcor
Who Refused to Sign Parole PaperA

PORTSMOUTH, N H., July 1.-THE
auxiliary cruiser st. Louis, with 740
Spanish prisoners, including fifty-four
officers, arrived in Portsmouth harbor
ut $3.50 o'clock yesterday morning, and
few minutes later dropped anchor
just above Fishing island, The big
liner left Guantanamo at o'clock
Tuesday afternoon, July 8, and did not
make stop until she dropped anchor
In Portsmouth harbor Including the
prisoners, there were l,030 people on
board the boat and out of this num-
ber there are ninety-one sick and
wounded Spaniards under the care Of
surgeons,
Admiral Cervera Is confined TO his
cabin, having been quite III for the
past three days, Captain Eulate, who
was commander OF the Vizcaya, and Is
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
hcers have been on parole and had the
freedom Of the ship with one excep-
tion, and he was the governor of San
tiago dc 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 was consequently confined
in one of the cabins under guard The
remainder Of the prisoners were con-
fined between decks and closely guard
cd. A detachment OF twcnty-eight
marines from the IT, =. s. Brooklyn,
under Lieutenant Bordan, and twenty
one marines from the U. y. 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 no 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 feet.
Admiral Cervera remained in his
cabin during the trip. Health Officer
Towle visited him and was warmly
greeted. lie shook hands with the
health officer and in good English,
said he was situated very pleasantly
OH the boat and had received nothing
but the lsindcst and most considerate
treatment ftom both officers and men
ever since he had been taken prisoner.
He had not been feeling we'll for the
past three or four days, but expected
TO be all right in short time. He pre-
sents the appearance of broken
hearted man, and keenly feels the loss
Of his fleet, containing the pick of the
Spanish navy.
On the way up from Santiago n num-
ber of the Spanish seamen said that
they had had enough of fighting, at
least with the Yankees
1t is understood that Admiral Ger
vera has accepted an invitation to stay
ut n hotel at Newcastle, about four
miles from the navy yard,
Admiral Cervera's stay at the hotel
will, however, be short, ns the st.
Louis will coal as soon as the Spanish
sailors are landed and will then leave
for Annapolis with the Spanish Of
hcers.
Admiral Ccrvera came on deck and
consented to talk to representatives. Of
the press, who went out to the st.
Louis in tug,
"You ask me- he said, chow | like
America, and | answer that | have
always liked, and | may say loved,
your people, but this war has been a
duty with me and the men under me.
l knew that the American fleet clearly
outclassed us, but it was a question of
fighting either inside or outside the
harbor have many friends in Amer
ica, and have only the kindliest feel
ings for them, but every man has
duty to perform to his country, and
all Spanlards 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.