The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-22

Santiago, Cuba, Aug. 9.-(Colrespond-
ence of the Associated Press. )-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
s.zictorious. 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 erabarkng> daily for the north.
Today the first of our Spanish pris-
oners were put on board the TRANSPORT
we have hired TO take them home, Ten
thousand of the men have been in camp
Tor more than three weeks. Just out
side Of the city limits. They were much
nearer to the palace than our own men.
They were our prisoners, and we, one
and all. avoided the roads that led near
their camps, because of the vile doors
that arose theTefrom-
Today. as the Spaniards passed
through the city on the way TO the
decks, we saw sights that brought tears
10 the eyes Of men who are not read
lily moved to tears. Down on the docks,
il i narrow strip of shade at ware
house. some 200 Spauiards awaited or
would convey them TO the much-talk-
e1-of Spanish hospital ship Alicante.
These men were tFiE and of a sickly
palior hollow-cheelIed and weak. I'VE
are the well men who have brought the
sick into the town on filters, they eX-
planned. Down on the wharf. being
loaded on the steam lighte" Bessie, We're
icng lines of stretchers, each with its
pitiful burden. Faces that looked like
Deaths heads. every lire OF the skull
marked GA, the yellow skin, Drotrudlug
teeth, over which lipS would not Gloss
One man graSDed in q claw that had
crushed tneu, three American hard
tacks. Others had food hidden under
their scant covering. Their weight was
as nothing, yet four well men stag
\gered under the burden OF one stretch
Sr Down the city streets came other
KrocessionS OF stretcherS. NanQuished
and sick, weak, pitiful, moaning, stag
gering, they drifted into the town all
day long. When the city surrendered
the prospective return to Spain brought
JOY to many hearts; the fUlfllment OF
the promise was sad.
The American ambulances have been
detailed to help carry in those unable
to walk. and we have erected tents on
the docks where the sick can wait un
til the lighter is ready for them.
a HE'LL FOR SPANIARDS.
at was not a camp out there" said
a Spanish officer, lit was d graveyard.
Between two and three hundred went
into the hospital daily. 1t was not
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 Il $50 for passage money TO
Spain That camp has been more hell
than anything in the war. There are
5000 out there, yet only a thousand
came in today, but they won't last long.
Dysentery, camp dySentery we call 1t,
and il IS worse than the plague, is car
rying them off
\ white-haired officer with stars and
bands OH his sleeves, but SO thin and
weak and pale that he looked more like
a skeleton than a man, walked down
the wharf. supported by his wife, who
Was as much il 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 OF board, the women to spend ten
days on q filthy, horrible troop ship.
Where are many women going thus,
wives OF officers who cannot pay for
Massage.
The Spanish troop ships bid fair to
rival old time slave ships in the misery
and suffering that viii be confined
within their sides on the voyage back
to Spain.
Our own soldiers We're sick. but the
conditions of the Spaniards are many
times worse than our men, who are
strong and healthy compared with
them. The Spaniards were not in this
condition when they marched to their
death camp just three weeks ago. How
far we IRE expected to provide care for
Vanquished foe is a question now
being discussed in this town. EverN
one admits and has admitted that the
Spariard has been q good enemy-a
good fighter, and the Americans who |
took off their hats to the Spanish on |
the 18th of July did so with true hon. !
age to brave men. AS the piI;fu. lines |
of Spanish prisoners stagScr through |
the streets of this city for the next |
week or so, feebly stepping out of the !
way of pedestrians. looking fearfully |
at rafting carts and in sad contrast
to our strong men in brown, >the Amer
leans who see them will be inclined i
again TO uncover their heads, prompted !
by the SAME feeling Of homage TO |
brave men.