The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-07-15
WOES OF A vANQUIsHED FOE.
Spanish Prisoners From Santiago Quar-
tered on Seavey's Island.

spanish Prisoners FROM Santiago Quar-
tered on Seavey's Island.
Portsmouth, N. H.. July 1s.-The
Spanish prisoners who were brought to
port in the st. Louis from Santiago.
numbering 500 OF the men who formed
part of the crew of Admiral Cervera' g
squadron, are tonight sleeping peace
fully and in comparative comfort in the
new barracks erected for them on Sea-
vey's island. Around them Is guard
Of 125 marines. The work of deba1ka-
tion was accomplished in just two
hours, under the direction of Colonel
Ferney. The prisoners were marched
to the island, where, on a plat of
ground, each man deposited, under the
eyes of the marine guard, whatever be-
longings he possessed. 1t was a
pathetic sight from beginning to end,
and such as would bring tears to many
eyes.
The poor wretched creatures strug-
| gled up the hillside, clad for the most
part in rags, some of the men being
covered only with the fragments of a
tablecloth or a blanket, while others
had on portions of what was once uni
form. When the men landed some of
them we're so weak that they could not
stand. and lay on the giound until
stretchers were brought, and were car
ried by their comrades to the main
road, where they were placed on the
grass. Here the rays of the sunshine
and the cool, refreshing breezes from
across the Piscataquis seemed to
strengthen them, and most Of them
were later able to follow the others to
the place where they were mustered.
Many of the prisoners had wounds that
were still unhealed, and their heads
and arms showed the effects of the ter
1ible fire they had gone through.
The crew of the Cristobal Colon were
landed in body. They were better
clad and evidently better fed than the
other men, for they bore a semblance
of the Spanish sailor In makeup.
They brought ashore bags filled with
clothing. Thirty members of the
Colon's crew were, however, severely
wounded, and had to be carried on
stretchers. The unloading of the crowd
was witnessed by thousands Of people
on shore and in boats, and 1t may be
said with all sincerity that during the
two hours occupied with the task, not
a sneer or jeer was heard, nor an act
performed which might have given
offense to the prisoners.
The most interesting part of the
landing of the men was the duty per-
formed by Captain Merou. of the Colon,
the once hearty and iovial officer. the
favorite captain Of the Spanish navy,
standing on the height Of land where
the men came ahsore, clad in a tatte,ed
uniform of white duck trousers and
blue coat, book In hand, the mastering
officer of the Spanish prisoners. His
heavy voice called out the names of the
prisoners and credited each to the ves-
sci to which he Individually was once
member. When the muster out, as it
seemed to be, was finished, the men
were marched to temporary barracks,
which will serve as prison for them.
OF the number landed 80 have been
taken to the hospital suffering from
wounds, while not few have minor
ills.
Among the officers there were four
lieutenants, two ensigns and one pay
master, and these, through some mis-
understanding of orders from Washing
ton, were returned to the St. Louis. 1t
is understood that these officers will be
landed again tomorrow.
The line officers will be auartered at
the marine barracks.
1t was interesting to watch the way
in which the Spanish prisoners accept
ed the fortunes of war. After break
ing ranks they looked about and saw
mattresses and couches, and many
other comforts which had not been
their lot for many years in barracks,
and as they looked them over they ap-
peared to accept the situation with
much cheerfulness. They walked
around with dignifed air, and seemed
to grow happy as appetizing odors were
waited to them from the large kitchen.
THE HAWAIIAN GUARD.