The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-23
DIARY Of 4 Prisoner
Which ExempIifies Aguin-
aIdo's Tender Mercies.
INSULT AND STARVATION
Fall to Enemies Unfortunate
Enough TO be Caught.

New York. July 22.-The Eevening Post
publishes the following letter. under the
caption The Diary of a Prisoner" Of
date San Isidro, P. L. May 20: -
When the Oregon regiment entered tins
second capital OF the Filipino republic, it
found extensive hospitals and prisons that
had been lately used. There Is a large
convent building here, much dilapidated,
where until recently 800 wounded Fill
pinos were cared for, after a fashion.
They lacked proper medical attendance,
nursing, and hospital appliances gener-
ally, and I was assured by a Spsniard
who lives here that fully one-haIf of them
would die unless they received better at
tention than in the past The American
advance has rendered it necessary TO re-
move the wounded several times, and the
mortality among them has been largely
increased in consequence. This is also
true Of the Spanish and American pris-
oners, who have been gradually moved
back, and have suffered severely in con-
sequence, both in comfort and in depriva-
ton Of food.
While here, the prisoners were confined
in an old brick structure, which has evil
IDENTIFY served as a state prison for a
great many years. In one room, or cell,
were found the names of fourteen Ameri-
can prisoners written on the wall in char
coal; also under the floor was a portion
OF diary kept by one OF them. The first
and last parts are missing, so that the
circumstances under which the writer
was captured are not known. However,
he mentions the name of Brown" as
associated with him, but the list contains
no such name. leaving the inference that
the writer was mistaken in the mans
name
The dates Of capture Of the first five
were prior to the breaking out Of hostili-
ties, showing that AguInaldo was captur-
ing Americans and holding them prison.
ers even while pretending to be on the
most friendly terms with the Americans.
The fact is that a state of war actually
existed on Aguinaldos part long before
he attacked Manila, Notwithstanding the
repeated cables from General Otis to
Washington that 81 have the situation
well in hand at do not anticipate any
serious trouble" etc. Americans were not
permitted to pass the Filipinos' outposts.
though we let them through ours at will,
and all Americans found within their
lines were arrested. Several confined in
this way were released upon application
Of the United States military authorities,
but the men I refer to were not so for I
tunate They went out prospecting with /
out permission, except the first, who was
civilian prospector. The man from the |
Third artillery was captured on outpost
while the Yorktown's boat crew was cap
tured while making q Reconnaissance on
the coast.
The room In which the men were con-
fined is 12x1S feet in size, with a badly
dilapidated wooden floor. In Il, as well
rs in all the other rooms, was found a set
Of stocks. the use OF which seems to have
been a favorite punishment with the
Spaniards. There is nothing to show that
Our men were subjected to this indignity |
and torture. The mural roster and the
fragment Of manuscript diary are as fol- |
lows:
Captured january a. 1851. o'Brien. |
prospector; A. Sonnichson, U. s. T, Ser:
II. Huber, hospital corps.
Captured January S0-w. Bruce, First
Nevada; E. Honnyman, cavalry.
Captured April IA Bishop, battery
H, Third artillery.
o. S. 8. Yorktown-Captured April u.
1899: Lieutenant Gilmore, U. s. N; w.
Walton. On. Q. NJ; P vandoit, s. NJ NJ:
J. Ellsworth, coxswain; L. P. Edwards.
landsman; s. Brisolese. ordinary seaman:
A. Peterson, apprentice; F. Anderson.
landsman.
Men, women and children all fleeing /
rom the advancing Americans. A couple
OF hours march brought us into Kungiw