New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-30
Ancient Fortress OF San
Juan de Ulua Gives Up
Its Victims.
ALL BUT 400 OF
1,4OO RELEASED
Well Known Women of American
Colony at Mexico Visit Hos
pital Ship Solace.
By ARTHUR RUHL.


yera Cruz. April 29.-When the
American flag was raised over the
ancient prison and fortress OF san
Imam de Ulua yesterday that famous
landmark Of Vera Cruz Harbor and
relic OF the Middle Ages passed Into the
charge of Captain Paul Chamberlain
I'D marines Of the North Dakota.
II through last weeks fighting and
III, uncertainty of succeeding days the
Mex. IN flag floated above the old tur-
rets. il was supposed that there
were Sc, al torpedoes in the prison
which Nigh ~onceivably be Launched
at the Prairie. nchored scarcely TWO
hundred yards q. V. In fact, the
Praitie's commander I'd warned the
commandante Of the fort at he would
fire on 1t at the first sign Of activity
near the torpedo tube.
The prison is on an island, and the
scarcity of provisions at last compelled
the commander. Colonel Aurelio Vigil,
TO ask that II be turned peaceably over
TO the Americans. and Captain Cham
berlain. Lieutenant G.. X. Shuler and
company Of marines from the North
Dakota quietly took possession, the
commandante and officers and their
families continuing for the present to
occupy their usual quarters in the fort.
Creepy Sight Meets Eyes.
No stage manager putting on The
Count Of Monte Cristo" could imagine
anything more creepy than the sigh.
which met the eyes Of the American
officers when the keys were turned in
the rusty OLD barred doors and they
entered the ancient vaults. The prison
was built In the sixteenth century, with
walls six feet thick, meats, subter-
ranean dungeons and vaults.
All the rooms are unlighted except
for a single shaft of light falling verti-
cally like searchllght from an
opening about a foot square in the
centre Of the vaulted roof. Your cor
respondent was permitted to visit sew
eral OF these gloomy chambers, where
prisoners. looking more like animals
than men, stood up in line to receive
him.
OF the 400 prisoners in the place
until recently several hundred political
prisoners were, it is understood. re-
leased by General Mas. The 400 re-
manning include few criminals. but
the most of them are merely poor,
abject poems, raked up In Southern
Mexico and brought north 10 serve in
Huerta's army. All when questioned
told the same story, that they had been
captured in the State Of Tabasco and
shipped north to Vera Cruz.
Air in Dungeons Foul.
One Of the dungeons in which nearly
a hundred were confined had no high
or ventilation except q small square
hole in the vaulted roof, and the all
was so foul and close that one comine
in from outside could scarcely endure
il. From this dungeon two subter-
ranean passages led of for some Iittl:
distance until terminated by Il blari
wall. These tunnels had no light or al
Of any kind and were shut off from tn
main dungeon by heavy iron bars.
1t has often been said that there yer
dungeons in san Juan de Tlua q
which sea water came at high tide
The officers found none, although IN
walls and floors were wet with waite
that had seeped through, and the room
were alive with cockroaches and othe
vermin.
The prisoners coming from Tabasc
for the Federal army were released tc
day. Only prisoners with Grimm;
charges against them are held, an
they will be transferred to other qual
tiers.
Meanwhile all were fed we'll on arm
rations. Among them were boys
twelve years and men over sevent
years old. The majority were poems
the farmer class. found IN Mexico {
tobacco and sugar plantations.
Women Visit Hospital Ship.
Several women well known in q
American colony in Mexico City. +
gether with a number OF Engli:
women waiting for their turn TO "a
as soon IS the Ypiranga is release
visited the United States hospital sh
Solace this morning. They had dl
cussed informally the forming OF re
Cross society in case IT could be usefI
or would be necessary, and the visit (
The Solace followed this meeting.
Medical Inspector Won Wcdek'