Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1898 — PRISONERS OF WAR. [ARTICLE]

PRISONERS OF WAR.

Cervera and Nearly 800 captured Members of His Command Reach Portsmouth, N. H. Portsmouth, N. H., July 11. —The auxiliary cruiser St. Louis, with 746 Spanish soldiers, including 54 officers, arrived in Portsmouth harbor at 8:30 o’clock Sunday morning, and a few minutes later dropped anchor just above Fishing island. The big liner left Guantanamo at six o’clock Tuesday afternoon, July 5, and did not. make a stop until she dropped anchor in Portsmouth harbor. Including the prisoners there were 1,036 people on board the boat and out of this number there ape 91 sick and wounded Spaniards under the care of surgeons. Admiral Cervera is confined to his cabin, having been.quite ill for the past three days, although he was able to be dressed Sunday morning. Capt. Eip late, who was commander of the Vizcaya and is among the prisoners, is also quite ill, having been wounded in the head during the battle off Santiago. All of the Spanish commissioned officers have been on parole and had the freedom of the ship with one exception and he was the governor of Santiago de Cuba, who was trying to escape from the city on Admiral Cervera’s flagship when she was destroyed on that memorable morning of July 3. He refused to sign the parole papers and was consequently confined in one of the cabins under guard. The remainder of the prisoners were confined between decks and closely guarded. A detachment of 28 marines from the United States ship Brooklyn, under Lieut. Bordan, and 21 marines from the United States ship Marblehead 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, On the way up from Santiago a number of the Spanish seamen said that they had had enough of fighting, at least with the Yankees. The bringing of Admiral Cervera to the United States does not signify that the proposition to parole him has been finally dismissed. It has been simply postponed for a time, though it may be surmised that the admiral will be much more comfortable here until the feeling of unnatural resentment displayed against him in Spain has subsided. The cruiser Harvard arrived off Fort Constitution with 400 Spanish prisoners from Santiago at nine o’clock Sunday night. The prisoners will be brought, up to the city this morning. .Annapolis, Md., July 11.—Capt. P. H. Cooper, superintendent of the naval academy, has computed his preparations for the care of the 80 Spanish officers, including Admiral Cervera, recently captured off Santiago de Cuba.