OCR Text |
Show FLETCHER TELLS OF INSPECTION Conditions in Fortress of San Juan 'd Ulloa Verify Tales of Generations Ago. DEVICES OF TORTURE Dungeons Below Water Line Inmates Often Submerged, Half-blind and Matted With Dirt. Vera Cruz, April 29 Rear Admiral Fletcher's decision to remove all prisoners from the fortress of San Juan d Ulloa was reached after an inspection had been made by Commander Com-mander H. O. Stickuey. inspector of the port and the customs and by officers of-ficers detailed for that work. The Inspection by the American au thorities verified the tales, that had been written and told for generations, of the terrible conditions prevailing. Many dungeons were below the water line and when the tide was running in the Inmates, many of whom were half blind on account of their loug incarceration in semi-darkness, were drenched. Other dungeons were so constructed that it was Impossible for the victims to lie down Ancient devices de-vices of torture were discovered and there was evidence that these recent ly had been in use Among those held in confinement were men once of prominence; men who had been there so long that their minds were blank and men so enfeebled by the treatment they had received as to Insure their transfer to hospitals instead of to prisons. Prisoners' Pitiable Conditions. The appearance of the prisoners was pitiable Long beards in many cases were matted over dirty countenances on which once the fashionable element of the federal capital had looked, for many of those Imprisoned were once prominent in society, in politics and In the army. Each succeeding administration perpetuated the use of this ancient fortress os a prison a use to which It was put by the Spaniards The late Francisco I Madero, inspected the prison just prior to his taking charge of the government at Mexico City. He was horrified and asserted with much solemnity that his first of ficial act would be the removal of the prisoners and the conversion of the fortress into an arsenal Americans Take Over Prison. Commander Stlckney yesterday was ordered to take over the prison with its shops and everything pertaining to it The handling of and providing for the poor of Vera Cruz also was taken in hand The poor were begin nlng to suffer slightly for want of food when the American naval forces undertook the task of providing for; them. Not desirous, however, of pau periling them, work of a public char acter has been provided for the majority ma-jority of the needy. The American armed forces were augmented today by the arrival of two more transports which brought coast artillery Hospital Established The first American military hospital hospi-tal here was established toda under the charge of Surgeon Major A. W. Williams. Another refugee train from Mexico Ity came In yesterday afternoon bringing thirty Americans and some Germans and Englishmen An Ice plant was started in Vera Cruz for the first time since the landing land-ing of the American forces. |