Strawbery Banke Presents
HISTORIC PORTSMOUTH #82

After summering in a makeshift prison on Seavey’s island, roughly 1,600 prisoners of the Spanish American War returned home. Most left in better condition. Sadly, some died. Tourists grew fond of watching  the POWs as they performed mock bullfights and washed their dishes in the river off Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Here sightseers wave goodbye to prisoners aboard the "City of Rome" in September 1898.