The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-10-08
Big BATTLE AVERTED.
Almost a Fight Between Our Troops
and Spanish at Manzanillo.
COLONEL RAY WAS UNDIsMAYED.

Went to Take Possession of the City.
According to Orders, and Did Not
Learn of the Change OF Date Until
After His Arrival.
Manzanillo, Cuba, oct. 8.-Yesterday
will be a day long to be remembered
in the history of Manzanillo. A fight
was narrowly averted between the
Spanish garrison under Colonel Parron
and the United States troops under
Colonel Ray, who arrived here from
Santiago on Wednesday to take pos
session OF the city.
The arrival of the Americans had
taken the Spanish commander by sur
prise, and he had represented to Colo
mel Ray that he had received word
from General Blanco informing him
that the date for the American Occu-
patton had been postponed to oct. 10.
He requested Colonel Ray to cable
for additional instructions. The latter
consented to do so, ana sent a dis
patch to General Lawton at Santiago.
At o'clock yesterday morning Colo
mel Ray, not having heard from Cen
eral Lawton to the contrary, sent word
by Adjutant Collins to Colonel Parron
that, in accordance with his instruc-
tions, he should march his men to the
city from the dock mile away, where
the United States transport Reina de
los Angeles had moved at the request
Of Colonel Parron, and would take pos
session Of the public buildings in the
name of the United States.
At 8 o'clock the battalion was in mo-
tlon, with colors flying. Colonel Ray
l...Ng
the troops reached the city gate Adju-
tant Collins arrived with Colonel Par
! ron's reply The latter said ne had no
objection to surrendering the custom
house at once, provided the American
! flag was not raised. Colonel Ray re-
torted that the United States was not
accustomed to taking possession with
out displaying the insignia of its SOW
ereignty.
The march was then continued to-
ward the city. When the troops passed
| the guard at the gate-a body of 25-
the latter lined up and saluted The
report soon spread through the city
that the Americans had arrived with
colOrs flying, and the streets were soon
thrOnged by apparently the whole
population, men, women and children
turning out by thousands as the regl
ment marched toward the principal
square, where it halted.
At this point a Spanish buglec sound
| ed the call to arms, and the Spanish
garrison turned out to the number Of
| 500 men on the other side of the square.
Colonel Ray visited Colonel Parron at
| the palace, and somewhat stormy in
terview took place between them, with
the aid of an interpreter The Spanish
| i 4
from Colonel Ray that matters were
to remain over until Oct. 10, and that
he considered himself tricked. Colonel
Ray explained that he had never said
anything of the sort, that his instruc-
tions were to take possession Of the
city on oct. Z, that he had cabed for
further instructions, and, not having
received any, that he had proceeded
to act upon his original orders.
| Thereupon Colonel Parron said the
American troops must be removed at
| once. Colonel Ray refused. Colonel
| Parron declared he would use force.
| Colonel Ray answered: IF you wish
to precipitate further hostilities with
the United States l am unable to pre-
vent it. But so far as l am concerned
have certain orders which, as SOL
dier, 1 am bound to carry out. l ap-
| preciate the position in which you find
| yourself, but am unable to help you
| If the United States troops are fired
upon l believe the men who are with
| me are quite able to take care Of them
selves, even though a little outnumber-
ed, and although l am opposed to use
less waste of life 1 shall face the issue
| in any way it suits you"
Colonel Parron said he would i'm
mediately order the arrest of the Of
f1cer who allowed the American troops
to pass the city gate.
Colonel Ray retorted: "If he had re-
fused 1 should have been under the
unpleasant necessity of shooting him
and then forcing an entrance"
After considerable discussion and
many requests on the part of Colonel
Parron that Colonel Ray should take
his men out Of the city until General
Blanco could be communicated with, 1t
was decided not to take action until
| the cable office had closed at o'clock
in the afternoon.
On leaving the palace the two colo
nels walked to the square, where they
arrived just in time to prevent a col
lision between their forces. 1t appears
that some Spanish officer, who had mis-
understood an order from Colonel Par
ron, had just notified the American
troops that they must leave immedi-
ately. Captain Frost, in command
during Colonel Rays absence, refused
to comply, whereupon he was told that
the blood of his men would be upon
their own heads.
At this moment Colonel Ray came up,
and Captain Frost repeated the occur
renee. Colonel ParrOn promptly or
dered his over Jealous subordinate
away.
Some time before the cable closed
Colonel Ray received a dispatch from
General Wade explaining that the COM
mander of the Spanish troops at Man
zanillo had requested a delay until
Oct. 10, and that the formal evacuation
was, therefore, postponed
The United States troops remained in
the barracks last night by permission
of Colonel Parron, and today withdrew
from the city, to return again on Mon.
day.
Smith Defeats McKeeVer.
New York Oct S-"MysteriOus" Bill