The San Francisco call., 1898-10-08
.SPAN|ARDS IN
 AN UGLY MOOD Renewal of HOStilitieS Narrowly Averted. TROUBLE AT MANZANILL0 COLONEL RAY MARCHES HIS MEN INTO THE CITY. Invaders Line Up for Action Before They Take Possession of
 the Spanish Bar
 racks.
TROUBLE AT MANZANILL0 0
COLONEL RAY MARCHES HIS
 MEN INTO THE CITY.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

MANZANILLO, Oct This will be a day long to be remem bered in the his
 tory of Manzanillo. A fight was mar rowIy averted between the Spanish gar
 rison under Colonel Parron and the United States, under Colonel Ray-one battalion of the Third Immunes, who have arrived here from Santiago to take possession of the city.
 The arrival of the Americans had taken the Spanish commander by sur prise, and he had represented to Col
 onel Ray that he had received word from General Blanco informing him that the date for the American occupa- ton had been postponed 10 OctooeI 4J 1 He requested Colonel Ray to cable for additional instructions. The latter con sented to do so and sent a dispatch to ! General Lawton at Santiago.
 At ' O'cIock this morning Colonel Ray, not having heard from General LaWton to the contrary, sent word by Adiutant Collins to Colonel ParrOn i that in accordance with his insJruc- tions, he should march his men to the city from the dock mile away, where l the transport had moved at the re- quest of Colonel Parron, and would take possession of the public buildings
 in the name of the colonel
 At s o'clock the battalion was in ! motion, with colors flying. Colonel Ray marched toward the city. but before the troops reached the city gate Ad- ] jutant Collins arrived with Colonel Parron's reply. The latter said he had no objection to surrendering the GUS tom house at once, provided the AmeTi- can flag was not raised. Colonel Ray
 retorted that the United States was not | accustomed to taking possession with out displaying the insignia of its soV- ] ereignty.
 The march was then continued to-
 ward the city. When the troops
 passed the guard at the gate-a body of twenty-five-the latter lined up and saluted. The report soon spread through the city that the Americans streets were soon thronged by appar- ently the whole population. men,
 women and children turning out by thousands as the regiment marched to-
 ward the principal square, where it halted
 At this point a Spanish bugler l sounded the call to arms, and the Span | ish garrison turned out to the number ! Of 500 men on the other side Of the | square. Colonel Ray visited Colonel l Parron at the palace, and a somewhat l stormy interview took place between ] them, with the aid of an interpreter. Colonel Parron said the American troops must be removed at once. Colo nel Ray refused and Parron said he
 would use force. Ray answered: If you wish to precipitate further hostili- ties with the United States, l am un- able to prevent 1t. But so far as l am concerned, I have certain orders, which,
 as a soldier, I am bound to carry out. I appreciate the position in which ydu find yourself, but am unable to help
 you. If the United States troops are
 fired upon 1 believe the men who are with me are quite able to take care of themselves, even though little out
 numbered, and although I am opposed
 to a useless waste of life. I shall face the issue in any way it suits you"
 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, it
 was decided not to take action until the
 cable office should be closed at o'clock
 this evening, Colonel Ray asserting that if by that time no further instruc-
 tions had been received he would take action immediately before nightfall-
 On leaving the palace the two col onels walked to the square, where they arrived just In time to prevent a col lision between their forces. It appears that some Spanish officers who had
 misunderstood an order from Colonel Parron had just notified the American troops that they must leave 1mmedf- ately Captain Frost, in command dur ing Colonel Rays absence refused to comply, whereupon he was told that the blood of his men would be on their own heads
 At this moment Colonel Ray came up. and Captain Frost reported the occur renee. Colonel Parron promptly order ed his over-zealous subordinate away.
 It was Colonel Rays firm intention
 to take action as soon as the cable closed, and 1t was evident that the sol diers on both sides were quite ready to try conclusions. the Spanish officers not taking kindly to evacuation.
 But some time before the cable closed Colonel Ray received a dispatch from General Wade explaining that the commander of the Spanish troops at Manzanillo had requested a delay until October 10 and that the formal evacu- ation was, therefore postponed.