The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-10
FEAST At THE TROCHA HOTEL
SPANIARDS ENTERTAINED BY AMER
ICANS AT A HAVANA SUBURB.
Commissioners Sampson Indisposed
Two Regiments for Porto Rico.

MANZANILLO, Oct. delayed in trans
mission 1.-The Spanish troops expect to
leave Manzanillo tomorrow. General Par
ron, the Spanish commander, will turn the
city over to the mayor, who will make the
official transfer to Colonel Ray, represent
ing the United States, on Monday. General
Parron paid visit to Colonel Ray this
morning and the two officers exchanged
compliments. The conversation touched
mainly upon military life in the tropics.
All the political prisoners here have been
released. The military convicts will be
taken to Cienfuegos and sent thence to
Havana, possibly afterward to Spain. For
ty Spanish soldiers now in the hospital will
leave with the retiring forces and so by
train to Havana, whence they will be sent
by hospital ship to Spain.
A collision between the Spanish garrison
and Colonel Rays troops yesterday was, it
appears, even nearer than then seemed to
be the case. General Parron's orders from
Havana were to resist the Americans to the
utmost Additional rounds of ammunition
had been issued to the troops. With the
volunteers the Spanish force would prob
ably have numbered 1900, as against fewer
than 800 Americans. Colonel Ray would GER
tainly have obeyed his original instructions
when the hour for closing the cable ar
rived and there would have been only the
slightest chance of avoiding a fierce engage
ment, with the odds largely against the
Americans both in numbers and in arms.
The Spaniards were armed with Mausers,
while the Americans have Springfields.
The echoes OF yesterdays excitement have
not died away. Though General Parron,
on the surface, is courteousness and dignity
perscnified he created a great scene at
the palace after the incident, striking ter
ror to the hearts of his subordinates. He
cursed in flowing Castilian, completely for
got his dignity, and with the oaths of a
'longshoreman, vowed that the honor of
the Spanish army had suffered a blow. The
Spaniard to blame for it, he declared, must
die, and that quickly. In his fury he sent
for the military commander; but it was
found that this officer had left with the
Spanish troops on the Josefita the night
before Then he sent for the adjutant gen.
eral and asked him why the Americans
should have been let through the city gate
The reply was a disclaimer of authority
and a suggestion that the inquiry should
be put to the officer who was in charge of
the guard Then it was discovered that
the officer had been withdrawn several days
before, leaving the sergeant In command.
When the sergeant arrived he declared that
General Parrons orders were to permit the
Americans to pass. THAT was the mules"
shrieked Parron, mot the soldiers. Away
with him to the guardhouse."
The luckless sergeant has been court
martialed. At first it was reported that
he was to be shot tomorrow at daybreak.
Thereupon Collector Donaldson and Rev.
Mr.. Zimmerman, as private citizens, called
upon General Parron to entreat him to do
what he could for the unfortunate man.
Parron replied that he was grateful for
the sympathetic feeling displayed by the
Americans in the welfare of the Spanish
soldier, and promised that. if there was
conviction, he would inf1ict the minimum
penalty-probably the loss of only a few
days pay. AS the Spanish rank and file
receive no pay anyway, this would be no
very great infiiction.
The Spaniards had intended taking away
the lantern of the Cape Cruz lighthouse,
with the appurtenances claiming the whole
as movable property, but Colonel Ray OBJ
jected, and the Spaniards. after being
shown a copy of the evacuation agreement,
abandoned their intention