The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-10
HAD ORDERS TO RESIST
Fierce Fight Narrowly Avoided
at Manzanillo.
ODDS WERE AGAINST US
Three Hundred Americans Against
Twelve Hundred spaniards-Parron
swore That Spanish Honor Had
Suffered q Blow.

Manzanillo. Oct. 8. delayed in trans
mission--The Spanish troops expect to
leave ManzanilIo General
Parron. the Spanish commander will
turn the city over to the mayor. who
will make the official ransfer to Colonel
Ray. representing the United States. on
Monday.
a collision between the Spanish garri-
son and Colonel Rays troops yesterday
was. IL appears. even nearer that SEEM
ed to be the case. General Parron's or
ders from Havana were to resist the
Americans to the utmost. Additional
rounds had been issued to the troops
and the volunteers woul have probably
and the volunteers would have probably
as against fewer than 800 Americans.
Colonel Ray would certainly nav obey
ed his original Instructions when the
hour for closing the cable arrived and
remained only the slightest chance of
avoiding a fierce engagement with the
odds largely against the Americans,
both i'm number and arms. The Span
iards were armed with Mausers. while
the Americans had Springfields.
The echoes of yesterdays excitement
have not died way. Though General
Parron, on the surface, is courteous and
dignity personified. he created a great
scene at the palace after the incident,
striking terror to the hearts OF his sub
! ordinates. He cursed in flowing Cas-
lillian. completely forgot his dignity,
n with the oaths of a longshoreman,
vowed that the honor of the Spanish
drmy had suffered a blow. The Spaniard
TO blame for Ii. he declared, must die,
and hat quickly.
In his fury he sent for the military
commander. but it was found hat this
officer had left with the Spanish troops
on the Josefina the night before. Then
he sent for the adjutant general and
asked him why the Americans should
have been let through the city gates.
The reply was a disclaimer of author
ity and a suggestion that the inquiry
should be put to the officer who was In
charge of the guard. Then IL was dis
covered that the officer had been with
drawn several days before, leaving a
sergeant in command.
When the sergeant arrived he declared
hat General Parron's orders were to
permit the Americans to pass. "That
was the mules" shrieked Parron, moi
the soldiers. Away with him to the
guard house"
The luckless sergeant has been CURT
martialed. At first il was reported that
he was to be hot tomorrow OF day
break. T~hereupon Collector Donaldson
and the Rev. Mr.. Zimmerman. a private
citizen. 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 soldiers, and
promised that IL there was a conviction,
he would infict the minimum penalty
probably only a few days BAY. AS the
Spanish rank and file receive no pay
anyway, this would be no great infiic-
ton.
The Spaniards had intended taking
ava the lantern of the Cape Cruz light
house. with the -appurtenances. claiming
the whole as movable property. but
Colonel Ray objected and the Span
iards, after being shown a copy of the
evacuation agreement, abandoned their
intention.