The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-08
CLASH AT MANZANILLO.
American Commander Who Proposed
to Obev Orders.

ManzaniIlo. Oct. This will be day
long to be remembered in the history OF
Manzanillo. A fight was narrowly avertec
between the Spanish garrison under
Colonel Parron and the United States
troops under Colonel Ray, one battalion
of the Third immunes. who have arrived
here from Santiago to take possession
The arrival of the Americans had taken
the Spanish commander by surprise and
he represented to Colonel Ray that he
had received word from General BlancO
informing him that the date for the
American occupation had been postponed
to Oct. 10. He requested Colonel Ray to
cable for additional instructions. The lat
ter consented to do so and sent dis
patch to General Lawton at Santiago.
AT o'clock this morning. Colonel Ray
not having heard from General LawtOn
to the contrary sent word by Adjutant
Collins to Colonel Parron that. in ac-
cordance with his instructions. he should
march his men to the city from the docks,
a mile away. where the United States
transport had moved at the request OF
Colonel Parron, and would take posses
sion of the public buildings in the name
of the United States.
At o'clock the battalion was in notion
with colors flying.
When the troops passed the guard
at the gate. a body of 3. lined and salut-
ed. The report soon spread through the
city that the Americans had arrived with
colors flying ara the streets We're soon
thronged by apparently the whole popu-
lation. men. women and children turning
out by thousands as the regiment marched
toward the principal square, where it
CALL TO ARMS.
At this point a Spanish bugler sounded
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 a somewhat stormy inter-
nlqRO Them
aid of an Interpreter Colonel Parron said
the American troops must be removed at
once. Colonel Ray refused. Colonel Par
ron declared he would use force. Colonel
RAY answered:
IF you wish to precipitate further hos
tilities with the United States. l am I'M
able to prevent IT. But so far as l am
concerned, 1 have certain orders, which,
as a soldier. / am bound to carry out. l
appreciate 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 themselves, even
though am opposed to a useless waste of
life. l shall face the issue in any way it
suits you
Colonel Parron said he would immediate
ly order the arrest of the officer who al
lowed the American troops to pass the
city gate.
Colonel Ray retorted: IF he had re-
fused I sho-ld have been under the I'M
pleasant necessity of shooting him and
then forcing an entrance"
After considerable discussions 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
with. ii was decided not
to take action until the cable office should
be closed at o'clock this evening.
1t was Colonel Rays firm intention to
take action as soon as the cable office
closed. and it was evident that the soldiers
on both sides were quite ready to try
the Spanish officers not TAX
nix kindly to evacuation.
But some time before the cable closed
Colonel Ray received a dispatch from
General Wade. explaining that the COM
nander of the Spanish troops at Manzan-
llo had requested delay until Oct. TO-
md that the formal evacuation was
therefore. postponed.
The United States troops remain in the |
by permission of Colonel Par |
'on.