Evening star., 1914-05-18
ESCAPE Of 90 REFUGEES
FROM MANzAN|LL0, MEX.
British Steamer Cetriana, at Its
Own Peril, Effects
Their Rescue.
Timely Arrival Of the United States
Cruiser Raleigh-Anti-American
Feeling on West Coast.

SAN FRANCISCO. May 18.-Stories
told today by the ninety refugees who
arrived here yesterday on the British
steamer Cetriana from the west coast
of Mexico supplied additional details
to the account of their escape from
Manzanillo Mexico.
But for the timely arrival of the
United States cruiser Raleigh as the
Cetriana was preparing to sail, refugees
expressed the belief that the Mexicans
would have destroyed the steamer and
wreaked vengeance on the Americans
aboard.
The Cetriana, commanded by Lieut..
Edward ]. Minister, British naval re-
serve. had taken on at San Bias. April
26. party of seventeen Americans
from the inland town Of Tepic. Those
in this party were being held as pris-
oners, and it was difficult for Lieut..
Minister to obtain their release The
vessel proceeded to Manzanillo, ar
riving there April 81. and was permit
ted to tie up at the wharf and take on
board thfrty-seven refugees who had
been under the protection of the Ger
man consul.
Intense Anti-American Feeling.
Feeling was running high against the
Americans. News of the occupation Of
Vera Cruz by the United States had be-
gun to trickle out to the west coast,
and it was generally believed that war
had been declared.
The day after the Cetriana's arrival
| it was discovered that the dock during
the night had been soaked with oil and
| mined with dynamite. Lieut.. Minister
promptly armed his passengers and
kept close watch. Shortly afterward
the Mexican steamer Luella. laden
with infiammable material, steamed
feet of the Cetriana- The Mexican
troopships. Manuel Herrerias and
| General Pesquiera, were observed tC
take such positions in the stream as
! almost to block egress by the British
steamer.
Sought Release of Refugees.
| On board the brig Geneva were foul
American refugees who had been picked
| up at San Bias. These Lieut.. Minister
! was trying to get aboard the Cetriana.
On the 2Sth the United States cruiser
| Raleigh was sighted. From the decks OF
the Cetriana great commotion was noted
ashore. Mexicans ran down to the docks
| poured more oil on the wharf and the
refugees believed they intended destroy
ing the steamer before the Raleigh coulo
! come to the rescue.
| Lieut.. Minister by skillful maneuver
| ing worked his vessel clear of the Graf
surrounding 1t. Observing the departure
of the Cetriana. Capt. w. H. Ferguson o,
the Geneva assembled his crew and the
| four refugees were put into small boats
and placed aboard the British vessel
Threat to Ram the Cetriana.
The Herrerias weighed anchor and bore
down on the Cetriana apparently, it wa:
believed, for the purpose of rammine
her. This ship had on board a number
of convicts who, in the midst of tn.
excitement. attempted to escape. They
\ jumped into the water near the Cetrians
and the steamers passengers were en-
dangered by the fusillade of rifle shot.
fired at the swimmers by soldiers on tn,
transport
Before the Herrerias could reach tn,
!, Cetriana the Raleigh came up and a
once dominated the situation. The Get
riana then proceeded.