The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-04-24
OUR TROOPS AT PANAMA.
Commander Kane's Story Of the
Insurgents Work.
The United States Forces Needed
for a While Longer.

Commodore Walker, chief of the bureau of
navigation at Washington, has received the
following telegram from Commander McCAla
at Panama: "The force from the Atlantic sta
ton was received yesterday. l have just
passed over the lines of the railroad. The politi-
cal condition of the isthmus is chaotic. If the
transit is to be kept open a short stay
must not be contemplated. The entire naval
force now at Aspinwall and Panama should
remain for the present The situation at
Panama is unsettled. The example set at
Aspinwall will be precedent for the disaf-
fected for some time to Gomez
Commander Kane, of the United States
steamer Gaena, has made a report to Secre-
tary Whitney, relative to the burning of
Aspinwall by insurgents on the afternoon of
March 81 AMI the part taken by his command
for the protection of American citizens and
their property. The commander says:
about 1880 p. NJ. on March 80 it was re-
ported to me that the American steamer CO.
lon had a small American flag at the fore,
union down, and that they were signaling
from her that the steamer was being sezel
by the insurgent troops. | Immediately sent
boat to the Colon in charge of Lieutenant
Judd to see what the trouble was.
This ship was at the time lying
aJ dlcuOT ABOUT Ulllcb nun lrtl yards lGOln
and abreast of this northern wharf of the
island, and the steamer Colon was moored at
the Pacific Mail Steamship company's wharf
having arrived that morning from New
York. Lieutenant Judd returned in about
half an hour, bringing with him the United
States consul, Mr.. Wright, and informed me
that there were arms and ammunition on
board the Colon, and that Senior z. Preston
the chief of the nsurgent forces here,
had demanded the delivery of the arms; that
.~an Nl,,I ID,
cific Mail Steamship company, was under ar
rest, and that Preston had promised not to
interfere with the steamer before 3 r. NJ ,
when the general agent of the Pacific Mail
Steamship company Captain Dow would
arrive from Panama, provided the Galena
put no force on board the steamer in
the meantime At 2:45 | sent Lieu
tenant Judd, who was accompanied by the
United States consul and Naval Cadet Rich
ardson, to meet Captain Dow and direct him
not to deliver any arms without my order
and also to communicate with Preston AMI
say | desired an interview with him Lieu
tenant Judd met Captain Dow at the steam
ship office at the head OF the dock, where were
also Preston and some of his al les. Lieuten-
ant Judd communicated my Instructions and
Preston at once called in some of his guards
and arrested Lieutenant Judd, the United
States consul and Captain Dow, and ordered
them taken to prison"
Commander Kane then gives the partcu-
lars, Vi llle subsequent TtitaNe OF Une DrlSOl-
ers upon the consul, under threat of death
giving Preston an order for the arms; of his
prompt measures for the safety of the Colon;
the subsequent re1rreSt and escape of the two
Pacifi, mail local officers. and the burning of
the town by the insurgents "The crew of
her British maiesty's gun vessel Lily rem
dered great assistance he says, lin saving
the shipping OF the wharves none of
which was destroyed The fire did not OK
tend to the Panama Canal company S property
at Christoph Colon All that has been saved
of the town of Aspinwall is due to the pro
lection afforded by this ship and the efficiency
and hard work of the officers and men in
session of all American property on the island
that has been saved The Colombian troop.
to the number of about 100 men are here anC
their duty consists in holding prisoners; they
give but little assistance in guarding The
town.
1.-THE complications of the afternoon of
March 80 could have been avoided had beer
informed in time regarding the arms on the
Colon. Everything had been quiet since the
18th ut, (the date of my last dispatch to the
department1 negotiations for peace were be
ing considered, and it was believed that tn,
government forces at Panama were too veal
to attack this place, The town has QuieteC
down. Thousands of people have left fo
Jamaica and Panama and other point
on the railroad. There is no govern
ment here now. The small body Of Colon
ban government troops occupy few of tn,
old houses that have been saved, and are
being fed by the Panama railroad company
and this ship and their prisoners have been
removed to a steamer at anchor in the har
Dor and are well guarded. The Panama
railroad company is getting its road in order
and occasionally trains are dispatched owe
the line. The Alliance has just arrived am
will land her force in the morning.