Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-04-23
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 or
navigation at Washington, has received ths
following telegram from Commander McCalIa
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. II tha
transit is to be kept open a short stay
must not be contemplated The entire naval
force now at AspinwaI and Panama should
remain for the present The situation at
Panama is unsettled. The example sct III
Aspinwall win be precedent for the disaf-
fected for some time to come
Commander Kane, Of the United States
steamer GaIena, has made report to sere-
tary Whitney, relative to the burning 81
Aspinwall by insurgents on the afternoon OF
March II, and the part taken by his command
for the protection Of American citizens a1d
theIr property. The commander says:
About 1890 p NJ on March 80 it was re-
ported TO me that the American steamer CO..
Ion had small American flag at the fore,
union down, and that they were signaling
from her that the steamer was being seized
by the insurgent troops. Immediately sent
boat to the Colon in charge Of Iieutenaut
Judd 20 see what the trouble was
This ship was at the time living
at anchor about three hundred yards from
and abreast Of this northern wharf of the
island, and the steamer Colon was moored at
the Pacific Mail Steamship company1s wharf.
having arrived that morning from New
York Lieutenant Judd returned in about
nan an hour, bringing with him the United
States consul, Mr. Wright and informed me
that there were arms and ammunition On
boarI the Colon, and that Senior z. Preston,
the chief of the insurgent forces here
had demanded the delivery OF the arms; that
Mr. Connor, the Aspinwall agent of the Pa
chic Mail Steamship company was under ar.
rest, and that Preston had promised NOT Ia
interfere with the steamer before 3 P MI
when the general agent Of the Pacific Mail
steamship company, Captain Dow would
arrive from Panama, provided the Galara
put no force on board the steamer N
the meantime. At 2:45 I sent Iie,7-
tenant Judd, who was accompanied bv tha
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 and
say desired an interview with him. Lieu
tenant Judd met Captain Dow at the stean-
ship Office at the head Of the dock, where were
also Preston and some of his aides 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 particu-
lars, of the subsequent release of the prison
ers upon the consul, under threat of death.
giving Preston an order for the arms: OF lii
prompt measures for the safety of the Colon.
the subsequent rearrest and escape of the two
Pacific mail local officers. and the burning of
the town by the insurgents 'sThe crew of
her British majesty's gun vessel Lily rem
dered great assistance, he says, 'tin saving
| the shipping of the wharTes, none 81
/ which was destroyed The fire did not ex-
tend to the Panama Canal company 4 property
at Christoph Colon All that has been saved
of the town of Aspinwal is due to the pro-
lection afforded by this ship and the efficiency
and hard work of the officers and men ii
fighting the fire. = I now hold Dos
session of all American property on the island
that has been saved. The Colombian troona
to the number of about 100 men are here and
their duty consists in holding prisoners; thev
give but little assistance in guarding the
town.
''The complications of the afternoon of
March 30 comd have been avoided had been
informed in time regarding the arms on the
Colon Everything had been quiet since the
18th uit, tthe date of my last dispatch to the
department9 negotiations for peace were be-
ing considered, and it was believed that the
government forces at Panama were too weak
to attack this place. The town has quieted
down Thousands of people have left for
Jamaica and Panama and other points
on the railroad. There is no govern
ment here now. The small body Of Colon
bian government troops occupy few of the
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 over
the line The Alliance has Just arrived and
win iand her fUlce in the morning.