New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-17
MARTIAL LAW IN PANAMA.
VIGOROUS MEASURES OF GENERAL REYES.
AIzPURU AND HIS CHIEFS TO BE SENT AMONG
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES A FRENCHMAN.

[FRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE'I
Colon, May 7.-General Reyes, the Commander
in-Chief of the Colombian Army is Te-estabiishlng
the government here iii manner which VIII prop
ably put stop for some time at least to reVolu-
tons on the Isthmus. For years certain
men here have played at revolution. Az
puru, Correaso. Cortozel and Others have
made fortunes out of the business, and kept the
country in state which paralyzed its industries
and preventedts advancement to state of cvlliza-
ton. BY the civil law of Colombia there is no such
thing as capital punishment, and after each reyo-
luton the leaders have been permitted to rest IN
peace. When the last revolution broke out ana
became general all over the country, Reyes, man
Of great wealth, the owner of haclendas anu
Mines left his business Cauca, raised an army OF
Caucan Indians who know neither fear nor mercy,
and took a VOW that he would not cease his laDorS
until he lay dead on the field or had reduced MS
distracted country to a state of order and peace.
He sent Colonel Ulloa with 100 men to drive
Prestan from Colon, which task was accomplished
though at the cost of the burning of the CITY,
After series of terrible battles General Reyes de-
feated the rebels in Cauca and then came to the
Isthmus, where he has proclaimed martial law ana
is continuing his good work. So great has been
his success that President Nunez has made him
Commander-in-Chie of the army. AS soon as be
has finished here he will 60 to Carthagena and
settle matters there He has here army Of nearly
q thousand men and 900 more in Cauca.
THE PUNISHMENT OF AIZPURU AND HIS CHIEFS.
Though by the civil law there is no capital pun
ishmcnt, yet prisoners taken in battle are as rule
put to death. BY proclaiming martial law, and
General Reyes did so by authority of the President
the General becomes absolute master OF
the Isthnus He has made some examples
already, and, if necessary, will make more, which
will be a warning to professional revolutionists for
all time here. The revoutionists arc flied with
CONSERVATION. So often have they disturbed the
tranquility of the State and often have they es-
capped scot free that they can scarcely comprehend
that they must suffer the penalties of their crimes
In the various revolutions in which these men have
been engaged property TO the value of millions OF
dollars has been destroyed and thousands OF lives
lost. They will learn now that revolution Is n
dangerous game to play at. The place TO which
Aizpuru and half dozen of his principal men are
to be sent is well suited for their case. Lying at
the headwatcrs of the Amazon, near tho boundary
line of Colombia and Brazil is n wilderness Inhab-
tied by cannbals of the most savage description.
Ii IS a Greary and desoate country, where the
means of supporting life are small. Savage animals
and venomous reptiles are the only inhabitants ex-
cept the cannibals. Clouds of mosquitoes, deadly
miasInas and terrible heat are there. In the bor-
by white man, Aizpuro aud his chiefs will be
taken. They Will be placed in canoes with three
months provisions and sent floating down the
river that flows into the centre OF the wilderness.
The treatment of the prisoners taken by the CO.
lombian forces here may seem cruel topeople in
the United States, but to who the state OF
things these rascals have brought about
and hears every day of the enormity Of
their crimes any punishment that can be devised
seems feeble and inadequate. Reyes is man Of
great personal bravery. intense energy and re-
markabe ability. II he lives 10 complete his work,
he will be the greatest benefactor Colombia ever
had. A far greater, indeed, than those who
copied the form Of Government OF the
United States for a people with whom
liberty means licence and who mistake lenieucy
for weakness and cowardice.
Admiral Jouett has devoted all his energies, and
those who know the Admiral know what that
means 20 the interests Of peace here and has been at
once the fiery warrior and the peaceful diplomat.
Foreigners and natives here love him and fear him.
/ am authorized by the Admiral to say that the al
legged interview with him on Central American af-
fairs, which was widely published in tho United
states recently, was n lie with just enough truth
mixed with it to make it dangerous lie never
held or expressed most of the sentiments
which were attributed TO him IN tho interview.
The work of rebuilding Colon is going on slowly.
When Prcstan got through with the city only one
pier was left on the water front. The building of
wharyes here il "A slow process rs men and
materials have TO come from New-1ork. The con-
sequence rs that the haTbor ~ full OF ships waiting
10 unload. The loss 20 commerce Is immense, for no
demurrage will be paid under the circumstances.
THE HANGING or TIE DEsrRoYERs OF COLON
The hanging OF Portozcl aud Cocobolo yesterday
was an ac' Of justice which wall have great effect
in quetng the Isthmus. Cocoboo n profess
sional reyolutionist and Portozcl added to that
compi ishment the profession of au incendiafy. The
latter "A man of education aud was at one time
the collector of the port OF Jacmcl in laytl. lie
burned Jacncl and Port an Prince IN revolutions
which he raised in llayti. he laytian Government
offered $4,000 for tine privilege OF hanging MN,
but General Reyes considered that that was duty
which he alone should perform. The two men
were the most intimate friends and advisors 0i
PTestan. When they were taken ont yesterday they
were surrounded by guard OF GO CauclnOs from
the estates of General Reyes. thousands OF people
were outside the line of troops when they drew up
In front of the gallOwS which had been erected on
the spot where the fire which destroyed the Guy |
was started. While he stood beHeath the galloWs
Portozel mad" speech. denying that he aided IN
burning Colon. lie prOlessed great love for the
COlOmblans and began TRADE against the Amerl- !
cans evidently speaking with the intention OF rOus-
ing the people against the "GungO" soldiers. |
As soon rs General Reyes heard the gist OF ms
vituperation OF the Americans lie gave the sgnal 10
stop him, and tbs veteran ncendiary, rebel ana
assassin was launched into eternity. Cocobolo sad
very ltto, which NAV be accounted for by the TACT
that he had somehow got hold OF some llquor ana
was drunk The people were in n state of terror, !
and twice the widest stampedes occurred from no
apparent cause, and the thousands of spectators
rushed over each other trampllng on tho weak and
crushing the strong IN their wild efforts 10 get |
away But the terrible fascination 81 the scene
drew them back each time. over the scaiiold were
two lofty palm trees the Colombian emblem OF
liberty, scOrchcd and blackened by fire. TINS
heightened the dramatic effect of the hanging and
ali felt that Justice had been done when the spot
where they had started the fire. the centre of the
ruins of the city which they had destroyed,
{ tOCObOlO and DOrtOZgl
PROTECTING THE RAILWAY LINE.
General Reyes has been establishing garrisons all
along the line Of the railroad and has got matters so