New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-08
THE OCCUPATION OF PANAMA
A BOLD MOVEMENT CALAMITY PER-
FORMED.
DESPERATION on THE RxBEIs-srcKNEss AMONG

,r.o, . SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUsE-l
PANAMA. April 25-The preparations of Captain
McCala for taking possession of the city OF Panama
were so thorough and SO secret that when. at
o'clock yesterday, the order was given for the men
TO turn out under arms, no one but the oncers VINO
were to command columns know OF the lptended
occupation of the town. The subordinate officers
and the men thought that it was merely drin-
But no command to halt was given. and on the
marines and blue jackets marched till they had left
the barracks on the Panama Railroad far behind
and were in the narrow. balcony Swallowed streets
of the ancient city. There no sounds OF drums
or bugles only q solid steady tramp, tramp, ana
the glittering of the sun on the helmets anu
bavonets of the marines. Colonel Hayward Led MS
splendid column up the river road and TOOK
nossession of tho American consulate. Captains
Need and Coum led other columns into the city by
other routes Batteries of Gatlings and howitzers,
manned by sturdy blue Jackets, accompanied the
columns The splendid manner in which the troops
entered the city excited the admiration OF all VINO
saw il. GAhr exclaimed the captain of an English
man-of-war in the harbor when he heard of it,
know those marines. saw them at'Alexandria"
The rebels were taken completely by surprise.
Before they realized what had happened the troops
were in possession of the American consulate, the
Grand Hotel the Office Of the Central and South
American Cable Company and the property OF the
Pacific Mail Company. Azpuru had been erecting
barricades. They were quietly taken possession OF
by the American troops and guns mounted onthem.
He had loopholed the towers OF the cathedral.
A company of marines was placed in them and
Yankee rifles looked down on the plaza Aizpuru
was going toward the Government House with his
Secretary of State and two members of bis staff.
As he approached the American consulate the head
OF Colonel Heyward's column suddenly turned the
in eCa oil foOt them.
Some one pointed out Aizpuru to him and he imme-
dately arrested him. Azprru fell fainting to the
ground He was taken into the American consul
ate. where he tainted again and then became
historical The rebel troops we're all in the Quartet
A guard was placed around it and a gun trained
on IL.
EFFECT OF THE CAPTURE.
Aizpuru was sent under a strong guard to the
Grand Hotel, where he was held prisoner.
Guards were placed around the plaza and Calling
gun trained on il. A proclamation by Captain
McCalla, saying that he came only TO preserve life
and property, was issued and distributed through
out the city. The stupefacten, fear aud astonish-
ment of the people soon gave place to excitement
and whiskey, but Captain NcCalla closed every
progshop I'm the city and requested everyone to so
home and go to bed The French Consul went to
the American consulate and violently denounced
tho action of the Americans. The commander of
the English man-of-war here had intended TO land
100 men to protect the English consulate. but
when he saw the Americans in possession of the city
he felt there was no need of il and kept his men on
board
About o'clock n mob collected az one end OF tho
plaza ami began 10 shout, Viva free Colombia!
Down with the Gringoesl Let us go at them with
maohet6sw An American passing by was hit in the
head and some shots were fred. Immediately the
Calling gun across the plaza opened fire and there
was not room enough on the Isthmus to hold tho
brayocs Everyone of them would have been Killed
had not the range OF the Calling been over their
| heads. The widest excitement prevailed Tor
while. but Lieutenant Resder of Captain McCallas
staa rushed into the plaza at the risk OF his lie
and shouted. Stop firing" Then the Calling
stopnad grinding aud soon the eS"ito'aent AN a
| measure subsidized The reason tor Captain NC
Calais taking possession OF the city was this; The
| Colombian troops were nearing the city, Aizpuru
| had prepared for n desperate resistance, and the
| fate of Colon would have been repeated at Panama
had the Americans hesitated. When the troops lett
their post outside the city yesterday. Lieutenant
Young with some blue jackets from the Shenan-
doah. landed ana occupied the place Lieutenant
Mason came with more blue jackets from Colon
later. and aftcrward strong endorsements OF
marines arrived These all remained outside the
citv ready for an emergency. All night there has
been firing in the streets at Intervals DIt IniS
morning all Is quiet.
| MOVEMENTS OF COLOMBIAN TROOPS.
Azpuru sent a delegation to tho State of Cauca
recently to try and arrange matters with General
PAyan, who having beaten the rebels in that state
was preparing to move against him. General Pagan
rromptly seized the commissioners and took the
| little steamboat which they came in to tow bark
ON which were his men, Aizpuru, when he saw that
n compromise was impossible, began most active
preparatons-for the defence OF the city OF Panama
Materials for barricades were collected. towers OF
| clurcbes and walls Of houses were perforated for
rifles and cannon. and dynamite cartridges with
| i5minuta fuses were placed in the Quartet At tho
| nresent writing 10 is Tumored that General Santo
| DomIngo Villa has beaten the rebels at Carthagena
and preparing TO sa 10 h aa Of Psnams
| and the rest of Colombia there IS an impossible
| wilderness OF jungles, mountains and swamps, so
that all the troops coming from the north TO crush
the rebels arc Obliged to come by sea. The trans
| nortation OF even a small force II such great
| Undertaking for the Colombian Government that
| there has been much delay In the progress OF the
| National troops
| HATRED OF AMERICANS.
The pronuncamento which was issued against the
Americans and freely distributed over the lsthmus
| Ia supposed to have emanated from Aizpuru, but
no one is bold enough TO father IT, 1t called upon
the Isthmians to arm themselves with sticks and
stones. il they could not get guns. and drive the
Americans ont of the country. The particulars OF
the plot 10 blow up the marine barracks at San
| Pablo are as follows One night Lieutenant Elliot
Of the marines, who commands the post, had
occasion to place another sentry As the sentry left
| the building he saw man run ont from under the
barracks and disappear in the direction of n camp
| Of Spanish laborers near there. Soon after The
French canal police sent in word that man was
in the Spanish camp with quantity OF dynamite
with which he threatened to blow up the American
barracks Lieutenant Elliot sent out and arrested
him He proyed to DO the same man who had been
j - IL .uu ..,t frnnn nndnr the hnrrnclA. On his