The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-20
NEWS FROM PANAMA.
The City of Colon Devastated by
a Great COnfiagrati0n.
Narrow Escape Of Railroad Train From
Terrible Disaster-Favorable Reports
From the Canal - Etc.

The Pacific Mail Company's steamship
Collma arrived from Panama and way ports
at an early hour yesterday morning. From
files of exchanges as late as September 25th
the following items are taken.
The Isthmus.
Telegraphic adviees from Carthagena an
nounce the arrival Of DR.. E. Roman and j.
n. Recuero, delegates appointed by the
Panama Chamber of Commerce to treat
with President Nunez on behalf of the con-
cession to the canal The Star and Herald
says: The news now brought is that the re-
suit of the interview between DR.. Nunez
and these gentlemen has been most salts
factory, and is well calculated to calm all
unrest that might still be telt. The EXecu-
tive is evidently in accord with the desires
of the people of Panama, and it is expected
that the report which was to be presented by
the special Congressional Commission this
week would be exceedingly favorable. There
were certainly no fears entertained but that
the opposition in Congress would have to
yield to very decided majority, whose favor
of the scheme was pronounced. We, there
fore, have very good reasons indeed Tor an
ticipatlng that in about one weeks time the
anxiety will be over and that we will be in
a position to announce that mutually IA
vOrable arrangement has been reached be-
tween the Colombian Government and Lieu
tenant Wyse.
On Wednesday, September oath, the city
OF Colon was visited with fierce confia-
grafton that swept every building in the
district bounded by Fourth street, running
east from the railroad freight depot, as FAR
as the market and Police Station. With the
exception of the lines of miserable novels
that chiefly comprise Cash and East streets,
Colon was contained in the two fine streets,
Front and Bolivar, and both these are now
in ashes with the exception of the three
northern blocks from First to Fourth cross
streets, and the southern block from Ninth
street to the railroad new station on the
outskirts of the town.
The flames ragged unchecked for five hours
and tie fire department was powerlesS 10
check the spread of the fire over block after
block of stores containing enormous stocks
of alcohol, kerosene and other intammable
materials. One tram OF freight cars. 10
empty and II loaded, were swept away.
While railroad train was speeding from
Panama toward Colon for the relief of the
sufferers by the great fire 1t came near meet
ing with terrible disaster. Soon after
leaving Panama a heavy rain-storm came up
that increased in violence until it developed
into terrific electric storm About o'clock
in the afternoon, willie the train was rush
ing through the dense forests near Gatun,
tall tree was shivered by an electric stroke.
A large section fell across the top OF the rear
car, aud caused it to plunge and reel on the
rails as if about to Jump clear The en-
gineer stopped as Socn as possible and an
examination wGs made. No special damage
was done and orders were given to proceed
At this moment another bolt Splintered
large tree that fell across the track not fifty
feet ahead Of the locomotive. This brought
the train to a dead stop for five hours, while
the tee had TO be chopped down and the
track cleared SO as TO permit the tram TO so
forward. If the second tree had fallen upon
the cars the loss Of life would have been
very great
Colombia.
The Bogota Telegrama reports a most SEN
sational tragedy. A well-known artzaD,
Eladio Rodriguez, was sitting in his house
when he heard his wife. who was somewhat
unwell, crying that thieves were at the door.
and at the same time heard shot. ROdri-
quez at cnce seized Iifle and fired through
the door. 1t appears that three women who
reside in the vicinity had rushed into the
street at the hrst discharge, and while in
front of the residence of Rodriguez a dog,
which was on the doorstep commenced to
bark at them. One of them seized a stick to
hit the dog, and it was the mise thus made
which led to the alarm Of Thieves" being
raised, and to Rodriguez firing and killing
one of the women ins;antaneously, as the
bullet from his rifle pierced the brain Of the
innocent and inoffenslve woman.
The Government has signed contract
with j. l.. O'Berry of California for the ter
mination If the Buenaventura and Cali
railroad, which will be extended 10 Mazat-
Ian. The contractor will also enjoy the
preference, under similar conditions, to
build line from a navigable point on the
Atrato, or from some point in the north OF
the Gulf OF Darien, and also to construct
railroad from Cali to Ecuador, with branch
to Popayan, and another which viii place
the Upper Magdalena in connection with
the Upper Cauca. The first section from
Cordoba to Cauea will be commenced within
four months and opened to traffic within
four years, with guarantee OF five per cent
per annum for eighteen years on S3S,0OO
gold for each kilOmeler constructed. The
second section, from Cali to Manzales, Will
be commenced when arrangements shall
have been made with the Government, and
shall be built five years afterward, under
guarantee of Az per cent annual during
similar time. This concession will extend
over q period Of seventy years-at the ter
mination Of which period the line will be-
come the property of the Government One
point which is considered Objectionable, and
which requires reform. Is that respecting
freigbtS. since the contractor Is allowed to
charge the rates he may choose during the
first five years, and subsequently he Will fix
them III accord with the Government, but
they will not be less than those which rule
to-day. The contractor will deposit $4,000
in gold prior to October 9th as security for
the completion OF the contract.
Ecuador.
The death recently occurred in Quito of
General Martinez Araricio, a Colombian by
birth, and veteran of the War of Indepen-
dence and who had lived and served in Ecua-
dor during many years.
The sale of gunpowder is n Government
monopoly in Ecuador. Recently the supply
ran short, and an order for fresh supply
was sent to the United States. By mistake
powder for use in heavy artillery was sent
out ard, as there is no guDpOwder in the
Republic, the Guayaquil Nacion reports that
squirrels. parrots and all kinds of birds and
small animals are increasing in number and
growing fat.
Bolivia.
Sucre is about to be Illuminated by cleo
tricity.
Counterfeiters have been doing a thriving
business in Oruro.
At Arpillapampa, in Argue Province, i'm
mense coal fields have been discovered.
Currency is so scarce in Oruro that citi-
zens are cutting the notes into pieces and
passing the pieces as fractional currency.
The establishment OF powerful syndicate
I'm London to WORK gold and silver mines in
Bolivia is attracting much attention 10 La
Paz.
The Sucre Dia states the Government is
having the mint placed in thorough working
order, and that shortly coinage will COM
mence on an extensive scale.
A La Paz daily reports: n. Flores, one of
the assassns Of the two American citizens