The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-18

by The spy's special correspondent at
Panama:
Panama, Republic Of Columbia,
Dec. 4, 1899.
Our voyage from New York to Colon
in the Panama railroad steamer cal
lianca," Capt Skillings, was a most
agreeable one. Despite the bad reputa-
ton which this steamer has for rolling
she behaved admirably. Although late
in the season, the weather was all one
could wish for in a voyage of seven
days. Our average days run was only
2S5 miles, a fact which will strike the
traveller as ridiculously slow, in our
time of advance steam navigation. This
being our fourth voyage by the same
route, we are pleased to say that al
though the Panama Railroad company,
under it's present French influence, has
not made any progress in the increase
of speed in it's steamers, still the i'm
provement in catering for the comfort
of the travellers is quite remarkable.
An American company working under
an American charter; it's ships flying
the American flag; its officers and crew
American citizens, and yet the whole
under French control, is a most absurd
state of affairs. Nevertheless, it is only
too true. The new managing director,
Frenchman, of the Panama Canal and
Railroad company, with two private
secretaries, were amongst the 81 pass
engers of the Allianca
Little did we dream four years ago,
when passing Cape Maysi, that
THE STARS AND STRIPES
would so soon replace the Spanish flag
on the lighthouse there.
When passing Hayti, whose high
mountain ranges may be observed for
considerable distance, the captain, a
skillful sailor and a conscientious man,
told a story of the country he had re-
ceived from most trustworthy author
ity,which made our blood curdle He told
Of the negro population degenerating
under negro rule, guided by French
Catholic Missionaries; of its people hav-
ing returned to African customs, killing
human beings and offering the meat for
sale in the interior of this island so
blessed by nature. We were in hopes
that during the last revolution when
Haytfs negro president was assassin
ated, the present enlightened foreign
policy in Washington would put a stop
to negro and mongrel rule, at least
within such close proximity to the
United States. Our hopes, unfortunately,
have not been realized.
From Watlings Island south, the
union jack reminded us that in spite of
our greatness there is still opportunity
to be greater.
Bright and early Wednesday morning,
the 18th, the Colombian shore hove in
sight, the fertile plains of which are at
present polluted by the rude hands of
the born and bred Spanish-American
revolutionists. From proclamation is
sued by the government we learn that
the field of Bucaramanga was saturated
with the blood of more than one thou
sand patriots" A proclamation signed
by F. A. Gomez Perez, given in Car
tagena, Oct. 81, 1899, DEGREES "All cit
liens of Colombia between the ages of
Is and go who have not presented them
selves up to 6 o'clock today to be en-
rolled as soldiers will be considered as
rebels and treated as such" This ac-
counts for the most extraordinary spec
tacle we beheld when leaving the wharf
in Colon. A troop of IA footed, i'll
clad and wretched looking soldiers were
taking to the barracks a young man
whom they had caught in the interior.
The unfortunate fellow had a strong
new rope tied around his neck. and his
arms securely Dinioned. My ambition
has never been to follow politics as a
profession, but at that moment I had
given several years Of my life for the
honor of being
U. S. CONSUL TO COLON.
Our hotel in Panama was literally
alive when we arrived, with a hungry,
ragged mass of humanity called pa
triots," waiting to join the army. The
number of generals, colonies and other
commissioned officers ran into the hun
dreds each one waiting to don a gor-
geous new uniform. An Italian steam
err is to take 1900 of the soldiers today
from Colon to Baranquila. Last night
one of the generals in a blue jeaa suit,
stood the cocktails for the crowd, at
the oar of the hotel, and instead Of
offering the usual elaborate Spanish
American toast, made each lift his
right hand and swear to the cause, :"
'patria' and "the latest constitution. -
1t was a sight too ridiculous for pen
to describe. These are the people
whom the authorities in Washington
treat as a sovereign nation. If only
some of our earnest and honest public
men would come down here and see
for themselves, things would soon
change for the better. Trade is ter
ribly bad. The city is under mar
tial law, and the foreign merchants
as well as the natives have been sub
tected to. various forced contributions,
some paying as much as $4,000 for the
support of the so-called government,
which is in hiding in the interior.
THE ROUTE OF THE PANAMA
canal, for which no proper survey has
ever been made, in spite of the millions
expended upon it, presented a lively
scene Roads are cleared up and the
underbrush cut away to show the ma
chinery, tools, rails and other mate
rails which have been lying here for
years beneath a tropical sun; houses,
locomotives and immovable dredges-
the property of the company-have been
painted over and polished in expecta-
ton of the United States commission
which is ito inspect and report on this
route. We learned from reliable
sources that about $500 men are en-
ployed in the cut in Culebra. Evil
IDENTIFY much work has been done at this
point within the last four years; if
it is practical, remains to be seen.
The present activity is due to the
French company wishing to sell out to
Uncle Sam. That substantial mar
thine canal is feasible, there is no dis
senting expert opinion, but all authori-