The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-23
MATTER OF BLUE OR RED.
Causes and Explanations of the Colon
blan Revolution.

New York Sept. ga Bocas del
TOros correspondent Of the Journal and
Advertiser gives the following on the
outbreak of the Colombian revolution
in that section.
When we first heard of the revolu
tionists in this neighborhood two
months ago they were about 100 miles
down the coast at a place called COole,
where they tried to persuade the mas
ter of a fruit steamer calling there Tor
cargo that they could make better use
of the steamer than he could. He man
aged to keep his ship and get to sea
with q half cargo. There were then
about so or so of them at that point.
This episode caused the government
to send a squad of about Is soldiers to
occupy this town of Bocas del Toro.
and that put it under martial law
About August 10 we learned that a
force of 90 rebels had occupied a place
called Sunset Point, is miles down the
lagoon, and looted the Chinese shops
there. This brought another reinforce
Panama A few days later the fnsurg-
ents took possession Of Old Bank, stu
ated about one and a half miles from
here. across the channel, and an inter-
yening island, Careening cay.
From there they sent word into the
town to surrender it peacefully and
save bloodshed, as they had no desire
to hurt anyone. but were bound to have
The authorities did not surrender but
sent to Panama for reinforcements,
which arrived on Sunday, September 1.
On Monday, September 2, there was
nothing done except to look over the
ground and tell of the great things that
were going to be done tomorrow, for
this is the land Of "manana" (tomor-
row.
It was learned that the insurgents
had captured a gasoline launch, the Ola,
belonging to Mr.. Snyder, at Changui-
nola, a. place or miles up the coast;
so now they were supplied with better
transportation than the canoes they
had SO far depended on.
On Tuesday, September 8, the govern
ment forces pressed into use several
gasoline launches from about the har-
Dor and a small sloOp. With one of
the launches towing the sloop they took
a greater part of the troops from the
town and went forth with q multitude
Of blue flags, as if bound for battle, but
they only occupied San Juan Point, on
United Fruit company is situated. The
Conservatives, or blues" are the pres
ent incumbents in Office, while the
Liberals or reds are the outs.
When the enemy perceived that most
Of the forces had been brought away
from the town they thought it was a
good time to make flank movement,
so they loaded the Ola, with their sol
diers and started to land them on the
beach of Shallow bay, above the town.
This was seen by the colonel COM
handing at Nansy cay. who started
four launches with the slOop loaded
with men, to intercept them AS soon
as they got within range there was a
brisk interchange of shots, the Blues
doing their best to cripple the Ola SO
that she could not proceed. She seemed
TO suffer severely, for she cireled about
and put in for shore again, closely fol-
lowed by the other boats. One of the
latter lost her Jamaican engineer by a
stray bullet and two men were wound
ed slightly
They followed the Ola to within 100
yards Of the shore. Here the fire from
fra1r 81
warm, and the commander OF the at
lacking fotilla- made his great mis-
take in not landing and rushing the |
trenches. but it seems that the sight Of |