Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-11-26
Gen Alban Leads Govern
ment Troops Against Lib
erals Near Panama.
SOME FIERCE FIGHTING
One Hundred and Fifty Dead and
Wounded Are Lett Lying Along
the Railroad.
United States Marines From the
Iowa Are Keeping the Railway
/ Clear.

Colon. Nov. 2e.-An armed guard
OF marines from the United States bat
tieship Iowa has re-established the
transit across the isthmus, and details
from the Iowa's marines are now pro-
tecting each passenger train. There
has been fierce fighting at Empire sta
ton on the railroad line between Pan
anna and Colon between the insur-
gents and the troops OF the Colombian
government. with very heavy losses
On both sides.
Sunday morning at 10 o'clock the
schooner Clapet and a railroad barge
returned to Panama bringing $50 men
from Chorrera, being the remainder
of General Adams expedition Great
crowds gathered at the wharf to wit
ness the landing of the soldiers. They
were received with bands of music.
but the music sounded mournful and
the airs sounded more like a funeral
march than the joyful strains of well
come to a victorious army. General
Alban looked his usual and calm self
and acted more like a man on whose
hands time hangs heavily for want of
something to do than one coping with
grave sponsibilities under trying
circumstances.
At $3.50 Sunday afternoon, at the
head of several hundred men, General
Alban left Panama by train for EN-
pire station. where the Liberals were
reported to be in fairly strong num-
bers. His purpose was to surprise and
rout them. The train bearing these
troops was held up just before it ar
rived at Culebra station owing to the
Liberals opening fire on Adams ad-
vance guard. Alban disembarked his
men from the train, which returned to /
Panama. The fighting at Culebra last |
ed from 4 40 until 8 p. m. The gov
eminent troops advanced and the |
fighting was stubborn all along the |
railroad line until Empire station. /
mile and half distant. was reached. /
The Liberals retreated slowly, Adams /
men following them until the latter
eventually reached Mataching station.
Here General Alban met and confer
red with Captain Perry of the Iowa.
who was returning from Colon on an
armored train. 1t is understood that
Captain Perry will not allow the rail-
road TO transport troops. consequently
General Alban and his men were fore
ed to push ahead on foot. 1t is said
here that they thus reached San Pa
bio. where the Liberals are in force,
and that fighting is taking place there.
The Liberals are under the command
of General Lugo.
Between the stations of Culebra and
Empire over $50 killed and wounded
men could be seen along the track
The sight was gruesome. There is no
proper Red Cross organization, and
the wounded lacked care. The Lib
erals at Colon declare the majority of
the men killed on the line to be Con
sentative troops and that the rebels
are stiIl in force along the railroad
Three hundred of the Iowas ma
rines were landed AT Panama to pro
tect the property of the railroad and
to insure the continuance of transit
across the isthmus. In government
circles in Panama there is still entire
ron fidence in General Alban. and it is
believed there that this Conservative
general is able TO cope with the pres
snt situation and successfully over
rome the apparently unsurmountable
hat the Conservative government has
TOO men at Panama. The breastworks
IN the railroad bridge that leads into
Panama. as well as those erected in
side the city have been demolished
BY the government.