Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-11-21
COLON TAKEN.
Liberals Steal a March on the
Government.
Some Fighting, 12 Being Killed and
About 80 Wounded.
Machias Lands BIuejackets and American
Rights Will Be Protected.

Colon, Colombia. Nov. 20, (via Gal
weston, TeXas)-The Liberals made an
unexpected attack on Colon, at
o'clock last night. The government
was not prepared and there was little
resistance.
After some fighting in front Of the
Quartet and in certain streets for an
hour and half the Liberals gained
possession of all the public Offices and
the town Of Colon.
The prefect, Guardia. is a prisoner
Twelve men We're killed and about 80
men We're wounded.
At a conference held this morning
between Commander McCrea Of the
Nachias. United States Consul NAL
mora. Col. Shaler. superintendent Of
the Panama Railroad, and Col Bar
Iera. the commander Of the Liberals
ne last named was informed that the
marines had been landed from the Ma
chias Barrera promised to guard the
"ity with his troops.
Today or tomorrow. trains will be
crossing the isthmus as usual and
there has been no obstruction Of free
transit 50 far
The Liberals are now busy raising
ranforCtmentS locally. They are re
ported To have several hundred men at
different railroad stations between here
and Panama.
The I'niycd States gunboat Machias
landed = detachment of marines here,
this morning. They are now guarding
the railroad station and other property
Of the road.
The news of the capture of Colon.
which reached Panama when Commu-
rication with that city was restored
jhis morning. was great surprise to
The inha abitants OF the city on the other
side Of the SthmuS.
on receipt uf the news that Gen. Alban,
the military commander Of the isthmus.
had started to attack the Liberals al
Chorrera near Panama. the latter de-
tached 10 men under Gen. Patino to at
tack Colon. This force embarked on
board a train from Panama to Colon. last
evening. at T.asCascades station. pre-
viously cutting off telegraphic commun-
cation across the sthmIs. On arriving
at the outskirts Of Colon. where the gov
ernment usually maintained n small
guard. the Liberals left the train and in
the initial skirmish which began soon
afterwards, Gen. Patno was killed.
The command Of the Liberals then de
voved on Col. Frederico Barrera, and
they continued their march on Colon. ar
irving there few minutes after the
train. thus surprising the whole town
The government troops at Colon were
ouInumbcrcd by the Liberals.
Fighting Immediately began at tn.
Quartet tbarracksl, which was soon tax
on. There Senor Jaen n judge of tn.
criminal court. was killed and Senor Mus
kus, the district representative of the de-
partmcnt Of the interior was mortally
wounded.
Fighting subsequently occurred ut the
town hall. which was also taken by the
Liberals. Among the prisoners captured
by the Liberals there We're the project,
guardia' and the commandante OF police.
Scnor Paroles. the mayor managed to
reach the gInboat PinZCn. which sailed
last night, for destination unknown
probably Carthagena. The whole affair
was over in less than three hours
Communication with Panama was re-
stored revealing that no fighting has oc-
curred there. that everything is auict ana
that the city is stll in the hands Of the
government
The issue now entirely depends on the
result q the lighting which Is doubtless
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