The San Francisco call., 1901-11-21
COLOMBIAN LIBERALS MAKE RUSH AND CAPTURE
COLON AFTER THREE HOURS OF HARD FIGHTING
Twelve Men Are Killed and Thirty Wounded
During the Assault on the Practically
Undefended Town.
Considerable Uneasiness Also Felt Concerning
the Fate Of Panama and Big Battle
Is IN Progress.

- DION. Colombia. Nov. 20, via Gal
n Veston.-The Liberals made an un-
III expected attack on Colon at s
- o'clock last night The Govern
ment was not prepared and there
was no resistance. After some fighting
\ N 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,
Guardis, is a prisoner.
over twelve men were killed and about
thirty men We're wounded.
The United States gunboat Machias,
now here, took no part in the proceedings
except to land marines.
On receipt of the news that General
Alban, the military commander Of the
iSlhmUs, had started TO attack the Lib
erals at ChOrrera, near Panama, the lat
ter detached l6O men under General Patino
10 attack Colon. This force embarked on
board a train bound from Panama to
Colon yesterday evening at Las Cascades
station, previously cutting of telegraphic
communication across the isthmus. On
arriving at the outskirts Of Colon, where
the Government usually maintained
small guard, the rebels left the train and
in the initial skirmish, which began soon
afterward. PatinO was killed.
Colonel Barrera Commands.
The command of the Liberals then de-
volVed on Colonel FredericO Barrera and
they continued their march on Colon. ar
irving there a few minutes after the train,
thus surprising the whole town.
The Government troops at Colon were
outnumbered by the Liberals. Fighting
Immediately began at the Quartet (bar-
Senor Jsen. a Judge of the Criminal
Court, was killed and Senor Muskus the
district representative Of the Department
- the Interior, was mortalIy wounded.
Fighting subsequently occurred at the
Town hall, which was also taken by the
Liberals: Among the prisoners captured
by the Liberals there were the Prefect,
Guardia, and the cOnlmandant Of police.
SenOr Parenas the Mayor, managed to
reach the gunbOat General PinzOn. which
sailed last night for a destination un-
known
The whole affair was over in less than
three hours.
Big Battle Is Now On.
Communication with Panama was re-
stored to-day This revealed that no
fighting had occurred there. that every
thing was quiet and that the city was
still in the hands Of the Government.
The issue now depends on the result Of
the lighting which is doubtless now oc-
curing at ChorTera. news of which is
anxiously awaited here
The Liberals are busily raising rein
forcements locally. They are reported to
have several hundred men at different
railroad stations between here and Pan
ANA
landed a detachment Of marines here this
morning and they are now guarding the
railroad station and other property Of the
road.
At a conference between Commander
AIcCrea. Of the Machias, United States
Consul MalmrOs, Colonel Shaler, super
fntendent Of the Panama Railroad, and
Colonel Barrera. the commander of the
Liberals the latter was informed why the
marines had been landed from the Ma
chias. Barrera promised 70 guard the city
with his troops.
Trains Will be crossing the isthmus as
usual tomorrow. There has been no OBJ
structiOn to free transit so far.
The news Of the capture of Colon, which
reached Panama when communication
with that city was restored this morning,
was q great surprise to the inhabitants
Of that city.
Preparing Defenscs at Panama.
According TO the latest news received