The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-21

Colon, Colombia, NOV. 2O Wa GalVeston- The Liberals male an unexpected at
 tack on Colon at o'clock last night. The
 government was not prepared and there
 was little resistance. After some fighting
 in front of the Quartell and in certain
 streets for an hour and half the Liber-
 als gained possession of all the public
 offices and the town of Colon. The Pre-
 feet Guardian is a prisoner. Over twelve
 men were. killed and about thirty men
 were wounded. The United States gunboat
 Machias. now here. took no part in the
 proceedings.
 On receipt of the news that General
 Isthmus. had started to attack the Liber-
 als at Chorrera, near Panama, the latter detached 160 men under General Patino, tc
 attack Colon This force embarked or
 board a train bound from Panama tc
 Colon yesterday evening at Las Cascades Station, previously cutting off telegraph ic communication across the Isthmus. On
 arriving at the outskirts of Colon, where
 the government usually maintained g
 small guard, the Liberals left the train
 and in the initial skirmish which began
 soon afterward Patino was killed. The
 command of the Liberals then devolved
 on Colonel Frederco Barrera, and they
 continued their march on Colon, arriving
 there a few minutes after the train, thus
 surprising the whole town. The govern
 ment troops at Colon were outnumbered
 by the Liberals. Fighting immediately be-
 gan at the Quartet (barracks) which was
 soon taken. There Senor Jaen, Judge
 of the Criminal Court, was killed and Senor Muskus, the district representative fthe Department of the Interior, was
 mortally 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 Com mandante of Police. Senor Paredes, the Mayor, managed to reach the gunboat General Pinzon which sailed last night for a destination unknown. probably Cartha- gena. The whole aaffir was over in less than three hours.
 Communication with Panama was re- stored today. This revealed that no fight ing had occurred there, that everything was quiet and that the city was still in the hands of the government. The issue now depends on the result of the fighting which is doubtless now occurring at Chor- rera news of which is anxiously awaited here. The Liberals are busy raising rein- They are reported to have several hundred men at different railroad stations between here and Panama.
 The United States gunboat Machias landed detachment of marines here this They are now guarding the rail- road station and other property of the road At conference between Com mander McCrea of the Machias, United States Consul Malmors, Colonel Shaler, of the Panama Railroad, md Colonel Barrera, the commander of he Liberals, the latter was informed why he marines had been landed from the Machias. Barrera promised to guard the ,ity with his troops.
 Trains will be cr0ssing the Isthmus as usual tomorrow. There has been no ob- struction of free transit so far.
 The news of the capture of Colon which reached Panama when communication with that city was restored this morning was a great surprise to the inhabitants of Nthat city.
 According to the latest news received here from Panama nothing has yet been heard in that city concerning the out come of General Alban's expedition against the liberal forces at Chorrera. It is said that information of the recent happenings at Colon has been sent to him. In the meantime the government troops at Panama, number about 300 men, are busily engaged in the construc- ton of earthworks and barricades at the railroad bridge going into the city in of an early Liberal attack. Colonel Shaler says that no request has been made upon him for a special train to convey government troops to Colon .of fight. If such a request is made. it will be granted. but Colonel Shaler does not consider 1t likely. The Liberals claim to have at least 700 men in pos session of different railroad stations be- tween here and Panama. These men would doubtless do their utmost to pre- vent the transportation of government troops to this point. Traffic across the sthmus by the railroad continues un- 
 Marines from the Machias are guarding the railroad station and property here .oday.
 Since renewal of activities by the Colombian Liberals some five or six l m Panama has been expected at any | ime. After very stubborn and bloody | attle in July of last year the Liberals lmost succeeded in capturing the city, nd they have recently frequently threatened to renew the attempt. On 'riday, July 20th, 1900, the insurgent beral forces, about 1,5OO strong. arrived t a railroad station but a few miles rom Panama The next morning. Sat rday, the government forces moved oward them. Sharp firing took place or several hours. Then the government orces retired to a new position. At
 o'clock Sunday afternon the fighting vas resumed. There was sharp artillery ring by both sides. The men who were during these engagements was arried into Panama where they were ttended by the ambulance corps of the | British warship Leander.
 Fighting between the opposing forces | continued Monday. Tuesday the insur- ,ents attempted to enter the city. The | government forces had entrenched | themselves strongly at the same railroad | ridge mentioned in the foregoing dis atch and at this point the fighting was cry severe The insurgents again and | gain charged up the narrow road lead lg up to this bridge, exposed to ter fife fire from the troops of the govern lent. The fighting up to this time had | esulted in killing about 300 mem the hos ital was filled with the wounded and ying; all business in Panama was sus- ended; food was growing scarce there nd steamers were unable to load their argoes. The fighting continued all tuesday night and the next morning an cad might be buried and the wounded ared for. Two insurgent generals and everal government officers were slain uring the desperate fighting.
 The armistice was extended until noon f Tuesday. Owing to a misunderstand- lg, however. the insurgents renewed heir attacks upon the suburbs of the ity Wednesday night and the lighting isted eleven hours. During this hght he casualties on both sides were ex- remedy heavy. The next morning the de of battle was turned against the (