Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-11-21
CAUSED QUITE A CONNECTION.
News Of the Fall of Colon Heard at
Washington. " - z&&


Washington, Nov. 21.-The confiT-
nation of the reported capture of Coz
Lon by the Colombian Liberals caused
a decided commotion in the state and
navy departments. There We're long
conferences between Secretary Hay
and Admiral Crowninshield and be-
tween the admiral and the acting Sec
retary of state, DR.. Hill. Later the two
last named went over to the White
House and saw President Roosevelt.
This was the first time since 1885,
when Admiral Jouett opened up tram.
sit across the Isthmus of Panama,
that communication had actually been
stopped in such fashion as to seem 70
require the interference of the United
States naval forces. e
The first news of the trouble at Co
Ion came from United States Consul
General Grdger at Panama. He tele-
graphed the state department that a
considerable number of Liberals had
taken passage On the railroad Che did
not indicate where) and, arriving at a.
certain point, had cut the telegraph
wires and taken up a rail, thus break
ing communication.
Later there came a second message
from Consul General Gudger announc-
ing that Colon had been taken. This
was confirmed more explicitly by Unit
ed States Consul Malmros, stationed
at Colon.
Taken altogether these dispatches
were regarded by the officials here as
Indicating a Lack of purpose on the
part of the Liberals to interfere with
transit across the isthmus It was
felt that the brief Interruptions caused
by the taking UP of the rail and the
cutting of the telegraphic wires was
nothing more than move to prevent
the government from hurrying rein
forcements by rail to Colon. The Of
ficials find support for this belief in
the fact that communication was
opened across the isthmus the moment
Colon was captured.
Commander Mccrea Lands Marines.
Still, as a result of the consultation,
it was resolved to take no chances of
an infringement of the treaty rights
of the United States. Therefore Secre-
tary Hill cabled Consul General Gud-
ger direction to notify all parties
who are engaged in molesting or in
terfering with free transit across the
isthmus that such interference must
suit freely with Captain Perry, the
commander of the United States bat
| tleship Iowa, now lying at Panama.
Then Captain Perry was cabled by
Secretary Long to land marines if
necessary for the protection of free
transit across the isthmus in accord
ance Of the treaty rights and obiga-
tions of the United States. At the
same time Captain Perry was enjoined
to avoid bloodshed if possible. Mean
! while news came that Commander Nc
Crea of the Machias, which is now ly-
ing at Colon, had anticipated this in
stTuction from the navy department
by landing force of bluejackets at
Colon and occupying the railway sta
tion. The understanding at the navy
department was that the landing party
consisted of about 100 sailors, who are
employed in lieu of marines, of whom
the Machias has an Insignificant force.
The text of Commander McCrea's dis
patch is as follows:
THE insurgents have possession of
the city. At the request of the proper
authorities l have landed force for the
protection of the property of the rail
road"
A cable received from Captain Perry
at Panama confirms what Consul Gen
eral Gudger communicated to the
state department. It does not appear
that Captain Perry has yet landed a
force