The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-21
A LIBERAL VICTORY
rOLoN CAPTURED BY COLOMBIAN
INSURGENTS.
CITY TAKEN BY SURPRISE.
PROMINENT CITIZENS KILLED OR
CAPTURED.

Liberals Anticipated Arrival of Gov
ernment ReinfOrcements by Bold
Move on CoIon-Fighting Thought
to Be in Progress at Chorrera, but
All Quiet at Panama-1Iarines
From the Machias Are Guarding
Railroad PrOperty-United States
Will Maintain Free Transit Across
Ist1imus.
Colon, Colombia, Nov. 20.--The Lib
erals 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 cuartel
and in certain streets for an hour and
a half, the Liberals gained possession
of all the public offices and the town
of Colon.
The prefect, Guardia, is prisoner.
over twelve men were killed and
about thirty were wounded.
On receipt of news that Gen. Alban,
the military commander of the 18TH
mus had started to attack the Liberals
at Chorrera, near Panama, the latter
detached 160 men, under Gen. Patino,
to attack Colon. This force embarked
on board a train bound from Panama
to Colon yesterday evening at Las
Cascades station, previously cutting
off telegraphic communication across
the isthmus. On arriving at the out
skirts of Colon, where the government
usually maintained small guard, the
Liberals left the train and in the ini-
tial skirmish, which began soon after
ward, Patino was killed.
The command of the Liberals then
devolved on Col. FREDERICK Barrera,
and they continued their march on
Colon, arriving there a few minutes
after the train, thus surprising the
whole town. The government troops
at Colon were outnumbered by the LIB
erals.
Fighting Immediately began at the
Quartet (barracks). which was soon
taken. There Senior Jaen, a judge of
the criminal court, was killed, ana
Senior Muskus. the district representa-
tive of the interior was mortaily
wounded.
Fighting subsequently, occurred at
the town hall, which was also taken
bv the Liberals. Among the prisoners
cautured by the Liberals there were
the prefect, guardia and the command
ant of police.
Senor Parades, the Mayor, managed
to reach the gunboat Gen. Pinzon,
which sailed last night for a desti-
nation unknown, probably Carthagena.
The whole affair was over in less
than three hours.
Communication with Panama was
restored 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 fighting which is doubtless now
occurring at Cherrera, news of which
is anxiously awaited here.
The Liberals are busy raising rein
forcements locally. They are reported
to have several hundred men at diff
ferent railroad stations between here
and Panama.
The Machias Lands Marines.
The United States gunboat Machias
landed a detachment of marines here
this morning. They are now guarding
the railroad station and other property
of the road.
At a conference between Commander
McCrea of the Machias; United States
Consul Malmors; Col. Shaler, superin-
tendent of the Panama Railroad, and
Col Barrera, the commander of the
Liberals. the latter was informed why
the marines had been landed from the
Machias. Col. Barrera promised to
guard the city with his troops.
Trains will be crossing the isthmus
as usual tomorrow. There has been
no obstruction of free transit so far.
The news of the capture of Colon.
which reached Panama when commune
cation with that city was restored this
morning was great surprise to the
inhabitants of that city.