Evening journal., 1901-11-21
LIBERALS TAKE
COLON BY SURPRISE
United States Sailors Assist
in The Capture
Whole Affair Was Over in Three
HOurS-AnOther Battle Now
Is Certain

Colon, Colombia, Nov 21.-The Lib
erals made an unexpected attack on
Colon at o'clock Tuesday night The
government was not prepared, and
there was little resistance. After some
fighting in front of the Quartet and
In streets the Liberals gained possession
of all the public Offices and the towno of
Colon Twelve men were killed and
about 30 men we're wounded. The
project Guardia, is a prisoner.
The United States gunboat Machias,
now here, took no part in the pro-
ceedngs Yesterday, however, a party
of sailors were landed and took pos
session Of the railway station.
On receipt Of the news that General
Alban, the military commander of the
lsthmus, had started to attack the Lib
erals at Chorrera, near Panama, the
latter detached 100 men, under General
Patino, to attack Colon. This force
embarked on board a train bound from
Panama to Colon on Tuesday evening
at Las Cascades Station, previously
cutting off telegraphic communication
across the isthmus. On arriving at
the outskirts Of Colon, where the gov
ernment usually maintained a 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
upon Colonel FREDERICK Barrera, and
D d
arriving 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
cuartel (barracks), which was soon
taken. There Senior Jaen, a judge of
the criminal court, was killed, and
Senior MusSus, the district representa-
tive Of the department of the interior,
was mortally wounded. Fighting sub
sequently occurred at the town hall,
which was also taken by the Liberals.
Among the prisoners captured by the
Liberals there were the prefect, Guar
dia and the commandante of police.
Senor Paredes, the mayor, managed to
reach the gunboat General Pinzon.
which sailed for a destination un-
known, presumably Carthagena.
The whole affair was over in less
than three hours. Communication with
Panama was restored yesterday This
revealed that no fighting had occurred
there, that everything was quiet, and
that the city was still in the hands OF
the government
Barrioading Panama.
The government troops at Panama,
numbering about 300 men, are busily
engaged in the construction of earth
words and barricades at the railroad
bridge going into the city in anticipa-
tion of an early Liberal attack.
The issue now depends on the result
of the fighting. which is doubtless now
Occurring at Chorrera, news of which
is anxiously awaited here EThd Lib
erals are busy raising ireinforcements
locally. They are reported to have sew
eral hundred men at different railroad
stations between here and Panama,
SINCE the renewal of activities by the
NblNhiblNh islHei dis Holut I'VE Ut 0lA
months ago on the isthmus, an attack
upon Panama has-been expected at any
time After a very stubborn and
bloody battle i'm July of last year the
Liberals almost succeeded in capturing
the city and they have recently fire.
quenty threatened TO renew the at
tempt
Another Battle Certain.
New York. Nov. 2l.-Arturo De Bri-
gard consul general Of Colombia, re-
ceived private dispatches informing
him that the Liberals ihad surprised
and captured the city Of Colon on
Tuesday night His kilograms placed
the loss at - killed and 80 wounded.
Mr. Brigard said that the taking of the
town does not amount to much. as il
is not n fortified place. and that Cen
oral Carlos Alban. who is governor
of the department of Panama. is now
I'm the city of Panama with 100 trained
troops. He said that when General
Alhan returned 60 Colon the Liberals
would run away. The consul general
said that General Alban expected to
give battle to the Liberal forces on the
Pacific side of Panama, at Chorrera.
After that battle the consul said the
general would go TO Colon. General
Alban has ample ammunition for all
purposes.
Body Shipped to Jeffersonville.
Little Rock. Ark, Nov. 21.-Coroner