The Worcester spy., 1901-11-21
Rebel General Patino One of the
First Men to Fall and Command
Them Devolved On Col. Fred
eriCk Barrera
COUP WAS WELL PLANNED
AND NEATLY EXECUTED
Fighting is Now Going On At
Chorrera and Upon the Result
of This Engagement Depends
the Success or Failure of the
Matter at Issue

Colon, Columbia, Nov. 20-The Liber-
ais made an unexpected attack on Co
lon at o'clock last night. The govern
ment was not prepared, and there was
little resistance. After some fighting
in front of Quartet 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 a prisoner.
Twelve men were killed and about 80
were wounded.
The United States gunboat Machias,
now here, took no part in the proceed
ings.
On receipt of the news that Gen. Al
ban, the military commander of the
isthmus, had started to attack the Lib
erals at Chierrera. near Panama. the
latter detached 100 men under Gen.
Patino, to attack Colon. This force
embarked on board a train bound from
Panama to Colon last evening" at Las
cades Station, previously cutting off
telegraphic communication across the
isthmus.
On arriving at the outskirts of Colon
where the government usually main
tanned a small guard, the Liberals left
the train and. In the initial skirmish
which began soon afterwards Gen.
Patino was killed.
The command of the Liberals then
devolved on Col. Frederick Barrera,
and they continued their march on Co
Ion. arriving there 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 Cuartellba par
racks) which was soon taken. There
Senior Jaen, a judge of the Criminal
Court. was killed, and Senior Muskus,
the district representative of the mu-
nicipality, was mortally wounded.
Fighting subsequently occurred at
the Town Hall, which was also taken
nv the Liberals Among the prisoners
captured by the Liberals there were
the prefect Guardia, and the com
mandante of police. Senior Paredes.
the mayor, managed to reach the gun
boat. General PinZou, which sailed last
night for a destination unknown prob
ablv Carthagena. The whole affair was
over in less than three hours.
Colon Nov. 0-Communication with
Panama was restored today. This re-
veals that no fighting has occurred
there. that everything is quiet and
that the city is still in the hands of
the government.
The issue now entirely depends on
the result of the fighting which is
doubtless now occurring a t Chorrera,
news of which is anXiously awaited
here.
The Liberals are now busy raising
reinforcements locally. They are re-
ported to have several hundred men at
different railroad stations between
here and Panama.
The United States gunboat Machias
landed a detachment Of marines here
this morning They are guarding the
railroad station and other property of
the road.
AT a conference held this morning
between Commander McCrea, of the
Machias: United States Consul NAL
mors Col. Shaler, superintendent of
the Panama Railroad. and Col Barre
"a commander of the Liberals. the last
named was Informed why the marines
had been landed from the Machias.
Barrera promised to guard the city
with his troops.
Today or tomorrow trains will be
crossing the isthmus as usual and
there has been no obstruction of free
transit so far.
The news of the capture of Colon
which reached Panama when commu-
nication with that city was restored
this morning was a great surprise to
the inhabitants of the city on the
other side of the isthmus.
Colon Colombia, Nov. 20.-According
70 tbe latest news received here from
Panama nothing has yet been heard
IN that city concerning the outcome
of Gen. Adams expedition against the
Liberal forces at Chorrera. It is said
that information of the recent happen
ings at Colon has been sent to him
In the meantime the government
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