The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-21
COLON CAPTURED BY
COLOMBIAN LIBERALS
CONTINUED From Page one.)


troops at Panama, numbering about
800 men, are busily engaged in the con-
struction of earthworks and barricades
at the railroad bridge going into the
city in anticipation of an early LIBERAL
attack.
Colonel Shaler says no request has
been made upon him for a special train
to convey government troops to Co
lon tonight If such a request is made,
1t will be granted but Col. Shaler does
not consider it likely. The Liberals
claim to have at least 700 men in pos
session of the different railroad sta
tons on the line between here and Pan
anna These men would doubtless do
their utmost to prevent the transpor-
tation of government troops to this
point.
Traffic across the isthmus for the
railroad continues uninterrupted. Ma
rines from the Machias are guarding
the railroad station and property here
tonight.
Since the renewal of hostilities by
the Colombian Liberals some five or
six months ago, on the Isthmus, an
attack upon Panama has been expect
ed at any time. After a very stubborn
and bloody battle last July the Liber-
ais almost succeeding in capturing the
city, and they have since frequently
threatened to renew the attempt
On Friday. July 20. 1900, the Liberal
forces about 1900 strong, arrived at a
railroad station but few miles from
Panama. The next morning, Saturday,
the government forces moved against
them Sharp firing took place for sew
, eral hours Then the government
forces retired to new positions. At
o'clock Sunday afternoon the fighting
was resumed. There was sharp artil-
| lery firing by both sides The men
who were wounded during these en-
gagements were carried into Panama,
where they were attended by the am
bulance force of the British warship,
Leander
Fighting between the opposing forces
continued on Monday. On Tuesday the
| insurgents attempted to enter the city.
The government forces had entrenched
| themselves strongly at the same rail-
road bridge mentioned in the foregoing
dispatch, and at this point the fight
ing was very severe, the insurgents
again and again charging up the mar
row road leading to the bridge ex-
posed to a terrific fire from the troops
of the government.
The fighting up to this time had re-
suited in the killing and wounding of
about 300 men, the hospital was filed
with the wounded and dying. All bust
was growing scarce there and steam
ers were unable to unload their car
goes. The fighting continued all Tues
day night and the next day an armis-
tice was declared in order that the
dead might be buried and the wounded
cared for.
Two insurgent generals and several
government officers were slain during
the desperate fighting. The armistice
of s1oxr
Owing to a misunderstanding, how
ever, the insurgents renewed their at
tacks upon the suburbs Of the city
Wednesday night and the fighting
lasted II hours. During this night the
casualties on both sides were extreme
ly heavy. The next morning the tide
Of battle was turned against the in
surgents by the arrival on an express
ira !. from Colon of 800 fresh troops to
REIN orce the government and on the
afternoon of the same day a treaty of
peace between the government and the
revolutionists was signed.
Gen. Alban, then acting governor of
Panama and today at the head of the
Chorrera expedition, commanded the
government troops upon the occasion
Of this attack.
Hezekiah Gudger, now United States
consul at Panama, was also in that
city in July
Washington, Nov 2O.-The confirma-
ton of the reported capture of Colon
by the Colombian Liberals caused a
decided commotion in state and navy
departments today. There were long
conferences between Secretary Long
and Admiral Crowninshield and be-
tween the admiral and Acting Secre-
tary 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 transit
across the Isthmus of Panama, that
communication had actually been
stopped in such fashion as to seem to
require the interference Of the United
States naval forces.
The first news of the trouble at Co
lon came from United States Consul
General Gudger at Panama. He tel
egraphed 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 ANNOUNCE
ing that Colon had been taken. This
was confirmed more explicitly by Unit
ed States Consul Malmros, stationed at
Colon. The latter official said that CO.
Ion was taken by the rebels last night.
While all these issues pended, transit
is not interrupted and American life
and property are safe and not likely to
be in danger.
Taken altogether these dispatches
were regarded by the officials here as
a lack Of purpose on the part
of the Liberals to interfere with tran
sit 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 a temporary device to pre-
vent the government from hurrying re-
Inducements by rail to Colon
STILL as a result Of the consultation
today, it was resolved TO take no
chances of an infringement OF the
treaty rights Of the United States.