The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-26
DECIDED CHANGE IN CONDITION OF AZ
FAIRS MUST COME.
THE TWO CONTENDlNG PARTIES
N Control at Either End OF the Trans.
Isthmian NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. a Lib
n Government at Colon--Quiet In
That ity-Raflway Unmoleseed-Lib-
erals Assembling Recrufts-Amerf.
can Forces Not to Interfere In the
Fighting

Colon, Colombia. November 1.-THE
city Of Colon was perfectly quiet al
yesterday and last night. 1t is claimed
lin behalf Of the liberals tina there ha.
been no unseemly behavior. Foreigners
Iare being respected and protected and
transit across the isthmus is ~uninter-
Irupted.
The postofice, prefecture. ali tbs
lother government Offices and nearly all
lterday.
Colonel Barrera, commander Of the
liberal forces, asserts that he has mott
fled the district representative of the
department Of the interior and other
former officials of the government that
he has appointed a commission to take
over their offices formally today. Senior
Espriella, a prominent lawyer and
counsel for the Panama railroad, is q
member of the commission.
The feeling Of the community cannot
be regarded as antagonistic to liberal
ism. The existing conditions have Gre
|ated no panic. but it is recognized that
the fact that the liberals hold Colon,
while the conservatives are II posses
sion of Panama creates a state of af-
fairs which cannot possibly continue.
Colonel Barrera admits thai the gov
Iernment troops here numbered a little
less than 120 men.
It was at first reported that twelve
or more men had been + led and that
|about thirty wounded, but h bodies
of more dead men nave since been
discovered.
General Zaldana commands 200 liberal
troops at Gutuan railroad station,
six miles from Colon.
The liberals claim to be in possession
|of all the railrad stations between
Colon and Las Cascades, which is near
Ter to Panama than to Colon.
No immediate attack on Panama is
contemplated. Colonel Barrera is
Awaiting the arrival at Colon Of the
liberal chief, Domingo Diaz, who is ex-
reaches this city definite plans will be
The United States gunboat Machias,
lit is understood. will not interfere with
ANY of the fighting. but will protect the
railroad and foreign interests.
A few armed liberal troops left Colon
by train this morning for Gatuan.
The government at Panama is still
busy erecting breastworks in the vi
|cinity of the railroad property, in the
direction of which the liberal attack is
Expected.
United States Consul General Gud-
ger. Captain Perry, Of the United States
|battleship Iowa, and the secretaries of
the government held a conference at
Panama yesterday. The latter claimed
THAT the conductors of the trains should
mot have allowed armed liberals to en-
bark on the train at Las Cascades.
Captain Perry replied that the govern
|ment should protect free transit on the
|isthmus. and ought to have prevented
the embarkation of the liberals. Sub
a letter was sent to the Co
|lombian authorities by the American
Officials with reference to future action.
1T is not improbable that the Iowa will
shortly land a force to protect transit.
Mexico City, November 21.-General
Pedro Ospina and George Holguin, the
minister of war Of Colombia n
the latter formerly finance minister,
have arrived here to confer with Cen
|eral Reyes, a member of the Pan
American congress. 1t is understood
they will offer him the presidency Of
Colombia, assuring him that his TAX
ing office will bring peace to his coun-
try.
Orizaba, Mexico, November 21.-Gen-
eral Rafael Reyes, Of Colombia, while
on board a train between Forth and
|Orizaba on the Verz Cruz route in
company with other delegates today
was shown the Associated Press dis
patch announcing the taking of Colon
by the Colombian liberals. Without
attempting to minimize the Importance
of the news, General Reyes said that
the latest turn Of affairs might easily
prove to have been a trap laid by Cen
.eral Alban to catch the insurgents.
When asked whether he would accept
the presidency of Colombia and wheth-
er the liberal success would cause any
change in his plans he said:
II prefer not to say whether 1 will
accept the presidency or not until I
conferred with General Ospina
and George Holguin upon my return to
Mexico City tomorrow. So far I have
declined the offer. I cannot say just
now whether or not 1 may take a diff
ferent view of the matter after conferr-
ing with my countrymen, but this
latest event will not in n case affect
my decision"
-"