Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-12
CONDITIONS IN PANAMA
SERGEANT MAJOR MCCLURE OF
THE PANTHER TALKS.
Opinion Regarding Soldiers of Revolu-
tionists or Government Not
the Highest.

"It always seemed like a play govern
ment to us; it was hard to take it Sc
riousiy."
Sergt. Maj. Mcclure of the Panther Just
returned from Panama, where the $40 ma
rines were engaged in keeping open the
railroad, thus spoke of the country 1.-The
American soldiers did not form high
opinion of the army or navy of either the
government or the revolutionists." he con-
tinued Panama harbor was policed by
small gunboat, the Mosquito, not
more than an armed tug. Later the
Bogota, an American-built ship manned
principally by American sailors. Joined
her The flagship Wisconsin created a
great impression, and native asked one
of the men If the United States had many
ships like that. He could hardly believe it
or bigger Both armies were composed Of
understood men and boys, not over four
teen or fifteen. carrying guns longer than
the soldiers are hlgh.
Some Are Mere Bows.
1.-The police are equally small, and some of
them are mere boys. They carry clubs four
feet long. There was "mix-up' on the
wharf one day. Several boys were in a
fight, and policeman attempted to arrest
the whole set. A very small woman col
Jared the policeman and soon put him out
of commission. There was a great deal of
jabbering and gesticulating and the affair
ended. No one was arrested. and only the
policeman lost out.
THE United States troops were not over
welcome there. One day an orderly was
sent to the wharf to meet boat from the
flagship. A little policeman placed him I'M
der arrest for not having his side arms ION
straight" The officer wanted to take the
orderly to court in a little donkey wagon
that had been used in cleaning the streets,
but the orderly insisted upon walking The
judge solemnly arraigned him for not wear
ing his side arms according to local regula-
tons Not compromising what was meant by
straight" the young man drew out his
pistol to show how it was arranged and
the judge hastily went under the table.
When the confidence of the crowd was
restored and he emerged from his place of
refuge the messenger was allowed to de-
part on explaining the official character of
his business.
Treatment Of Liberals.
The local freight agent at Panama, Fabio
Arosemena, belonged to the liberal party.
He said that members of his party had not
been allowed to vote at elections and
had no representation at the seat of gov
eminent. They were liable to demands for
money at any time, the punishment for
refusal being term in Jail. He had been
mucted Of $1,6O0 in two months. He could
leave his house only by permission of the
alcalde, and had q pass from that official
permitting him to go to his place of busi-
ness every morning at 6 and requiring him
to return home at 8 in the evening The
sympathy of the marines was wholly with
the revolutiontSts
"A local regula ton required every cit-
zen to be In his house by o'clock. On
October % the membefs of Company
c, who had found things a little
dull, with nothing to amuse them but
swimming at the beach, organized
minstrel company and gave an enter
were good and the concert held on the
wharf, was well attended. The officers of
the flagship Wisconsin and H. M. 8. Retrt-
button. the British consul and his wife, the
American consul and about 500 civilians
from Panama made a large and fashion
able audience. When the concert was over
posse Of the toy policemen were waiting
on the wharf to arrest the entire crowd for
being out after nine bnt Colonel Russell
and the American consul, by dnt Of great
deal of talking, finally persuaded them to
let everybody go home.
Beach at Panama.
There is ten-foot ride at Panama, which
leaves the beach a quarter Of a mile away
when low. Hundreds of small boats loaded
with fruit come to the city every day, but
they seem never to export any fruit. The
women, in lightest attire, lined UP opposite
the wharf daily selling fruit. They were
Indians Jamaica negroes and Spanish and
were all homely types.
Il did not pretty woman while I
was away said Mr.. Mcclure.
THE people carry everything on their
heads, from a tub to a banana. During
these revolutionary times not much atten-
ton Is paid to sanitary measures, and the
dirt and filth Of Panama and Colon cannot
be described. People walking through the
streets are likely to be deluged by water
thrown from upper story windows. The
ship lost one man from yellow fever, j. H.
SchOeplein of Baltimore The officers and
men subscribing to monument to be
placed over his grave in the English ceme-