Evening star., 1902-08-09

lists had achieved it the governor OF Pana-
ma, General Salazar. sent two gunboats TO
capture the revolutionists with the goods
on them. He expected that they would at
tempt to ship the coffee in order to raise
money. The good mans grief when he
found that the villains had hidden it away
where he could not get 1t, is said to have
been profound.
He then appealed to the American consul
general to send warship. He wanted the
Philadelphia to go. But the consul general
wouldn't send It, possibly not caring TO
play the game that way. However, the
Ranger finally was dispatched to the city
of David, which is General Herrera's head
quarters in the revolutionary business, TO
argue with that strenuous person about
those bags of coffee.
The city of David is away up "a river. II
is a town that is noteworthy chiefly for its
unusual decorations in the way Of shot
holes and cannon ball punctures. 1t has
stronghold where most of the fights are
pulled Off" apparently by mutual con-
sent. This is the Quartet The walls of the
tower there have even more cannon balls
sticking in them than has the rest of the
town.
A really pretty fight was enjoyed there
recently, during the last attempt by the
government forces to take the town. A
government captain got as far as the
tower, but unhappily his troops had not
cared to imperil their health by accom-
panying him. So he had to fight for his
life, which is. rare in Central American
revolutions, where the non-cOmbatants
usually are the only ones killed as far as
both sides can arrange il.
This captain. however, was real tighter.
He had a huge Colts navy revolver, which
is a weapon that disgusts Colombians, who
prefer to battle with the machete. He man
aged to ensconce himself behind wall.
BY taking pains and paying strict atten-
tion to his work, he managed to shoot or
stab twelve men during his lone stand.
The revolutionists themselves admit it. But
his hnodnn AS he his
machete at the head of the man with the
unlucky number cannon ball wandered
along and took his head off.
Savage Chiriqui.
Chiriui has seen the bloodest scenes in
the present revolution. Non-combatants
have been slain without mercy, in the city
of David alone fifty persons having been
hacked to death because they did not de-
clare for either party.
The natives do not like ''gun plays" at
least when the other person makes it, What
they love passonately is to drive away at
each other with machetes. Many of them
can fence wonderfully with these I'M
mensely heavy knives. But most of them
are stronger in the art of hacking away
at their opponents from distance that Is
judged with fine perception of danger, so
that nothing fatal shall occur to mar the
| days war. They do not object to death
| particularly. but their anxiety that it shall
! be confined to the other fellow makes them
cautious
| The lagoon of Chiriqui would make an
| excellent coaling station. The peninsula OF
| Tobolo shuts IT in on the east and several
beautiful islands protect 1t to an extent
from the sea. Columbus discovered the
| lagoon in 1902. He found that the natives
| had abundance of gold and he returned TO
| Spain with glowing reports of the prodi-
gious wealth of the country IN minerals
| And 10 did eXagRer-
| ate Colombia is a country that Is won
| derful in natural riches. Coffee, cacao,
I sugar. tobacco, bananas, cotton, vanilla
| yucca, indigo, rice and scores OF othei
| foods grow almost wild. The forests con-
| tain nearly every valuable wood known
| and many rare and strange and beautltu
| kinds that appear to promise vast com
| mercial returns If they could be brought tt
| market.
| The chains of mountains that cut th'
country, from Chiriqui province south, OH
all sorts of climates and soils and otne'
| conditions for every form of agricultur'
from planting to raising cattle, according
| to location.
| But besides being cursed with perpetua
revolution, the country is cursed with feNe
in the low lands along the coast and in tn
deep valleys between the mountains.
white man must learn to eat quinine Il
doses that would be fatal in temperate
zones. Living along a greater part of tn
coast is impossible for any except Indian
and certain acclimated classes of hal
breeds and negroes. The sea coast town
are filthy and the heat is steady and Kill
ing In some parts Of Colombia it rain
for six months in the year. In some of tn
! valleys the fever bearing vapors shrou'
the land day and night. In other parts III
is delightful In the higher attitudes o.
! climate to suit ones SELF obtaining ever
range from subtropical to frigid as he as
cends or descends.
r Colombia is full of romance. A wonder