Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-21
ONE VESSEL SUNK.
Panama Government Loses Ono Vessel
n Mondays Naval Battle.


In Mondays Naval Battle.
Panama, Jan. 21.-Three revolution
ary gunboats sailed into the harbor OF
Panama before daybreak Monday
morning, and taking the government
ships by surprise. opened a vigorous
fire at close range.
The government ships replied at once,
and battle resulted, in which the gov
ernment steamer Lautaro was sunk al
ter many on board had been kilg-d.
& General Carlos Alban, governor of
Janama and leader Of the government
forces. was on board the Lautaro and
was among the killed
The arrival OF q third government
warship compelled the insurgent gun
boats to retire One of them seems to
have been badly damaged, and another
is reported to be sinking.
The United States cruiser Philadel-
pl,ia was In the harbor and witnessed
the engagement Sailors from the Phil
adelphia, after the battle. went on
board the Lautaro to help fight the fire
which had been started by the insur-
gent shells, but they. were unsuccess-
ful.
The attack was almost complete
surprise to the government. The irsur-
gent fleet was composed of the steam-
ers Padiila, Darien, and Gattan. They
are trying +, force landing off Saoana.
The government ships We're the Chill
ena line steamer Lautaro, the Paciiic
Steam Navigation Companys steamer
Chicuito, and the Panama Canal Com
pany's steamer BoyacA. The first
named steamer was seized by General
AIban and the other two have been
chartered by the Colombian govern
ment.
All three of the government steamers
had been armed with as many guns as
General Alban could secure. He had
taken a large force on board the Lau-
faro and C'hicuito, intending to sail
Monday to attack the insurgents.
The principal insurgent attack was
made by the Padilla- 1t entered the
bay and succeeded in getting to close
quarters with the Lautaro.
The Padilla opened a fierce fire, to
which the Lautaro made q brief re-
sponse. General Alban, however, was
killed early in the engagement and
many soldiers on board were killed or
wounded, and soon after the crew, dis
heartened at the suddenness and fierce
ness Of the Padilla's attack, deserted
the ship as soon as 1t was discovered to
be on fire.
The government steamer Chiculto at
once opened fire on the Padilla, and was
in turn attacked by the Darien and
Gaitan. The Chicuito was not serious
sIy injured, but seems to have inflicted
serious dame ge on the Darien. The Pa
dilla. too, was compelled to retire to a
safer distance as q result Of the fire OF
the Chicuito.
The guns at Las Boyedas also opened
fire on the rebel ships. the range, now
ever. being too great to render the shells
dangerous.
When the firing finally ceased the rev.
olutionary steamer Darien approached
the Philadelphia. The captain of the
Darien was told by Captain Mead of the
Philadelphia that the insurgent fleet
would not be permitted to lombard the
city of Panama or to land troops at the
docks.
Soon afterwards the government
steamer Boyaca appeared on the scene
whereupon the Padilla, Darien and Gal
tan drew off. 1t is reported that the
IDarien is in a sinking condition. but
this can not be confirmed.
The body Of General Alban was taken
off the Lautaro as soon as possible, sail
ors from the United States cruiser Phil
adelphia assisting. The dead apd
wounded were also removed. The fire,
however, could not be extinguished, and
the Lautaro sank in the harbor.
General Alban's death Is deeply de-
plored He was loved by his soldiers
and enjoyed the esteem of the commu-
nifty.
It ie asserted that the death of the
Colombian leader may have the effect
of bringing to the government eide large
numbers of men anxious to avenge his
death.
HRiGANDs AGREE ON RANSOM.