The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-25

Shaler had played his cards so adroitiy as
I to have cleared the situation OF the menace
| onered by the presence OF the Colombian
buaboat Cartagena. When that boat
reached Colon on Tuesday morning she
was short OF water. There was plenty OF
| coal in her bunkers. but of water there
virtually none. and the entire available
supply of fresh water for stocking ships
at that port is controlled by the railroad
4 company, which maintains and operates its
own waterworks. Wishing TO refill his
water tanks. the Cartagena's commander
| called upon Colonel Shaler TO negotiate for
! the needed supply. Colonel Shaler is q
most kindly disposed gentleman, always
ready to help a fellow-being out OF q
| dilemma, but when the Colombian COM
mander made his desires known. the colonel
| happened, just at the moment, to remem-
| Der that the Colombian government was in
debted TO the railroad company TO the
amount of 5000 (gold) for coal. water and
other supplies furnished Colombian naval
vessels from time to time. Knowing what
had transpired at Panama, Colonel Shaler
| thought that ii would be wise 10 collect the
debt and exact payment for the water
needed by the Cartagena before assuming
the role of a benefactor to the Colombian
naval establishment. He remembered, too,
that he had received positive orders not to
/ furnish further accommodation to Colom-
bian naval forces, and with much regret
| he explained his inability TO aid the Co
| lombian commander.
| The latter opined at once that Governor
| Obaldia, at Panama, would undertake to see
| to il that the delinquent bill was paid, and
after some discussion upon that point asked
| Shaler was quite willing TO facilitate the
Colombian commander to attainment of his
desires but glancing out of his window he
| ing train from Panama. The time had come
| when censorship over the telegraph and tele-
phone was useless TO prevent knowledge Of
| the secession from Colombia being COM
| municated to the troops from that republic,
SO when the Cartagenas captain was about
| to telegraph TO Governor Obaldia, Colonel
Shaler remarked. almost casually: There
| is no Governor of Panama
THE CARTAGENA SAILS.
| The Colombian captain was naturally
dumfounded at this statement, and asked
for an explanation, which was readily given
| him by Colonel Shaler. who maintained
his placid demeanor and quality OF gentle
speech. Carefully and quietly he detailed
| the circumstances attendant upon the rev.
/ olution Of the day preceding. and clearly
| demonstrated to the Cartagena's COM
| mander that there was no Governor of Pam
anna, hence there was nobody on the
Of the railroads Sli for 5000. -" It was s ali
| nicely done, and the Colombian was brought
| to appreciate just why IL was that the rail-
There was some further talk between the
| two men, and the Colombian naval captain
then left Colonel Shaler, going directly TO
his ship, which sailed out of the port
| few minutes later, without having commu-
nicated with Colonel Torres, and leaving the
troops she had landed the day before to
| shift for themselves.
HE WAS PAID TO LEAVE.
With the Cartagena gone, and with the
freighthouse in control of and strongly bar
ricaded by the American force. Colonel
Torres consented late in the afternoon OF
the 4th Of the month to incline his ear to
Mollendes's arguments. He, too, was
brought to see the futility Of opposing the
| inevitable and already accomplished inde-
| pendence of Panama, and at last consented
to re-embark his troops and sail away from
| Colon in return for 8, 900 (gold.) The Royal
Mail steamer Orinoco (English) was at her
| dock at the time, and as the charge Tor re-
| turning the Colombian battalion to Carta-
gena was only about $500 (gold), there was
q good margin OF profit in the bargain
| Torres had driven, but to the discourage
ment of such patriots it may be stated that
| the Colombian government, learning or the
transaction through the wide publicity
| when he reached Cartagena- The deal hav-
Ing been made. the question was TO raise the
5000 necessary to make 1t effective That
/ amount in glod is not to be had on the 18TH
] mus OF Panama upon demand, and Mol.
lendes was In somewhat OF a quandary.
diena are; anS MolenSes befb"ngbt o Sisaif
1 OF Colonel Shaler
1t happened. very fortunately, that the
| Panama Railroad had 5000 gold on hand
| at the time, but that corporation Is not en-.
| gagged in the business of transporting Coz
| lombian soldiers at its own expense. The
money was forthcoming. however. and q
| very pretty story was then fixed up and
| sent to the press In the States about the
| generosity shown by the merchants OF Co
| lon, and the promptitude with which they
raised 5000 gold equal 20 $4,000 in Colom-
| bian currency to satisfy Col. Torres. The
story was pure fiction. The fact is that
| when Mollendes reported his demands to
/ Colonel Shaler that gentleman telegraphed
| to the firms OF Isaac Brandon & Bros. and
Henry Ehrman. bankers. of Panama, who
..ll oil fhx fF-r
| isthmus In this telegram Colnel Shaler
stated that the isthmus could be cleared OF
Colombian soldiers by the payment OF s. 600
| imburse the railroad from the public funds
| If II advanced the sum needed Brandon q
ine Y in the Affirmative. and the S. 600 was de-
i livered by the Panama Railroad to Gov
ernor Mollendes, who turned 1t over to Col.
| Torres.
LOOKING AHEAD.
This transaction completed, the Colon,
bian troops marched from the barracks to
| the Royal Mail dock to board the steamer
for Cartagena. This dock runs at right
angles to the freighthouse of the Panama.
| Railroad. distant only about 100 feet. and
| the Colombian troops had no sooner
! marched out onto the dock than Lieutenant
Commander Witzel and Colonel Black
| swung the line of the American barricade
| out so as to close and command the dock
on which the Colombians were massed. 1t
| was the morning of Nov. before all OF
| these details had been attended TO. the OPP
| posing forces having rested on their arms
| during the night of the 4th. After reach
ing the dock and being just ready 10 20
| aboard the English steamer. the Colombian
| troops threatened to revolt because the
| captain of the Orinoco demanded that they
| surrender all their arms into the ships
charge before coming aboard. The delay
| was protracted, the American force stand
ing guard behind its barricade while IL
| lasted. The Colombians conceded the point
! in the end, however and stacked arms on
| the dock. leaving IL to the stevedores to
| take charge OF and store them in the hold.
| Very soon thereafter the British steamer
| sailed away and the secessionists were left
| In absolute and unopposed possession of the
| entire isthmus, not shot having been
| fired by them in the achievement OF their
| independence.
| Such is the story. in its various phases.
| as have given II I'm this and the preceding
| letters, of the recent revolution on the 18TH
| mus. That IL brought into existence a new
republic Is a matter of secondary consid-
| Grafton 10 the isthmians. who count only
| upon the fact that they have brought about
| a condition under which the ship canal is
| certain TO be constructed. For their politi-
| cal liberty they care nothing; for the canal
! they are willing TO play in desperation. no
| matter how high the stakes may be fixed.
| and now that they have accomplished their
| Drfmary nltrnOSa and secured the esfahlizh-