The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-23

not privy to the scheme to establish
an independent republic on the 18TH
mus. There is absolutely no evidence
discoverable here to controvert that
statement in the slightest degree, yet
II is an indisputable fact that the con-
spirators for independence at Panama,
believed implicitly, before they made
a single open move for independence,
that advance assurances of support
had been given by the government at
Washington. This belief is so fixed
that those in the conspiracy do not
hesitate to say that the first move
would never have been made had it
not been that Washington had given
a promise of support. For this lead
ing of the Panamaians into striking
for independence, credit could be given
to M. Bunan-Varilla, as it was be-
cause of a cablegram from him prom
Using most certainly American support
that the revolution was actually eff
fected.
cable from Bogota was received
at Panama early on the 31st of October
announcing the adjournment, sine die,
of the special session of the Colom-
bian Congress and the definite fail
ure of the Hay-Herran treaty. This
news was no sooner received than
the conspirators. whose names have
already been given in this correspond
ence, gathered in the parlor of the
residence of DR.. Amador. The crux
of the situation had been reached, and
it was the consensus of opinion that
if the blow for a trans-isthmian canal
under American ownership, and, incl
dentally, for Panamaian independence,
was to be dealt at all it should be
dealt at once. The situation having
been thoroughly gone over, all ac-
counts having been cast, and a bal
ance having been struck by the con-
spirators to discover their exact status,
DR.. Amador penned a telegram to M.
Bunau-Varilla, and it was Immediate
ly dispatched.
In this telegram it was stated that
all the plans were perfected, and that
If Varilla could give any assurance of
American support there would be no
further hesitation. AS he finished writ
ing this cablegram DR.. Amador re-
marked to his fellow spirators:
'If this man referring to Varilla)
can move an American warship so as
to place it at the isthmus to help us,
we need hesitate no longer"
From that moment the whole plan
waited on the reply from Varilla. 1t
was received on the first of November,
although dated the previous day. AS
10 its contents there are two versions,
and since DIR. Amador,. who has pos
session of the original, is in the States,
the dispute as to it's contents cannot be
settled Enough is known, however, to
justify the assertion that it was TINS
cablegram from Varilla which actually
precipitated the revolution ana mat
because the message contained an as
surahce of American support. One YER
sion of the message given to me by one
of the original conspirators, who was
present at the meeting on Nov. l, when
its contents were made known, is that
Vanilla telegraphed, in substance, au-
dressing the message to DIR. Amador:
go ahead. There will be an AmeIl-
can warship on either side Of the lsth-
mus within forty-eight hours"
The other version, for which another
of the original conspirators STANDS
snonsor is that the message was In
terms about as follows:
Go ahead. America will SEND shlps
at once to either side of the isthmus 70
maintain the freedom and security VI
transit"
The Arrival of a Warsh1p'
Then Varilla spoke with anything
like authority, or whether ne the
merely risking an assurance upon lhe
known policy of the American gov
eminent in protecting the transit Oh
the isthmus, is not discoveraple mere
but his message confirmed the con-
spirators in their determination 10 az
tempt to coup, and 1t was, at In1l
meeting, decided to take the leap To-
ward indenendence on Nov. 4. The
plan was to turn out the garrison IN
Panama at 80 o'clock on the morn
ing of that day and send 1t marching,
with bands playing, through the streets
to paste up printed copies OF the oecId:-
ration of independence. orators We
the crowd which would gather, ana
it was expected that by daylight Pana-
ma would be in a ferment or excite
ment, when it was planned to nolo
mass meeting in the Cathedral Piazza
and, with the people thoroughly
aroused, proclaim the independence.
Fate threatened, however, TO upset
all of the plans of the conspirators'
Miss Ossa had completed the flag, in
regard to the making of which there
is a separate story. There was no
longer any occasion for secrecy ABOUT
the plans, and the entire isthmus was
alive with the rumors of secession.
Everybody, at this time, was aware
that the plan was to be attempted,
and at the meeting of the original
band of conspirators, held on the even
ing of Nov in the Office of the
electric lighting company in Panama
it was agreed that there should be no
drawing back, and that the republic
should be launched the second morn
ing following. Dismay took the place.
of confidence, however, on the morn
ing of Nov. 8, when the Colombian
gunboat Cartagena steamed into Colon,
having on board 450 Colombian. SOL
diers. Back of the arrival of this ship
there is a story the details of which
are not clear.
Colombia Waited Too Long.
1t is stated that when the talk of Sc
cession became open, some four or five
days before the revolution took place,
Javiaer Janguto, the Catholic Bishop
stationed at Panama, wired informa-
ton of the conspirators' plans to the
government at Bogota. This charge
is denied by Bishop Janguito; but its
accuracy is insisted upon by those who
are In the secret of the details of the
secession. Whether the charge be true
or false, 1t is certain that Bogota had
II