New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-23

comfort. Arriving at Panama. they were wei
coined in way becoming their dignity. The
battalion garrison, with General HUsrtas IN
command. and with the band playing a Lively
air, was at the station to meet them and escort
them to the Governors quarters. The Governor
himself was at the station with his private car
riage to greet the two Colombian soldiers, and
1t was brilliant procession that passed through
the streets Of Panama. Then came the consulta-
ton with Governor ObaIdia- He was obtuse
and could not understand the motive IN sending
the soldiers; but If the generals would excuse
him he would go and Write the order, as "nAI
the government at BogoIa ordered must per-
force be right and proper
GENERAL HUERTAS TAKES A HAND
Governor obaldia left Tovar and AInaya and
walked into the arms Of detachment OF Co
lombian soldiers. who quietly arrested him and
conveyed him to his rooms in q hotel. where he
was kept close prisoner for two days. Tovar
and Amaya. having waited in vain for Obaldia's
return, and becoming suspicious, repaired TO the
barracks to be near the soldiers, upon whom
they could certainly depend They were re-
ceived at the barracks with honOrs. The bat
talon was paraded for their reception. and
General Huertas escorted them to his own
rooms and charmed them with his conversation
until about o'clock in the afternoon. but all
this palaver was lost on TOvar and Amaya-
They had themselves been through revolutions
and knew the signs that are carried by the air.
and they demanded the truth Of Huerras- Was
there on foot a revolutionary movement? Huertas
kind. Was he implicated? The value OF con-
cealment was lost. and Huertas answered: ITO
tell you the truth. generals, am"
Then consider yourself under arrest" cried
Tovar TO which Huertas replied:
Very good sir I will step into the next
room TO get my sword. that it may be surren-
dered to you
Opening the door as he spoke Huertas dis
closed to the view Of Tovar and Amaya. now
thoroughly amazed, half company OF soldiers.
fully armed AS he threw open the door. Huer-
tas cried TO his men:
Arrest those two menu and in an instant
Tovar and Arnaya found themselves prisoners
OF the Colombian battalion Almost at the same
moment Jose Tovar, nephew Of the general and
commander of the Colombian gunboat BOgOta,
stationed at Panama, and q man whom the
cesstOnists had not dared to approach, ar
rested as he was passing through the plaza in
front OF the cathedral The die had been cast;
secession was a fact, and there was no drawing
back The seven original conspirators for fnde-
pendence Immediately took charge OF the situa-
ton. The flag Miss Ossa had made sent
for in haste The proclamation Of independence
was produced, but as the occurrences were Sc
cret to the city OF Panama, it was not until the
next day that public meeting held in the
plaza to declare the independence OF the Re
public of Panama. The forrna Iities OF the coca
Panama, the eleven members Of which were ad-
vised Of what was expected Of them, and all Of
whom were willing and eager 70 join the move
Lnent which meant the construction OF the canal
AND ONLY ONE WAS KILLED.
Night was falling as this meeting was con-
vened- The proclamation OF Independence was
read. and each member OF the City Council
signed his name TO it The citizens then had
an opportunity to append their signatures, and
a large number awaited themselves Of 1t. I'M
mediately after signing the proclamation the
members of the City Council crossed the street
to the municipal building, and in their regular
chamber went into formal session The prOcla-
nation had previously been engrossed in a large
record book, and the councilrnen signed IL again.
permanent preservation being planned in that
form Sitting behind closed doors, the council
passed a decree appointing Seniors Arrange,
ArtaS and Boyd as a provisional governing
junta, and intrusttng to them the direction OF
the affairs Of the new republic.
The moment. according TO the reports OF eye
witnesses was not a particularly inspiring one.
The affair conducted after the fashion OF
any business proposition. The streets were
filed with people. but there neither shoot
ing, shouting enthusiasm the whole trans
systematically. The City Council remained IN
session during the evening TO deal with any
situation that might arise; the saloons were
ordered closed for the evening; the soldiers were
turned out to do patrol duty, but there was no
violence or disorder, the Spanish popula ton fall
ing entirely to live up to it's reputation for
citabiliuy. The success OF the movement, so
far as the city OF Panama was concerned, was
easily assured. General Ruban Varon, COM
mander OF the gunboat Twenty-hrst OF Novem-
that shin as the meeting in the plaza IN
progress The BoEota had not been liked
and when he learned what was in progress. Pay
master Martinez the only officer remaining on
board, took command or that vessel ana steamed
out OF the harbor, returning about 10 o'clock the
same evening to throw six or eight shells into
the cfty sacrificing the life OF Chnarnan--
the only bloodshed in the revolution-and do
ing an inconsiderable amount OF damage TO
property.