The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-06
A Blue Jacket on the Cruiser
Cincinnati Tells Of Conditions
at the Isthmus Which in
Some Respects Parallel
Those OF Recent Events
at Panama and Colon.
at Panama and Colon.
Especial TO The Times Dispatch.)

Especial to The Times-D ispatch.)
RADFORD. VA, Dec Sin view OF
the prominent role played by Panama O.
late, and the interest felt in her politics
and people, history. past and present.
anything indeed. in connection with the
Infant republic, the following letter was
resurrected from a batch received last
year from a blue Jacket OF the Cincinnati
while in Caribbean waters.
Colon, Colombia, S. A.,
:. ;. = Sept. 81. 1909.
NV Dear Sister:-This has been a busy
week. We save been doing guard duty
IN the Panama railroad. line running
rom Colon to Panama, on the Pacific
coast, 47is miles distant. Steamers bring
heir cargoes here and send them across
he isthmus by rail Instead of sailing
lround the Horn"
The road is standard gauge built IN
81. and is owned by Americans. The
Engineers and conductors are white, but
he rest of the trainmen are negroes,
There is a revolution In progress here.
he leaders being two brothers. One Is
resident OF the country and tho other
yants to be-a sentiment shared by most
f the people as he Is better man than
lis brother, and promises reforms
There are three rebels to one federalist,
nj they have neither the money nor the
rms that the government troops nave
he rebels are In the mountains and the
ederalists hold Colon and Panama.
ROGUISH TROOPS,
The railroad offered to carry the gov
rnrnent troops free. but they broke open
airs. stole everything they could lay
ands on, and destroyed railroad prop
rty. Consequently the company refused
lem Transportation unless they would
ny their fares and stack their arms In
re baggage cars. This they refused to
o. They even went so far as to block
,e road and hold up trains, so we were
,dered out 10 protect the trains and see
rat they went through.
7 was on the first train patrolled by
ue Jackets. There were $500 govern
ent troops at Colon and 1000 nj Mount
ope--the first station out-auartered In
&c depot. We expected trouble at this
oint, but were not molested
The rebels wear red and the govern
ent troops blue, The Colombian army
the drtiesL sIcltlest looking mob of
en- ever saw More than half Of
en are boys in their teens saw any
imber carrying Remington rifles with
yonets attached who were not half as
HS dS lHtlT weapons. ~ ~ ll'Sc suIne
tie boys that the rebels fear most as
ey crawl through the grass like snakes,
icy put the butt end OF their guni
ainst rock or tree when they fire.
Their uniforms are made Of blue de-
N, fashioned much like overals. and
ey wear large straw hats with very
gh crowns. But for that matter, they
ar anything they can get hold OF from
coffee sack to a full dress uniform
They get 30 cents a day. and il not
ID every night, they viii desert and go
sr to the enemy.
Vow little OF the country and canal,
isthmus. which IL 47ls miles wide
this point. is traversed by two noun
chains. but most OF the country Is
y low and water stands on II can
ntly. IT'S one great Jungle. with
es and vines SO thick one could no,
sibly travel through them. Aliga-
and all kinds Of yenomous reptiles
much In evidence.
LIVE IN HUTs.
he natives live In huts made Of bam-
Il ID. y