New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-25
REPUBLIC AND CANAL.
Scene of Action Shifts to Colon
Hoe Work Vas Carried Through.
Fron Special Correspondent OF TAs Tr4bune)

be derived from the ship canal having been com
pleted az Panama on Wednesday. November l. the
scene OF action suddenly shifted to Colon
while the independence OF Panama was practically
proclaimed the evening OF November g the peo-
PIE OF Colon. only forty-seven miles away were in
total ignorance OF what had taken placs until the
arrival q the first train from Panama al II o'clock
O. the morning o. November L
When that train arrived bringing passengers
from Panama with more less exaggerated
ports o: the occurrences in the metropolis OF the
sstlnaus the cay before. Colon prepared ct once
Cor the shock she had reason TO expect because
o. presence OF so Colombian soldiers within her
limits The train from Panama brought an order
from the governing 5unta Diminishing General
C1adr0s from the Office Of Governor OF Colon and
appointing SeeOr Mollendes, 3 mulattc OF
ability. 10 succeed him This was IN accordance
wiki scheme arranged the second OF the
month. when MoleBdes was called TO Panama by
telegraph 10 meet the conspiratOrs at which
ang u was arranged that should be appointed
Governor OF this province, and he directed
stand ready TO assume the office the moment the
order for his appointment should bs communicated
70 him.
AIollenaes needed no great amount OF encourage
raent. and when The train arrived Panama at
= o'clock On the morning OF the 4th. he imnedi-
R1eIy announced himself Governor OF the province
by appointment OF the junta, and took charge OF
the local government This had hardly been done
when Colon thrown into OF great
element by the general circulation OF the news
that Generals T0va- and Anaaya had been arrested,
and even then II prisen in Panama The 450
Colombian soldiers were CHARTERED in the Colon
barracks, 6 large building formerly used by the
railroad as 8 passenger station. and these soldiers
a. once assumed G threatening attitude Colonel
Torres WEO left IN command when Tovar and
Auaya went 10 Panama, WIS most obeurate. in
eistng that what had been done should be undone
G-e the mischief repaired and promising TO visit
upOn az concerned tAe diTesI penalties The stu
alton looked back the American and other for
egn elements in Colon, for the number OF men who
could be mustered oppose any attempt by the
Colouahzns 10 work vengeance upon the town was
SO small be almost insignificant in the face
OF the Colombian battalion. which was well armed
and equipped
AMERICAN INTERVENTION.
The United States gunsoat Nashville with her
5acEdes aboard. swinging at anchor in the
hSTbors eut the thing fGT which the secession
fists ana their American allies the isthnIus were
most dezlrous-acsusl American intervention-had
not been Accomplished Captain Hubbard Of the
Nashville had. il is true issued on the evening Of
the 90 order 70 TIE Panama Railroad forbidding
Il &c transport armed n either direction across
isrhmus: but no American force had been land
ed- Il At this 5unctUrs that Governor Molten
oss executed little coup OF his OWE. 10 which
American intervention Is directly traceable Mol
leu6es invited Colonel Torres. the Colombian com
rnsnder. meet him IN conferences az the Hotel
Washington another isthn1izn institution, which
Is controlled by the Panama Railroad Employing
al his persuasive abilities sfolendes urged Cello
ne Torres re-en1ba-k his troops and sal away.
leaving he isShra1s pursue its This
Ire OF argument only Increased Torres's bitterness.
Ee became more defiant even bornbasc1c, and at
ESQ O'Clock made e vehement threat that Il Gen
erals Tovar and Ar1zya not given their lib
erty BY O'clock he would his battalion loose
and slaughter every American II Colon Molten
oes waited not q minute after hearing TOTres's
avoNaL Despite excessive avOtrdupois he broke
from the conference IN the Hotel Washington
and running al the way. covered the three hun
dred yards 20 the general offce OF the Panama
Railway II remarkably fast time
There he communicated 10 General Superfntend-
EFT shaler TIE nature Of T0-Tes's threat, and in
moment more a signal going from the small
tower On top o. the railroads general Office By wig
wag 70 The Nashville TIRE eject that the life and
property Of al Americans II the city were endan-
Eered, and before Torres could have cen1nsIni
Gated with his force Jackies were going over Tire
NashvLe's SIDE. constituting landing party, small
II numbers, but matches for git and ability TO
shoot. There forty n this party, under
command Of Lieutenant Commander Command
WitzeL executive Oficer Of the Nash
Vile and they Up 20 the railroad wharf with
the long swinging oar pun common among ua1-ef-
wars men They landed with a rITEh and double
qutelzes 10 the freight SHED CT the Panama Rail
road
This building-a heavy stone structure-was al
E.-1biy nTteo for purposes OF esfenOe- Il faces
Directly down the street along which the Colon
ban troops would have had 70 come 70 attack the
Americans 81 Culon and the only entrance TO Il
Sc large arch. through which The trains pass
Into this arch common fat car, with
bales o. cotton LAID the end Other bales
o. cotton were used close the remainder Of the
opening and the entire front OF the building
barrloa6e6 with The same material This part OF
the work was supe-4atended By Colonel Black.
z. 6 A. who happened 70 be n Colon from
culebra sne who cheerfuTIy rendered 20 the naval
.orce the benefit OF his engineering skill The Nash
xIIe's landing party had brought with them arms
and ammunition for those civilians who might be
disposed 70 assist n The work OF defending Arner-
can interests and about twenty employees OF the
Panama Railroad snd other foreigners volunteered
Tor this service
TIE AMERICANS WERE COOL
The situation Is pronounced by Colonel shaler
Civil War veteran. who has been tn more thaa
close place 10 have been OF the desperate
he has ever known Against force OF 450 Colon
blsn soldiers there opposed not more than
sixty American sailors, marines and civilians. A
brave cash. had IL been attempted, by the Colon
baans. might have put them u command OF Chs
situation. BY enabling them overwheln the de-
Tending force; but for some ths dash was
not attempted An q the atts-nocn Of the 4th
the antagonists waited The COlonbians were kept
closely Ia their gsrT1Ss while TIE American fo-co
cid STR from Tie 6arr1CaGeG freight house The
tory would almost certainly rest with the superior
numbers: but they were prepared sell their
lives dearly. and their department at mis- critical
stage was Euch a. 70 deserve the adrnlrsSon OF the
Ladon- The little company Of forty Jsc1des
there 70 90 the work necessary 10 keep transit
the EthmUs open and never Tor a moment cid
they falter IL their determination Colonel Black
and Lieutenant Commander Witzel were cool
calmly as though they had army back OF them.
sH6 Captain Hubbard Of the NASHVILLE. did not
hesitate Tor one instant
White ne American saflors and civilians were
preparing defend themselves and al American
vas