The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-27
HELPS THE CANAL.
Friends Of United States Create
a Disturbance on Isthmus.

| Panama. Colombia. July Pinot since
the days of the last revolution, when
an attack upon the city by the Liberals
was feared. has there been such a panic
in Panama as occurred Saturday night
Shortly after 8 O'Clock the office of Ell
Lapiz, the organ of the Liberal party
on the isthmus. was visited by officers
of the general staff of the army, who
destroyed the days edition of the news
paper. One of the directors was slight
~ wounded. but managed to escape
! AS the office of the newspaper is stu
ated in very populous district, the
news spread rapidly. In the Santa Ana
nelghborhood, where most of the Lib
erals reside, sentiment rose to high
pitch, and few of the prominent peo-
pie counseled retaliation They took no
action, however.
! The next event came like a bombshell.
A company of soldiers, apparently under
the orders of General Vasquez Cobos,
| commander of the national forces, sur
rounded the residence of Governor
Nuts, but the governor and his wife,
who is an American woman, having
| been warned few minutes before the
arrival of the troops, succeeded in
escaping.
General Huertas, commander of the
battalion of Colombia. when he learned
OF the FL Lapiz incident. repaired to
/ headquarters where he found General
Cobos. According to current reports,
the latter ordered General Huertas to
remain in quarters. Exactly what has
taken place is unknown, but it is said
that Dr. Aristides Arizona, secretary of
the government. Fernando Arrange,
chief OF police, and Etram Navia,
member of the departmental superior
| tribunal of justice. are under arrest, the
| last named for trying to argue with
General Cobos the ilIegality of his
action.
An attempt also is said to have been
made to arrest Senior Guerra, secretary
of finance, but he refused to accompany
the officer who went to his house to
arrest him, and when the officer return
/ ed with soldiers to effect his capture.
Guerra had departed. The only civil
official on the street this morning was
Mayor Ossa. Governor Nuts spent
last night at the British consulate, but
it is reported that he will take refuge
in the American consulate.
United States Consul Gudger made
several unsuccessful attempts to secure
an audience with General Cobos who
is brother of the minister of war. 1t
is reported that General CObos offered
the governorship to different conserva-
tives who refused to accept and that he
himself will assume civil command. 1t
4 is said that Consul Gudger attempted
to send a cablegram to Arthur M Beau
pre-, the United States minister at Bo-
gotta, but that the agent refused to ac-
cept the MESA ge. claiming that the
|
fact that it is known that press mes
sages were accepted this morning.
! 1t is thought that perhaps orders to
refuse messages to Bogota have been
issued to the cable company by the mil
itary authorities.
AS this dispatch is being sent. it is
learned that DIR. Arizona and Judge
Navia have been set at liberty and that
the chief of police, Arrange, remains
There was little excitement on the street
Sunday the Colombian battalion attending
| ton of affairs IS very serious. Governor
Nuts virtually is a prisoner. Undoubtedly
General Cobos VIII Issue later in the day
/ proclamation giving the reasons for MS
actions, which up to this time are I'M
The national government in certain quar-
tiers is being held responsible Tor mn aSdie OF
1 have not been paid for some time ana
Governor Nuts declined to give more OF
/ the money of the department of Panama
/ for national expenses arguing that the
central government owes the department.
over g 100000 besides having obligated the
department by recent decree 70 pay I Ine
salaries of all civil national employees. Inc
refusal of Governor Nuts is the origin OF
the discord between the civil ana military
authorities
against what the Liberals call the assas-
sination of General Victoriano Lorenzo
the leader of the guerrillas during the re,
cent revolution. who was court-n1ar tialsu
and shot May Is, precipitated events The
effect of what is now going on upon the
| Colombian congress. it is believed, Will be
| favorable to the canal treaty, for the enc
| mics of the treaty, it is now believed. will
| be easily convinced of the necessity OF
| certain clauses which it contains in regard
to the control of this zone po,ro+a h.s
been restored.