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

about TO leave for Panama. He would
hold 1t until Tovar and Amaya could
prepare for the journey He would,
and did, attach a special private car
to this train for the convenience of
the two distinguished travelers-and
so 1t was that the two commanders
journeyed across the isthmus in COM
fort. Arriving at Panama, they were
welcomed in a way becoming their
dignity. The battalian garrison, with
Gen. Huertas 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 carriage to greet the
two Colombian soldiers, and it was
a brilliant procession that passed
through the streets of Panama. Then
came the consultation with Gov. Obal-
da. He was obtuse and could not
understand the motive in sending the
soldiers; but If the generals would ex-
cuse him he would go, and write the
order, as what the government at
Bogota ordered must perforce be right
and proper.
Gen. Huertas Takes a Hand.
Gov. Obaldia left Tovar and Amaya
and walked into the arms of a det-
tachment of Colombian soldiers, who
quietly arrested him and conveyed him
to his rooms in 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 reply. They were re-
ceived at the barracks with honors.
The battalion was paraded for their
reception, and Gen. Huertas, of whom
more hereafter, 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 Trovar and Amaya. They
had themselves been through revolu-
lions and knew the signs that are
carried by the air, and they demand
ed the truth of Huertas. Was there
on foot a revolutionary movement?
Huertas answered that he had heard
some talk of that kind Was he i'm
plcated? The value of concealment
was lost, and Huertas answered: ITO
tell you the truth, generals, 'am"
Then consider yourself under ar
rest" cried Tovar, to which Huertas
replied:
VERY good, sir! 1 will step into
the next room to get my sword that
it may be surrendered to you"
Opening the door as he spoke Huer-
tas disclosed to the view of Tovar and
Amaya, now thoroughly amazed, half
a company of soldiers, fully armed.
AS they threw open the door, Huertas
cried to his men,
ARREST those two men!" and in an
instant Tovar and Amaya found them
selves prisoners of the Colombian bat
talon. Almost at the same moment
Jose Tovar, nephew of the General and
commander of the Colombian gunboat
Bogota, stationed at Panama, and
man who the secessionists had not
dared to approach, was arrested 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 independence
Immediately took charge of the situa-
ton. The flag Miss Ossa had made
was sent for in haste. The proclama-
ton of independence was produced,
but as the occurrences were secret to
the city of Panama, 1t was not until
the next day that public meeting
was held in the plaza to declare the in
dependence of the Republic of Pana-
ma. The formalities Of the occasion
we're discharged by the City Council
of Panama, the eleven members or
which were advised of what was ex-
pected of them, and all of whom were
willing and eager to join the move
ment which meant the construction of
the canal.
And Only One Was Killed.
Night was falling as this meeting was
convened. The proclamation of indie
pendence was read, and each member
of the City Council signed his name to
II. The citizens wer then given an
opportunity to append their signatures,
and a large number awaited themselves
of it, Immediately after signing the
proclamation the members of the City
Council. crossed the street to the mu-
nicipal building, and in their regular
chamber went into formal session. The
proclamation had previously been en-
crossed in a large record book, and
the councilmen signed it again, per-
manent preservation being planned in
that form. Sitting behind closed doors,
the Council passed a decree, appoint
ing Seniors Arrange, Arias and Boyd as
n provisional governing Junta, and in
trusting TO them the direction Of the
affairs of the new republic.
The moment, according to the re-
ports OF eye-witnesses, was not par
ticularly inspiring one. The affair was
conducted after the fashion Of any busi-
ness proposition. The street were filled
with people, but there was neither
shooting, shouting nor enthusiasm, the
whole transactions being viewed by the
populaee most phlegmatically The
city Council remained In session dur
ing the evening 10 deal with any stu
alton that might arise; the saloons were
ordered closed for the evening" the
soudlers were turned out 20 DO patrol
duty, but there was no violence OF