The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-12-23
WOULD NOT LOWER FLAG
American Lieutenant Refused 10 Com
ply With Colombian Demand.
TROOPS READY TO MOVE ON PANAMA.
Cruiser Atlanta Discovers a Detachment Of
Colombian Troops on the Western Shore OF
the Gulf OF Darlen--As Lieutenant Perrill.
Approaches the Shore General Novo, Calls
Out: What Way Is This TO Make War"

Colon By Cable The United States
cruiser Atlanta, Commander William H.
Turner returned here from the Gulf Of
Daren.
She discovered on December IS a de-
tachmcnt OF Colombian troops, number
ing apparently about 500 men, but, ac
cording to their statements, 1900 to
7,coo, at Titumati, on The western side
OF the gulf, just north OF the mouth OF
the A,fato river.
The commander Of the Atlanta sent on
shore an officer WHO talked with the Co
lo!nbians commander The latter pro-
tested cnetge;ically against the presence
Of American warships in Colombian
waters, insomrch as war between CO.
loTbia and the United States had not
been declared, and requested the Atlanta
20 leave the gulf because it belonged to
Colombia. Commander Turner ignored
the request and the Atlanta returned to
Colon to report to Rear Admiral Cogh-
Ian.
Tic Colombians arc clearly busy with
protective and strengthening measures.
Although they treated the Americans
courtcousiy, they decidedly resented the
presence OF The A;lanta's landing party
The Colombian force was composed
partly CT the men landed recently at the
A;ra:o river by the Colombian cruisers
Cartagcna ard General Pinzon.
Early in the morning OF December IS
the Atlanta sighted small schooner in
the center Of the Gulf of Daricn and fol-
lowed her TO the western shore, where
the schooner attempted to hide behind an
iSlet. Lieut. Harlan p. Perrill, OF the
Atlanta, was ordered to board her, and
thcreupon a whaleboat was lowered and
pulled toward TIE schooner. 1t was
found that the schooner had on board
hundred armed Colombian soldiers,
commanded by Gen. Rafael Novo, who
said Gen. Daniel Ortiz, commandcr-in-
chief OF the Colombian forces OF the At
lantic and Pacific, had large camp
mile away on the mainland
General NoYo requested Lieutenant
Pcrrill TO land and confer with General
ORTIZ. After temporarily returning TO
10 the Atlanta Lieutenant Pcrrill went
back TO the schooner, which in the mean
time had taken up a position off beach
within a small bay Great excitement
prevailed among the Colombians on the
w!aleboats approach. There were re-
peated cries OF Viva Colombiaw
There was sudden concentration Of
about $50 Colombian soldiers on the
beach. For some moments the situation
appeared dangerous and had the appear
ancc OF an ambuscade General Ortiz
appeared OIL the beach when Lieutenant
Perrill went ashore, the whalctoat in the
meantime lying close 20 :he beach.
General Ortiz insisted that Lieutenant
Perrill should fly the Colombian nag at
the bow of the whalcboat or lower tho
American flag at her stern because she
was in Colombian waters. Lieutenant
Pcrrill replied that nc did not have
Colombian flag and refused to lower the
Stars and Stripes General Ortiz did J
not insist upon his so doing but he pro-
tested in writing against the presence Of
the Americans in Colombian waters
Lieutenant Perrill accepted the protest
and conveyed it to Commander Turner,
who handed 1t to Rear Admiral Coghlan |
on his arrival here.
Lieutenant Perril's boats crew con- |
sisted OF IL men On the first trip they !
were unarmcd, excepting four rcvolvcrs. |
When the whaleboat approached the
schooner "a soldiers were seen seated on
the side nearest to the direction from !
which the Americans came with rifles |
lying handily across their knees and |
pointing toward the whalcboat. General |
Novo, who 10 Venezuelan by birth,
and second iE command of the Colon |
biaa forces, stood OIL the deck OF the
schooner and instantly called out in
broken English
What way is .his to make war"
Lieutenant Pcrrill explained that it |
was not war, but friendly visit
General Novo, however, refused TO |
furnish him with any information.
An interpreter who boarded the |
schooner discovered that she had 20 to .
60 armed men, packed sardine-likc in her
hold.