The San Francisco call., 1903-12-07
AMERICAN TARS
SAVE ISTHMIANS
Marines Play Prominent
Part in Secession
Movement.
Hold at Bay Colombian Sol
diers Landed From Gun
boat Cartagena.


COLON, Republic of Panama, Nov.
2S.-There were two days at Colon
when a few Americans under the COM
mand Of Lieutenant Commander Wilt
sea, U. s. N, faced a desperate chance
and looked 1t calmly in the face. On
November 2 the United States gunboat
Nashville, Captain John Hubbard,
came into Colon. Her presence was
welcome on both sides Of the isthmus
to every man concerned in the brew
ing secession movement, but the sur
face observer Of affairs saw nothing to
make her coming necessary. Appar-
emily there was no revolution and
traffic over the Panama railroad did
not appear to be threatened.
The next morning (Tuesday) the Co
lombian gunboat -Cartagena unexpect-
edly steamed into Colon with $50 Co
lombian troops on board. This news
was flashed over the wires to the other
side and the whole isthmus awakened.
At once there was nervous excitement
in Panama; young men carried mes
sages hurriedly through the streets:
secret consultations were held; wild
plans were discussed; some Of the con-
spirators were for acquitting, declar-
ing there was no chance for success
with 450 Colombian soldiers in Colon,
and that the opportunity had been
lost, while others insisted on imme-
diate action.
With the gunboat Cartagena came
two Colombian generals, Amaya and
Tovar, and Colonel Torres, all ignorant
-
ment. The arrival of the Cartagena
forced the hands of the secessionists
and those who advocated action finally
prevailed.
HUBBARD CLOSES. RAILROAD.
Although the 45O troops from the
Cartagena were landed, they were un-
able to obtain transportation to Pana-
ma Colonel Torres succeeded in get
ting the railway officials to have a
train made up to carry them to Pan
anna, but in the meantime Captain
Hubbard, acting upon the obligation
of the United States to protect traffic
across the isthmus. gave orders that no
troops whatever should be moved over
the railroad. This deprived Colonel
Torres of all chance of going to the
relief Of his leaders. who had preceded
the troops to Panama.
On Wednesday morning the news of
the arrest of Amaya and Tovar was
brought to Colon and then came in
formation that Governor Obaldia had
been made a prisoner. and that the
revolution had been successful.
Profiro Melendez. then agent of the
Panama junta and later Governor of
Colon, approached Colonel Torres and
tried to negotiate with him for the
quiet withdrawal of the troops. His
efforts were futile The Colombfans
would not agree and shortly before
noon they threatened to attack Colon
and kill every American here unless
Generals Amaya and Tovar were Iiber-
ated by o'clock that afternoon. This
at once put serious aspect upon the sit
uation.
Meantime the firm that generally
supplied water to the government re-
fused to furnish the captain Of the Car
tagena fresh water for his boilers un-
less an old bill against the government
was paid, and the captain quietly sailed
away and never returned.
NASHVILLE LANDS MARINES.
The news that the 45O Colombian
soldiers had threatened to attack Colon
and kill all Americans was made known
by Senior Melendez at about 1890 on
Wednesday. The Nashville was at
once signaled that the presence of
Captain Hubbard was needed on shore.
Fifteen minutes later he landed in
a small boat and the situation was
explained to him. His plans were
formed at once. No time was to be
lost, for serious fighting could
be expected in an hour Forty
men and two one-pounder guns from
the Nashville were as big a force as
could be spared, and were landed and |
sent to the freight house of the Panama !
Railroad. This force was in command |
of Lieutenant Commander Wiltsea.
All entrances to the freight house |
were fortified by bales of cotton and /
other available merchandise. One gun /
was mounted to command the approach /
at the rear of the building. while the |
other was set upon d fiat car at the /
main entrance in front, to command /
that side.
All this was done by o'clock. But |
the Colombians did not carry out their /
threat. They could be seen in small 4
parties moving about the streets, but
the majority of them stayed in their 1
barracks. 1t was agreed between Cap
tain Hubbard and Colonel Torres on
Wednesday night that each should
Withdraw his trOOOS