The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-12-25
COLOMBIA BUSY
LANDING TROOPS
Force Of Them Has Been Put
Ashore Near Mouth Of
the Atrato River.
RECENT INTERFERENCES
Detailed Report of Movements n
Preparation of Notifications by
the Colombians Received
From Naval Officers.

Colon, Dec. 19.-The United States
cruiser Atlanta, Commander Turner,
returned here last night from the Gulf
Of Darien. She discovered on Decem-
Der IL a detachment Of Colombian
troops numbering usually about l.b0o
or 1000 at Titumati, on the western side
Of the gulf. just north Of the mouth OF
the Atrato river. The commander Of
the Atlanta sent ashore an officer who
conversed with the Colombian COM
mand. The latter protested e%nergeti-
cally against the presence of Ameri-
can warships In Colombian waters. In
somuch as Val between Colombia and
the United States had not been de-
lanta leave the gulf. because it belong
ed to Colombia. Commander Turner
ignored the request and the Atlanta re-
turned to Colon to report to Rear Ad-
miral Coghlan.
The C%olombians were clearly busy
with protective strengthening meas
ures. Although they treated the Amer
leans courteously they decidedly re-
sented the presence Of the Atlanta's
landing party. The Colombian force
was composed partly Of men anded re-
Gently at the Atrato river by the Co.
lombian cruisers Cartagena n Gem
eral Pinzon.
Colombians Landing Troops.
Early in the morning of December
10 the Atlanta sighted a small schoon-
err in the center of the Gulf Of Darien
and followed her to the western shore,
where the schooner attempted to get
behind IN inlet. Lieutenant Perrill Of
the Atlanta was ordered to board her,
and thereupon q Whaleboat was low
cred and pulled towards the schooner.
A correspondent of the Associated
Press accompanied the party. 1t was
found the schooner had on board 100
armed Colombians. commanded by
General Rafael Novo, who said Gen.
eral Daniel Ortiz was commander in,
chief. The Colombian forces had al
large camp a mile away on the main
land. Novo requested Perrill to land
and confer with Ortiz.
Great excitement prevailed among
the Colombians On the whaleboat's APP
proach, and there were repeated cries
of viva Colombia" and a sudden con-
centration of $50 Colombian soldiers on
the beach. For some moments The sit
uation appeared dangerous n had the
appearance of an ambuscade. Ortiz
appeared on the beach when Perrill
WIN "oiioASt N'S
lying close to the beach.
Ortiz insisted that Perrin should fly
the Colombian flag at the bow of the
whaleboat, or lower the American flag
at her stern, because she was in Co.
lombian waters. Perrill replied that he
didn't have a Colombian flag and re-
fused to lower the stars and stripes.
Ortiz didn't insist, but protested in
writing against the presence Of Amer
leans in Colombian waters. Perrill ac-
copied the protest and conveyed it to
Commander Tucker. who handed it to
Rear Admiral Coghlan on his arrival
here.
Menacing Moves Made.
During the conference with the Co.
lombians ashore Perrill was surrounded
by Ortiz's staff, while a few PAGES away
there was a semi-circle Of armed sem
tinels. The beach in both directions
was also lined with sentinels. Ortiz
didn't permit Perrill to leave the point
on the beach where he landed.
While Perrill was awaiting the Co
lombian protest, First Lieutenant
Mainwaring, commanding the marine
guard of the Atlanta, moved up in a
cutter for the purpose of commune
eating with Perrill, and to gain certain
military information.