The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-11-06

| war SnlDS 10 10 10 the lStnmUlS-
The Ship Canal Assured by the
| Revolution.
| Colon, Colombia, November 4.-With-
out the firing Of a shot and amid scenes
of great enthusiasm the independence
of the isthmus and the department of
| Panama was declared last evening.
! The city of Panama is now in the
| hands of the revolutionists and no Sc
| rous attempt has been made to RECAP
arrived in the harbor after the declara-
| ton Of independence and threw a few
shells into the city without doing dam
age to life or property. Perfect order
prevails in Colon tonight and tran-isth-
mian trains are running as usual, with
Iout interruption.
The presence of the United States
gunboat Nashville at Colon is believed
to have resulted in the avoidance of
serious trouble AS the result of q con-
ference here Colonel Torres, command
ing the troops at Colon, has just sent
on a special train to Panama repre-
sentative to confer with General Tovar,
iWhose unconditional release is demand
ed
A proposal was made to Colonel Tor
res that the American troops will re-
turn to the Nashville if he guarantees
to maintain order. This proposal was
tonight accepted by Colonel Torres.
IPub!:c alarm in Colon is now somewhat
abated.
The act of independence has just been
isigned at Panama.
| During the excitement this afternoon
1.-The Blue jackets from the Nashville
quickly placed bales Of cotton on the
tops of freight cars, forming excellent
barricades. Many of the citizens were
armed with rifles and revolvers. Sew
eral Americans and other foreigners
took refuge on board the german steam
Ter Markomannla.
| The opinion of everybody here is that
the isthmian canal is now assured.
| A dispatch has been received from Bo-
gotta dated November 2nd saying that
congress has closed without initiating
Legislation on the canal project.
| Colon, November AT 7:3O O'Clock
tonight the American blue jackets re-
turned aboard the Nashville.
Washington. November 4.-Nlce-
United States Consul Ehrman, at
| Panama, cables the state department
under today's date that the Colom-
| bian government warship Bogota is
shelling the city. One Chinaman has
been killed.
| Mr.. Ehrman has been instructed TO
protest against the bombardment: -
the cOunSel'S protest is not SuIHcleul
then the commander of the L. 5. ,.
Boston. which is by this time on her
way to Panama from San Juan del
Sud, 900 miles distant, will promptly
seize the Colombian gunboat IL ne
cessary to stop the bombardment:
This bombardment is in violation
of the rules of war, beginning as IL
| did without the required notlce
Moreover. the United States govern
ment takes the ground that it GER
1ainly interferes with the freedom OF
transit across the isthmus which TINS
| Government is treaty-bound to MAIN
. tain.
the greatest activity was exhibited
: in the state and navy departments
. | this morning and there We're ire
: uuent consultations between the Oh
l ficials. the naval officers paruculaITlN r
= being in the working out OF the de
of the isthmian canal.
You will protect American inter
>, | ests at all points and do eVerElhlns
:. possible to avoid bloodshed. IS IN
Substance of the instructions cable'
bv the navy department at the IN
stance of the state department {
the naval commanders now at tn
;, isthnlus or on their way. The las
= mart Of the instructions IS particular
" significant for it forecasts NOR
active interpositiOn by the Unite
) States government in the troubles o.
" rhe isthmus that has perhaps eve
# before been displayed. With the Al
L. lanta. Dixie and Nashville there WI
II be a naval force on the Gulf side c
= the isthmus sufficient TO meet an
l. probably emergency. The presenc
n of the 400 Colombian governmer
ic troops at Colon. makes the sltua
is ton at present more difficult tina
al on the Panama side.
So 1t will probably oblige the Unite
a States to take possession OF the rdl
a. wav. as traffic cannot be malntalne
g. with one end of the line in possesslo 10
~ of the government froces and II
re other in the hands Of the revolt
20 tionists. The effect of such SeiZu1
I'd of the road would be to prevent II
in movement of any body of troops ca
CT rying arms from one side of the
or thmus to the other.
RAILROAD IN DANGER
Washington. November 4.-Duri
the day a telegram was received at