The Savannah morning news., 1903-07-27
TROUBLE IN PANAMA
NATIONAL FORCES RISE AGAINST
THE GOVERNOR.
NEWSPAPER WAS VISITED
AND AN EDITION OF THE ORGAN
WAS DESTROYED.

Company of Soldiers Surrounded the
Residence of Governor Mutis-GOv-'
ernOr and His American Wife
Had Been Warned and Escaped TO
the British COnsulnte-Omcers of
the State Were Arrested-Ameri-
can Consul's Dispatch Refused.
Panama, Colombia. July 26.-Not
since the days of the last revolution,
when an attack on the city by the
Liberals was feared, has there been
such panic in Panama as occurred
| last night.
Shortly after o'clock the office of
Ell Lapiz, the organ of the Liberal
party on the isthmus, was visited by
officers of the general staff of the
army, who destroyed yesterdays edi-
ton of the newspaper. One of the di-
rectors was slightly wounded, but
managed to escape.
AS the Office of the newspaper is sit
uated in a very populous district, the
news spread rapidly. In the Sante
Anas nighborhood, where most of the
| Liberals reside, sentiment rose to a
high pitch and a few of the promi-
| nent people counselled retaliation. They
took no action, however.
The next event came like a bomb
| shell. A company of soldiers, appar-
emily under the orders of Gems. Vas
quez Cobos, commander of the nation
al forces, surrounded the residence of
Gov. Nuts, but the governor and his
wife, who is an American woman. hav-
ing been warned a few minutes before
the arrival of the troops, succeeded in
! escaping.
Gen. Huertas. commander of the bat
TALON of Colombia, when he learned
of the Ell Lapiz incident, repaired to
headquarters, where he found Gen.
Cobos, and according to current re-
ports the latter ordered Gen. Huertas
to remain in quarters.
Officials Arrested.
Exactly what has taken place is un-
known, but it is said that Dr. Ar
| Jona, secretary of the government
Fernando Arrange, chief of police, and
| Etraim NaVi, a member of the de-
partmental superior tribunal of justice,
| are under arrest the last named for
! trying to argue with Gen. Cobos the
/ illegality of his action.
An attempt also is said to have
been made to arrest Senior Guerra,
! Secretary Of Finance. but he refused
| to accompany the officer, who went to
his house to arrest him, and when the
| officer returned with soldiers to af-
| feet his capture Guerra had departed.
| Thes only civil official on the street
to-day was Mayor Ossa. Gov. Nuts
spent last night at the British consul
ate, but 1t is reported that he will take
refuge in the American consulate.
United States Consul Gudger made
| several unsuccessful attempts to-day
to secure an audience with Gen. Cobos
who is brother of the Minister of
War. 1t is reported that Gen. Cobos
offered the governorship to different
Conservatives, who refused to accept.
and that he himself will assume civil
command.
Wouldn't Receive His Message.
1t is said that Consul Gudger attempt
ed to send a cablegram to Arthur M.
Beaupre, the United States Minister
at Bogota, but that the agent refused
to accept the message, claiming that
the lines were interrupted in spite of
the fact that II is known that press
messages were accepted this morning
1t is thought that perhaps orders to
refuse messages to Bogota have been
issued to the cable company by the
military authorities.
AS this dispatch is being sent it is
learned that DR.. Arizona and Judge
Navia have been set at liberty, and
that the chief of police Arrange, re-
mains under arrest
There was little excitement on the
street to-day, the Colombian battalion
attending church in body as usual,
but the condition of affairs is very Sc
~
oner. Undoubtedly Gen. Cobos will
issue later in the day a proclamation,
giving the reasons for his actions,
which I'D to this time are unknown.
Pay Due the Soldiers.
The national government In certain
quarters is being held responsible for
much of what has happened because
the soldiers have not been paid for
some time, and Gov. Nuts declined to
give more of the money of the De-
partment Of Panama for national ex-
penses arguing that the central gov
eminent owes the department over So
100000, besides having obligated the de-
partment by a recent decree to pay the
salaries of all civil national employees.
The refusal of Gov. Nuts is the origin
of the discord between the civil and
military authorities.
Violent articles written in Ell Lapiz
"60'ii7' "HhS tiS blDeTdlS cali the as
sassination of Gen. Victoriano Lorenzo.
the leader of the guerillas during the
recent revolution, who was court-mar-
tailed and shot May Is, precipitated
events. The effect of what is now 60
ing on upon the Colombian Congress.
it is believed, will be favorable to the
canal treaty, for the enemies of
the treaty, it is now believed, will
be easily convinced of the necessity
Of certain clauses which it contains in
regard to the control of this zone
Gable communication with Bogota
has been restored.