The sun., 1903-11-20
DENIES BRIBERY STORIES.
Dr. Amad0r Tells How independence was
Secured on tho Esthmus.


Dr. Amad0r Tells How independence was
Secured on the Esthnus.
WARRINGTON, Nov. Io.-Dr. Manuel Anna
dor, Minister OF Finance OF the Republic
Of Panama, who is being spoken OF on the
Isthmus for election as the first President
Of Panama, gave to THE SUN reporter to-
night an interesting account OF the move
ment for independence of the lsthmus'
containing facts that have not been printed
DR.. Amador was In New York just before
the beginning OF the movement He had
been for a long time surgeon OF the Colom-
bian battalion on the Isthmus and had the
confidence OF Gen. Huertoz, chief OF the
battalion, and his men. Gen. Huertoz
has been very much criticised for going
over to the revoutionists, and 1t has been
said that he was paid to do 30. DR.. Anna
dor was very desirous tonight OF explain
ins lust how Gen. Huertoz was approached
on this subject He said:
Il arrived at Panama on Dot. 81. On the
2oth my friends came to me and said they
wanted to seek the independence OF the
Igthrnus We talked the matter over and
they said they had not dared to speak to
Huertoz because they doubted his position.
I thereupon made an appointment with
Huertoz and told him that two battallons
were going to march upon Panama, .I I,,, ,ein one
to ret possession Of the city and send him
away to the interior. He replied that he
knew that the movement was in cont en-
plation and that the Government had sus,
pioion of him and his troops. l then told
him that the best he could do would be to
ret IN the movement ON the Isthmus., He
answered promptly Well, that is what
want. am the same stborn in Panama.
] settled the matter with him then, and
wish to deny positively the statements that
Huertoz was offered any money whatever.
Dr. Amador then explained how he went
to Cen Baron who commanded the gunboat
Padilla, and asked him IL he wished to risk
his life in movement for the independence
OF the sthmus. with much pleasure,
was Gen. Baron's answer. Il think you
merely as an adventure IL you and your
friends are in the movement It is because
YOU are going to succeed There was no
question a. to the men on the Padilla, be-
cause they belonged to Huertoz's battalion.
There have been several accounts Of the
arrest Of the Colombian Generals, but DR..
Amador told his version for publication FOR
the flrst time tonight. He said:
There were only about sixty persons
arrested altogether, 30 you see how unani-
nous the movement on the !sthmus was was
men and about twenty-stx Colombian
officers. 1t was at first proposed that the
officers should be taken into custody at
s O'Clock, and went to the cuartel or bar
racks, about that time and urged Gen.
Huerto1 to arrest them before they left.
Gen. Huertoz wanted to delay arresting
them and finally had his way. He ex,
planned that he had invited them to musical
at Retreat that evening and would arrest
them then. It turned out differently,
the street after leaving the barracks they
saw such crowd that, they suspected
trouble and returned to the cuartel for the
purpose OF ordering the arrest Of Huertoz,
"As they we're approaching. however
I urged Huertoz to arrest them at once.
and he did 30. This was the beginning
Of the end of Colombia's control over the
Isthmus and was followed by the arrest
Of the policemen and a few persons whom
W knew were opposed to the movement;
About twenty Of the sixty thus arrested
have since taken the oath OF allegiance
to the republic and have been released.
We oAePed to pay the cost Of transportation
Of an persons who desired to return to
Colombia, and only a, few persons. to
aether With the Colombian officers, took
advantage OF this offer