The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-12-22

Colon. December 1.-THE u. 8. crujs-
er Atlanta. Commander William H.
Turner. returned here last night from
the gulf Of Darien. She discovered on
December 18th a detachment Of Colon'-
bian troops, numbering virtually about
800 men. but. according to their state
! ments. totalling 1900 to 1000 men at
Titumati. on the western side of the
gulf just north OF the mouth OF Atya~
TO river.
The commander Of the Atlanta sent
ashore an officer. who conversed with
the Colombian commander. "he latter
protested energetIcaIly against the
presence of American warships in CO.
ombian waters insomuch as war be-
tween colombia and the United States
had not been declared and politely re-
Quested the Atlanta to leave the gulf.
because ii belonged to Colombia. Com
mander Turner ignored the request and
the Atlant- returned to Colon to r.
port to Rear Admira Coghlan.
The COlomhlans are clearly busy with
protective and strengthening measures.
Although they treated the Americans
courteously, they decidedly resente ths
presence OF the Atlanta's landing
party. The colombian force was COM
posed of the men landed recently at
the Atrato river by the Colombian
cruisers Cartagena and General Pin
ION.
Early in the morning OF december
18th, the Atlanta sighted a small:
schooner in the center of the gulf OF
Darien and followed her to the wes-
tern shore. where the schooner ct
tempted to hide behind an inlet. Lieu
tenant Harlan P. Perrill, of the At
lanta. was ordered TO board her and
thereupon q whaleboat was lowered
and pulled towards the schooner.
Through the courtesy of the naval Of
ticers. the correspondent of the ASSoci-
ated Press accompanied the party II
the whalebOat. 1t was found that the
schooner had on board a hundred arm
ed Colombian soldiers. commanded by
General Rafael Novo. who sad hat
General Daniel Ortiz commander-in-
chief OF the Colombian forces of the
atlantic and the Pacific had a Large
camp a mile away on the mainland.
General Novo requested Lieutenant
1 ~ ldiiu illO CoIllcl " In SSi-
era1 Ortiz. After temporarily return
ing to the Atlanta. Lieutenant Perrin
went a to the schooner which in
the meantime had taken a position off
a beach within a small bay. Great eX-
element prevailed mons the Colom-
bianS on the whaleboats approach.
There were repeated cries of Wv
Colombia" and there was a sudden
concentration Of about 15s Colombian
soldiers on the beach. For some mo-
ments he situation appeared danger
ous and had the appearance of ambus-
cade General Ortiz appeared on the
beach md Lieutenant Perrill g
ashore. the whaleboat IN the mean
time lying close to the beach Cen
eral Ortiz insisted that Lieutenant
Perrill should fly the Colombian dag
at the bow of the whaleboat or lower
the American flag at her stern. be-
cause she was in Colombian waters.
Lieutenant Perr1ll replied that he did
not have a Colombian flag and refused
to lower the stars and stripes. Cen
eral Ortiz did not insist upon his SO
doing, but he protested in writing
agalns the presence OF the Americans
in Colombian waters. Lieutenant Per
rill accepted the protest and convey
ed it to Commander Turner. who hand
ed 1t to Rear Admiral Coghlan on his
arrival here.
During the conference with the CO.
lOmbians. ashore. Lieutenant PERTH
was surrounded by General Ortiz's
staff. while inland a few PAGES. there
was a semicircle Of armed eentinelS.
The beach in both directions was also
line bv sentinels. General Ortiz I'D
not permit Lieutenant Perrill to leave
the point OF the beach where he landed
While Perrill was awaiting the Co
lOmbian protest. First Lieutenant Id
ware B. Manwaring, commanding the
marine guard Of the Atlanta rowed UP
in Il cutter for the purpose Of pom
municating with Lieutenant Perrill and
TO gain certain military information
Lieutenant Manwaring went ashore
and the cutter joined the w~haleboat of
the beach.
The Colombian amp appeared 70 BE-
permanent, was we'll p~rovisioned and
probably destined TO be used as a base
OF operations.
Genera Ortiz and others freely cy-
pressed the determination OF Colombia
TO fight 10 the bitter end in case
General Reyes visit to Washington -
not successful and Panama is not re-
turned to Colombia.