The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-27
CIVIL RULE OVERTHROW
MILITARY COMMANDER IN PANAMA
ARRESTS CIVIL OFFICERS.
Gov. Nuts and His American Wife
Liberal Paper Suppressed.

PANAMA, Colombia, July 26.-Not since
the days of the revolution, when an attack
on the city by the Liberals was feared, has
there been such a panic in Panama as oc-
CURED last night. Soon after o'clock the
office of Eel Lapiz, the organ of the Liberal
party on the isthmus, was visited by off,
GERS of the general staff of the army, who
destroyed yesterdays edition of the paper.
One of the directors was slightly wounded,
but managed to escape.
AS the Office of the newspaper is situated
in a very populous district, the news spread
rapidly. In the Santa Ana neighborhood,
where most of the Liberals reside, sentiment
rose to high pitch, and a few of the prom
inent people counseled retaliation. They
took no action, however.
The next event came like bombshell A
company of soldiers. apparently under the
! orders Of Gen. Vasquez Cobos, commander
of the national forces surrounded the resi-
dence of Governor Nuts, but the Governor
and his wife, who is an American woman,
having been warned a few minutes before
the arrival of the troops, succeeded in es-
Gaping. General Huertas, commander of
the battalion of Colombia, when he learned
of the Ell Lapiz incident, repaired to head
quarters, where he found General Cobos.
According to current reports, the latter or
dered General Huertas to remain in quar-
tiers. Exactly what has taken place is un-
known, but IL is said that DR.. Aristides
Arizona, secretary of the government Fer
nando arrange, chief of police, and Etraim
Navia, u member Of the departmental SUI
perior tribunal Of justice are under arrest,
| the last named for trying TO argue with
] General 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 SOL
| diers to effect his capture Guerra had de-
parted. The only civil official on the street
| this morning was Mayor Ossa. Governor
| Nuts spent last night at the British con-
| sulate, but it is reported that he will take
| refuge in the American consulate.
| United States Consul Gudger made sew
| eral unsuccessful attempts to-day to secure
| an audience with General Cobos, who is
| brother of the minister of 1t is re-
| ported that General Cobos offered the gov
| ernorship to different Conservatives, who
| refused to accept and that he himself will
assume civil command. 1t is said that Con-
| sui Gudger attempted to send cablegram
| to Arthur H: Beaupre, the United States
| minister at Bogota, but that the agent re-
| fused TO accept the message, claiming that
| the lines were interrupted, In spite of the
| fact that it is known that press messages
were accepted this morning.
| 1t is thought that perhaps orders to re-
1
| by the military authorities.
| AS this dispatch is being sent 1t is learned
| that DR.. Arizona and Judge Navia have
| been set at liberty and that the chief of
| police. Arrange, remains under arrest.
| There was little excitement on the street
| to-day, the Colombian battalion attending
church as usual. but the condition of affairs
is very serious. Governor Nuts is virtu-
| ally prisoner. Undoubtedly General Cobos
will issue a proclamation giving the rea-
| sons for his actions, which. up to this time,
linz he nofin i'm
| certain quarters is being held responsible
for much of what has happened, because
| the soldiers have not been paid for some
| time, and Governor Nuts declined to give
| more Of the money of the Department of
Panama for national expenses, arguing that
| the central government owes the depart
ment over $4,000 900. besides having obi
| gated the department by a recent decree to
| pay the salaries of all civil national en-
| poyes. The refusal of Governor Nuts is
| the origin of the discord between the civil
| and military authorities.
Violent articles written in Ell Lapiz against
| what the Liberals call the assassinat ton of
| General Victoriano Lorenzo, the leader of
| the guerillas during the recent revolution,
| who was court-martialed and shot on May
Is, precipitated events.
| The effect of what is now going on upon
the Colombian Congress, it is believed, will
| be favorable to the canal treaty. Gable
| communication with Bogota has been re-
| stored.
| The Associated Press correspondent has
| interviewed General Cobos, who admitted
differences with Governor Nuts because OF
the latters refusal to pay the soldiers
| who, he said were hungry. He said Gov
ernor Nuts had Systematically opposed
| everything emanating from the military
authorities, but denied that he had intend
ed to arrest the Governor. He said: 81
was asleep last night when informed that
the editors of FL Lapiz had been attacked
by some officers. l ordered seventy men
out to punish the offenders. Passing the
Governors house, / went upstairs to in
form him of what had happened, because OF
his leniency toward the Liberals, who daily
insult the military authorities. Governor
Nuts sent word that he was out, which
! being untrue, L concluded he had refused
to see me- 1t was far from my mind to ar
rest the Governor, who had no reasons &c
side against me. 1 am anxious to end the
situation, which was really created by Gov
| ernor Nuts himself. / have tried to see
him three times this morning, but without
success. 1 will thank you to make public
my statement"