New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-25

for stocking ships at that port is controlled by the
railroad company. which maintains and operates
tsrEs ~ 800 con19,a dor cai1ed mon
Colonel Shaler TO negotiate for the needed supply.
man. always ready to help fellow being out of
a dilemma: but when the Colombian commander ir
at the moment. TO remember that the COLOMBIAN
government was indebted TO the railroad company
the amount OF 5000 (gold) for coal, water and
other supplies furnished Colombian naval vessels
at Panama. Colonel shaer thought that it would
be wise 10 collect the debt and exact payment LOT
ing the role Of a benefactor to the Colombian naval
received positive orders not TO furnish further &C
commodation to Colombian naval forces. and with
Colombian commander.
ALL NEATLY DONE
The latter was Of the opinion at once that Gov
ernor Obaldia a Panama. would undertake to
10 il that the delinquent bill paid. and. after
seine discussion upon that point. asked permission
20 telegraph ObaIdia- Colonel ShaIer remarked al
most casually:
There is no Governor OF Panama"
The Colombian captain was naturally dumbfound-
ed at this statement. and asked for an explana-
fion which was readily given him by Colonel
shaler who maintained his placid demeanor and
quality of gentle speech Carefully and quietly he
detailed the circumstances attendant upon the
luton Of the day preceding. and clearly demon
strated 10 the Cartagenas commander that there
was no Governor Of Panama. hence there
was nobody on the isthmus who could guar
antee the payment Of the railroads bin
for $1,000 Il was all nicely done, and the
Colombian was brought TO appreciate just why 1t
WAS that the railroad could refill the Carta
Rsnzss tanks. There some further talk be-
tween the two men. and the Colombian naval cap
tain then left Colonel Shaler going directly 10 his
ship which sailed out OF the port few minutes
later. without having communicated with Colonel
Torres and leaving the troops she had landed the
dsv before to shit for themselves.
Win the CaEtagena gone ana with me ITelg tp
house in control Of and strongly barricaded by the
on The afternoon Of the 4th Of the month
to incline his ear 70 M0Iendes's arguments.
oB nos was the fneyftabs ana already ac
cor,r1shed Independence of Panama and at last
from Colon IN return for 5000 (goldb me Hoye 9
at the time. and as the charge for returning the
Colombian battalion TO Cartagena was only about
The bargain Torres had driven, but to the discour
egeInept OF sucn pac[loI7 a nay s &c 80 +in
through the wide publicity given 10 II conpeIiea
The deal having been made. the Question was to
raise Che $500 necessary 10 make i etectlye Ihat
Panama upon demand and MolenGes was In some ONE
Mll,-s o. O.. : . zfy,-s a-5s STo1endes bethought
himself OF Colonel Smaller.
FINANCING SCHEME
It happened very fortunately. that the Panama
Railroad had 5000 In gold on hand at the time,
but that corporation is engaged IN the business
OF transporting Colombian soldiers at its own ex-
pense. The money was Forthcoming. however, and
q very pretty story was then fixed up and sent
TO the press the United States about the gener-
osity shown by the merchants Of Colon. and the
prornpdtude with which they raised $500 in gold
Ceoual 20 $4,000 Colombian currency TO satisfy
Colonel Terres. That story pure fiction The
fact Is that when Molendes reported his demands
TO Colonel Shaler he telegraphed to the firms OF
Isaac Brandon & Bros. and Henry Ehrman,
bankerz OF Panana, who held deposit all the
pubic money On the isthInus- In this telegram
Colonel ShaIer stated that the isthmus could be
cleared OF Colon bfsn soldiers by the payment of
s GO tE gold, and asked II the bankers would re-
vanced the sum needed Brandon s. Bros and
Ehrran lost time il answering in the afflrna-
tive, and the S ESQ delivered by the Panama
Railroad 10 Geyernor MouenoeS, VINO turned II
over to Colonel Torres
This transaction completed. the Colombian troops
marched from the barracks te the Royal Mail dock
runs al right angles 70 the freigrthouse OF the
Panama Railroad, distant only about one hundred
feet and the Colombian troops had no sooner
marched out onto the dock than Lieutenant Com
ynande- V7ttzeI and Colonel Black swung the
line OF the American barriCads out. TO close
and command the dock which the Colon bians
before an OF these details had been attended TO- the
opposing forces having rested on their arms during
the night OF the 4tl. After reaching the dock and
being just ready TO go aDoaTd the kngIlsn steamer
The csautain OF the Ornoco demanded that they
render al their arms into the ships charge before
corning aboard The delay was Protractea, the
While ii lasted The EoloTnbta1s conceded the point
IN the end however, ana stacked the DOCK,
leaving II the steVedores TO take Charge OF and
British steamer sailed away, and the secessiOnists
were left absolute and unopposed possession or
the entire isthrnus not a shot having been fired
BY them n the Achievement OF their Independence