New-York tribune., 1903-07-27
PANIC IN PANAMA.
Flight of the Gouernor-SeUeral Of
fcials arrested.

ohortly after o'clock the office of Ell Lapiz,
the organ of the Liberal party on the isthmus.
was visited by some officers of the general staff
of the army. who destroyed yesterdays edition
of the newspaper One OF the directors was
slightly wounded. but managed to escape. AS
the office of the newspaper is situated in
populous district. the news spread rapidly. In
the Santa Anas neighborhood. where most of
the Liberals live sentiment rose to high pitch
and a few of the prominent people counselled
retaliation. They took action. however.
The next event came like bOmbshelI. A COM
pany of soldiers. apparently under the orders of
General Vasquez Cobos. commander OF the ma
tional forces. surrounded the residence of Gov
ernor 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 escaping.
General Huertas, commander of the Battalion
of Colombia, when he learned of the 'El Lapiz'
incident. went to headquarters, where he found
General Cobos. and. according to current re-
ports the latter general ordered General Huertas
to remain in quarters
Exactly what has taken place is unknown. but
it is said that DR.. Aristides Arizona, Secretary
of the Government; Fernando Arrange. Chief of
Police, and Efraim Navta, a member of the De
under arrest. the last named man for trying to
convince General Cobos OF the iIlegality of his
action An attempt is also said to have been
made to arrest Senior Guerra, Secretary Of
Finance but he refused to accompany the officer
who went to his house. and when the officer re-
turned with soldiers to effect his capture Guerra
had departed.
GOVERNOR AT BRITISH CONSULATE.
The only civil official on the street this morn
ing was Mayor Ossa. Governor Nuts spent
last night at the British Consulate but it is re-
ported that he will take refuge in the American
Consulate. Hezekiah A Gudger, the United
States Consul. made several unsuccessful at
tempts to-day to secure audience with Gen
eraI Cobos. who Is brother of the Minister of
War.
1t Is reported that General Cobos offered the
governorship to different Conservatives, who re-
fused to accept it, and that he himself Will as
sumo civil command
1t is said that Consul Gudger attempted to
send cable dispatch to Arthur NJ. Beaupre, the
United States Minister at Bogota. but that the
agent refused to accept the message, alleging
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 per-
haps orders to refuse messages to Bogota have
been issued to the cable company by the mill
| tary authorities. AS this dispatch is being sent
| 1t is learned that DR.. Arizona and Judge Navia
| have been set at liberty. but that Chief of Po-
| lice Arrange remains under arrest.
| OUTWARD QUIET MAINTAINED.
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 serious. Governor Nuts is virtually q
prisoner General Cobos will probably issue a
! proclamation giving the reasons for his actions
which, up to this time. are unknown.
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 Governor Nuts de-
| cIned to give more of the money Of the De
| partment of Panama for national expenses, al
leging that the central government owed the de-
| partment over $2,O00,00O. besides having oblt-
| gated the department by a recent decree to pay
the salaries of all civil national employees The
! refusal of Governor Nuts is the origin OF the
| discord between the civil and military authori-
| ties
Violent articles written il Ell Lapiz' against
what the Liberals call the assassination of Gen
! eraI Victoriano Lorenzo the leader OF the
eueriIas in the recent revolution, who was
| court-u1a- a-tiaIled and shot on May 10, precipl-
| tated the trouble. "El Lapiz" has also been
publishing series Of articles openly advocating
| autonomy of the isthmuS - .. .
| The effect of the present situation upon the
| Colombian Congress. il is believed. Will be
! favorab bic TO the canal treaty, for the enemies
! of the treaty il is now believed, VIII De easllS
/ convinced of the necessity of certain clauses
! which it contains in regard TO the CohIroI OF OF
! this zone Gable communication with Bosota
has been restored
| PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT LIKELY.
! General Cobos admitted differences with Gov
ernor Nuts because of the refusal to pay the
| soldiers who he said were hungry He saio
| that Governor Nuts had Systematically op-
posed everything emanating from the military
authorities. but denied that he had intended to
! arrest the Governor. He said;
was asleep last night when informed that
! the editors of "E,l Lapiz' had been attacked oy
| Some officers l ordered seventy men out 70
/ nunisb the offenders Passing the Governor $
| house 1 went upstairs TO INFORM MN VI VIC MIiaS
! had happened because of his leniency toward
! the Liberals who daily insult the mlltary du-
/ tborftiAs Governor Nuts sent word thaI ne
was out which, being untrue, L concluded ne
! had refused TO see me- II was laT from my
n1i1d ~ arrest the Governor, who had no rea-
| +ba situation which really created by
! GOvernor Nuts himself. 1 have tried 70 see
him three times this morning. but without
| success.
General Cobos assured Bishop Junguito that
for his part the controversy was ended. Gen
I ora, Coboss statement was transmitted to Gov
/ arnor Nuts this afternoon by the American
Consul Later the Governor went to the gov
ernment palace. accompanied by numerous
friends He says that yesterday he communi-
Gated to General Cobos a decree from Hosotl
suspendine, the general stan here General
Huertas. he said ignored it yesterday. but to-
dav offered % protect the civil authorities
TROUBLE FEARED AT COLON TO-DAY