The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-22

the otacs of The electric light company,
which is principally owned BY Totrias
Arias. All Of The plans Of these coil-
spirators were predicted Upon the re-.
jectlon Of tho canal treaty, an hypothesis
which had resolved Itself into d certainty
before the middle of August. Standing
back Of tho conspirators. rs advisers hrtl
3counseiors, were four Amerlcans: CoFncl
J. s. shaler, superintendent Of tho Paha.
ma Railroad H. q. Prescott. assistant
superintendent or tho rallroud, In chnrge
Of the Panama end; Captain John K.
Beers. superintendent Of the Panama
(, Railroad terminals at La Boca, the Pa.
tcifc terminus OF the proposed canal niid
Colonel William NJ. Black. u. s. A., the
engineer who represents tho United Suites
government In the work now III progress
at the great Culebra cut.
SOUNDING THIS GOVERNMENT.
Thesc four Americans were mover
present Mt u meeting OF the conspirators.
which meetings we're held as often as two
and three tirnesfa week. but they were
kept fully advised as to all that was
done by Senior Arrange, who reported In
his capacity az special agent OF the rail-
road company They also advised, COM.
muhlcatng through Senior Arhngo,ins to-
tho different steps to be taken,s and 1t
was stated to mo last evening by one OF
tho seven, that not single thing was
done BY then, or decided upon except It
was given the sanction of the four Ameri
cans who were privy to the scheme. II
was Under these conditions that the plan
& for Panamatan independence progressed
up to tho middle of August. The moment
for decisive action being then IN sight,
It was agreed by the conspIrators ana
their counsellors that to insure the sue
~ Ia 5&1,nc no ~.
sound tho United States government and
learn what attitude II would assume.
s With that object In view, DR.. Amndor.
sailed from Colon III September, going
first to Jamaica, and thence to Boston.
From Boston he journeyed to Washing
ton without passing through New York.
so that neither his presence in the States
nor his visit to Washington might be
known to the Colombian consul at New
York. Dr.. Amador's visit to Washington
was for tn epurpose Of comforting with
Secretary Hay. but that official was IN
New Hampshire on his annual vacation,
and DR.. Amador left Washington without
acquatnting the Suite Department of what
the 1sthmians (seyen In number at that
time) proposed doing. About the same
time ]. Gabriel Duque native Of Cuba,
but naturalized American, now don1i-
c'led In this city, editor Of the Star and
Herald. Of Panama. and principal owner
OF the Loteria2 de Panama, the chartered
lottery OF the Isthmus. also visited Wash
ingto Mr.. Dnque saw Secretary Hay
and discussed with him the idea of Pann.
maian independence, but 1t can be accept
ed as an indisputable fact that his visit
was wholly unofficial and radc upon his
own responsibility, as he was not at that
time In the secret OF what Amador,
Arrange, Arias and the others proposed.
vARILLAs IN THE GAME.
4, DR.. Amador's visit to Washington hav-
ing proved fruitless, and there being no!
longer any necessity for secrecy, he went
to Now York and took apartments at
the Waldorf-Astoria. There he fell In
with NJ Philippe .Bunau-Varilla, who had
resided on the Isthmus as a canal en-
gineer, and with whom he was acquaint-
ed. Varilla was then In the States In
the interest OF the New Panama Canal
ComEany and their sentiments being m re
or less the same, DR.. Amador unfoldcd
to varIlla the plans Of the conspirators
at Panama. From this point the project
to the Isthmus eArlyy,. in October, nd at,
meeting OF the seven consptra tors. who
gatherednin the office OF the electric light
Ing company In Panama, he related the
result Of his visit to the States He had,
received no assurances from any official
of support. but communicated to his fell
lows the fact that varilla had assured him
In the most positive terms that any stroke
In favor Of Independence, having as Its
primary object the grant to the American
Republic Of canal concession. would be
supported by the United States Govern
ment. So elated was Dr.. Amador over
Varilla's ASSURANCES, and so great was
his confidence In the French ongineer,s
ability to Influence the government at
Washington, that he was liable to see
any further difficulties; in the way Of cx-
ecuting the project. Arrange. Arias. Arose
mena and the others were slow to ac-
cept Or. Amador's assurances. however.
Varilla had not talked with them. and
realizing that death for each would De
the penalty should they attempt and fall,
and that their only hope Of success lay
In support to be given them by the United
states, they counseled caution and further
delay.
PROCEEDING CAREFULLY.
Their views prevailed to such an extent
that it was decided to defer the launch-
ing OF the movement until after the Co
lombian Congress should have finally ad-
journed. Adjournment would, they ar.
rued sound the death knell over the canal
treaty, and simultaneously give to the
United States an incentive to support the
independence Of republic on the istn,
mus. The project was accordingly nela
IN 4 DGyQnC0, alLUOu6 I44SAO 49,
ton in tho matter of working out the de-
tails. Realizing that II 1t should become
necessary to deliver the blow. commits
sion would have to be sent to the states,
the conspirators, late In October, LOOK
into their confidence Senior Manuel lispa-
noEa, with the idea Of substituting nm
tor Frederica Boyd as memper OF Wy
provisional governing tunta when wouia
have to be created and which IT was de-
cided should be composed of arrange, VINO
Welded ali the influence Of the Panama
Railroad: Arias. who had been depart,
mental senator, federal Representative ana
a general offlceholder. and Boyd VINO rep
resented the heavier vested interests on
the Isthmus Or, Amador was reserved
to be The candidate for president or tne
new rcpublio; Constantine Arosemena Was
selected to be the expert member, OF inc
commission to the States to negotiate
canal agreement; De Oharrlo was slated
for the ministry Of war. which ne now
holds, and Ricarod Arias was to be inc
active fiscal agent OF tho proposed new
government. x,.o.aa
None OF these details were negleoted'
the Systematic manner In which the CON
spirators went about their work showing
that they possess unusual ability IN po-
t,ot