The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-18
INDIANA NAVAL OFFICER
BRAVES COLOMbIANS ON
THEIR OWN TERRITORY
With Twelve Men from the Crui-
ser Atlanta, Lieut.. II. p. Perrill
Landed at Titumat.
FOUND A SMALL ARMY
Which Became Excited at the In
vasion of Their Soil by Amer
ican Marines.
GEN. ORTIZ INDIGNANT
Ordered Perrill to Lower "Old
Glory" Which He Refused to
Do, but Took Back Protest.
FOUND A SMALL ARMY
CEN. ORTIZ INDIGNANT

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE Navy De-
partment to-day received cablegram from
Rear Admiral COghlan, dated Colon. yester-
day saying that the cruiser Atlanta had
returned from the gulf of Darien and had
found about 500 Colombian troops inland
between Tomato and Terena island, who
had been landed by the Cartagena and the
General PinZon. A portion of the cable
gram was suppressed, but it was stated
that 1t contained nothing of an alarming
nature. Details of the action of the Allan
ta's commander are given in the dispatches
from Colon Lieut. Harlan 2. Perrill the
chief participant in the incident, is from
Indiana, having been appointed to the Naval
Academy from Lebanon.
COLON, Dec 1.-THE United States
cruiser Atlanta, commander William II.
Turner. returned here last night from the
gulf Of Darien. She discovered on Dec. 10
bering usually about 500 men, but accord
ing to their statements, totalling 1900 or
1900 men at Titumati. on the western side
of the gulf, just north Of the mouth Of the
Atrato river. The commander of the At
lanta sent ashore an officer, who conversed
with the Colombian commander. The latter
of American warships in Colombian waters,
insomuch as war between Colombia and
the United States had not been declared
and politely requested the Atlanta to leave
the gulf. because it belonged to Colombia.
Commander Turner ignored the request and
the Atlanta returned to Colon to report to
Rear Admiral Coghlan.
The Colombians were busy with protec-
tive and Strengthening measures. Although
they treated the Americans courteously
they decidedly resented the presence of
the Atlanta's landing party. The Colombian
force was composed mostly of the men
landed recently at the Atrato river by the
colombian cruisers Cartagena and General
Pinzon.
SOLDIERS ON A SCHOONER.
Early on the morning of Dec. 15 the At
lanta sighted a small schooner in the center
of the Gulf of Darien and followed her to
the western shore. where the schooner at
tempted to hide behind an islet. Lieut.
Harlan. p Perrill, of the Atlanta. was er-
dered to board her, and thereupon a whale
boat was lowered and pulled towards the
schooner Through the courtesy of the
naval officers a correspondent accompanied
the party in the whaleboat. 1t was found
| that the schooner had on board a hundred
armed Colombian soldiers, commanded by
| Gen. Rafael Novo, who said Gen. Daniel
Ortiz. commander-in-chiefo of the Colombian
| large camp mile away on the main line.
General Novo requested Lieutenant Perrill
! to land and confer with General Ortiz.
After temporarily returning to the Atlanta,
! Lieutenant Perrill went back to the schOOn-
er, which in the meantime had taken up a
position off a beach within small bay.
! Great excitement prevailed among the CO.
| lombians on the whaleboat's approach.
| There were repeated cries of viva Colom-
| bia! and there was sudden concentration
of 80 Colombian soldiers on the beach. For
some moments the situation appeared dan
gerous, and had the appearance of an ambus-
| cade. General Ortiz appeared on the beach
| when Lieutenant Perrill went ashore, the
whaleboat in the meantime lying close to the
| beach. General Ortiz insisted that Lieuten-
| ant Perrill should fly the Colombian flag at
| the bow of the whaleboat or lower the
| American flag at her stern. because she was
| in Colombian waters. Lieutenant Perrill
| replied that he did not have a Colombian
| flag, and refused to lower the stars and
| stripes General Ortiz did not insist on his
| so doing, but he protested against the Amer
| leans in Colombian waters. Lieutenant Per-
| rill accepted the protest and conveyed 1t tC
Commander Turner, who handed ii to Rear
| Admiral Coghan on his arrival here.
ARMED SENTINELs.
During the conference with the Colon.
| bans ashore Lieutenant Perrill was sur
rounded by General Ortiz's staff while in.
| land few PAGES there was semicircle OF
armed sentnels. The beach in both direc.
tions was also lined by sentinels. General
Ortiz did not permit Lieutenant Perrill tc
leave the point of the beach where he land.
| ed. While Perrill was awaiting the Colon.
bian protest First Lieut.. Edward b. Man.
| waring. commanding the marine guard OF
| the Atlanta. rowed up in a cutter for the
| purpose of communicating with Lieutenant
| Perrill and to gain certain military informa.
| CONTINUED ON PAGE 2. COL. 81