Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-21


trip Of their comma niers. Gems. Tovar ano
Aucaya across the fst huus to Panama N
their arrest and the proclamation OF lnue-
pendence on November 3, and the consulu'
ton Of the provisional government tn.0as ~
the agency Of the municipal council OF
Panama.
We learned also that the local garrison
known as the Colombia battalion had been
with the movement from the beginning, a.
had the major part Of the very small naval
force which Colombia had been able to
maintain. This consisted of the little gun
boats. the Ast of November. the PadiHa
and the Bogota. The former were the more
formidable. The latter had refused to join.
It's commander had sent a demand for the
delivery Of the two generals, and when 1t
WAS refused had thrown several shot into
the city, doing a little damage to property
and killing two Cinnamon. The consular
corps had formally protested against this
bombardment without notice as contrary
to the rules Of war, but the protest had not
reached the commander. He had steamed
away toward Buenaventura, with the 21st
Of November in fruttless pursuit.
These were recttalS OF eye-WitneSseS.
What had been going on in other parts OF
the isthmus was trustworthy hearsay.
Capt. Hubbard's Service.
1t was known that in Colon, where the
danger had been greatest, the recently ar
rived Colombian troops, after various con-
ferences with the separatists, had re-em-
barked for Cartagena, and that the detach-
ment OF United States marines which had
been landed from the Nashville had return
ed to the ship. their presence on land no
longer being necessary. They were given
the credit for keeping the peace but did
not know till visiting Colon two or three
days later how great had been lie services
OF Capt. Hubbard and his little band in
settling situation which otherwise would
have plunged one end of the isthmus into
bIoodshed before the achievement of indie
pendence was complete. Their firmness
averted collision. Their GOODNESS and de-
termination were a splendid vindcation of
the American navy.
On board the Imperial after hearing OF
all these events, there was nothing TO do
but to pass the day in the impatient isola-
ton of the quarantine and watch the move
ment of the shipping in the harbor. This
showed that there was no interruption of
commerce. Vessels were dispatched as
usual, and incoming ones were received
of-war was in sight No complaint ever
can be laid by the Colombian government
that 1t could have held Panama If the sep
aratists had not been encouraged by the
presence OF the war vessels. Panama the
key to the whole isthmus, was won and
maintained by the revolutfonists before the
arrival of single American warship.
Arrival of the Boston.
had read the notice that the Boston had
Donald of the Imperial this news. About
noon she was sighted
Thank God, there she is" he said fer
vently. He is a British subject. Scotch
man. The merchant ship under his COM
feelings of every other ship commander in
the harbor. They knew the presence OF
this vessel would end even the remote pos
sibiity of scenes such as most of them had
witnessed in former years.
The Boston sent a gig to the railway
mole, apparently for information. Captain
Dean had had no means of learning what
had taken place in three days Soon a
launch put out with Vice Counsel Ehrman
on board. and after little while the white
puffs from the sides of the Boston gave
the indication of the salute which was
heard in quick succession. This was the
customary consular salute, but the fort on
shore responded. Then the gunboat of the
republic of Panama the 21st OF November.
ran UP the stars and stripes and saluted,
in It's turn-a very pretty incident. All
this was on the afternoon of Saturday,
November I. That night the searchlight
from the Boston swept the wooded hills
and the city but no one was startled
Celebrating Independence.
The celebration of independence came
on Sunday. 1 got ashore in time to see it
and to take an Involuntary part in some
IL.
e overnment was peaceful fact. The
United States had recognized the fact.
Therefore, rejoice.
Yet the jubilati0n was mild in its ex-
The quantity of fireworks in
the town was not large and the noise was
spasmodic rather than continuous The
celebration ran more to toasts, healths
and speechmaking. Impromptu groups
were everywhere. Every native of the
isthmus is said to be either an orator or
p,,1 hnth 1iStAp 10
the oratory not for its fioridness, but to
see what the sentiment was at bottom.
1t was all the same. No harshness or
bitterness toward Colombia, no gloating
or boasting, even some tender regrets at
the separation, but the unalterable con-
viction that this was forever. The daugh-
ter had LEFT the mothers house when it
ceased to be her proper home. Though
driven forth she would cherish no re-
She might even take the par
ent in and shelter her. There were also
many tributes to the friendship of the
United States and sentiments of eternal
gratitude. Mixed with the poetry was
some very sound advice about the new
Wherever a Panama flag was seen there
was pretty sure to be one of the United
States twined with it. Plenty of buttons
and other tokens symbolic of the repub-
lie were visible. They could not have
been designed and manufactured in so
short a time. They were small bu. clear
evidences that the way had been pre-
Jared.
The town was placarded with manifes-
toes, addresses, alocutions, proclama-
tons, adhesions of the municipalities and
kilograms of felicitation from natives of
the isthmus in foreign countries. l gave
most Importance to the adhesions of the
They are the basis of a
popular and representative government
Sunday night the Bonaberos or Fire
mems Band gave the usual concert in
the plaza. Except for the extra quantity
of frecrackers which had been discov-
cred when the supply was thought to be
exhausted there was nothing to distin-
guish 1T from other Sunday nights.
Everybody was out for the customary
parade. greetings and gossip-the placid
relaxation of all Latin-America
Business People Satisfied.
Monday business was running in its Gus
tomary channels. l went among some of
the business houses to renew old acquaint-
ances and form idea of the situation
They are almost without exception foreign
A few are of the United States but more
are European. They are complacent They
have no fears of the future on the isthmus
which they think is in the hands of the
United States They are sa tisfied with the
provisional government and with the per-
maneut authority which must grow out
OF it.