The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-08
CANAL TREATY ON & sTEAE-
CARRIED FROM PANAMA TO COLON
by CONSUL cENERALIcu IcuDcER.
Who Delivered IL to the furser Of the
City of Washington fer Convey
ance to New YgrIS.

COLON, Dec. IA rumor h in circulation
here to the effect that s.Ooe soldiers have
left Cartagena for the purpdse of invading
the Isthmus. No details Eafe known and
the rumor cannot be confirmed tonight. 1t
probably had its source IA Port Limon.
Costa Rica, where IL was. brought by
steamer from Cartagena. Jhe only possi-
bic means of approaching Panama is by
narrow and difficult mosIntain passes
through the Indian country. The United
States cruiser Atlanta is now of the Indian
coast. The Royal Mail steamer agent herc
to-day received a telegram from Port
Limon, Costa Rica, informing him that the
government of the departmt tnt of Bolivar.
Colombia, had re-opened TIE ports of sa-
vanilla and Cartagena to vessels TO and
from Colon. The German steamer valdiva
sailed for Csrtagena yesterday, hoping 10
enter that port.
News received by cable frqm Buena ven-
tura says that all is quiet there and that
there is no indication on theypart of the CO.
lombian government 10 move troops in any
direction. The Colombian eunboat Bogota.
which is still at Buena Ver.ura with coal,
is considered quite harmless. The United
States supply ship Culgoa his arrived here.
Following instructions Eeceived Dec.
from the Navy Department at Washington.
United States gunboats or: both sides OF
the Isthmus have started or are starting
on accommodating expeditions along the
coasts. principally An the direction OF CO.
lombia, for the purpose of sscertaining the
condition of the trails and; roads between
Panama and Colombia FROM iers. the facili-
ties of the country for suetaintng expedi-
tions marching on Panama: and 10 gener-
At TTr.ff& fnCf hos
course of action in case Of + Colombian In
vasion of the Isthmus any also to learn
the attitude of the various sndan tribes In
habiting both coasts. Tho United states
this purpose and probably will continue 10
the Gulf of Darion Anothgr vessel will be
sent to san Miguel. on tnS RACINE; & nisd ana IA
towards Costa Rica TO loos> over the local
condition at Chiriqui and rsiake a show OF
force, If ii is thought necess'ary, and STUDY
the possibility of Colombiass landing small
schooner expeditions at Chiriqu from
southern points. The banana author
tiles are aiding those efforts. they
have sent out several pfrties on botn
sides of the isthmus to sick Information
and watch possible movements on the part
Of Colombia One such parSy was sent OUT
from Colon in a small slSop. which was
probably lost near Meamar on the San Las
coast. The boat was found bottom upward
and its occupants are missing NO reports
have yet been received from those parties
| to indicate that any warfike movements
are taking place. PanamAian expeditions
on the Pacific side are Destroying canoes,
4 etc, found in the rivers for the purpose or
| hindering the movements OF Colombians
/ who might attempt to ..ome down the
rivers. Efforts are being irrade by these
Panamaian parties to covssr the Atlantic
coast as far as the Gulf OF Darien and the
mouth of the Altrato river, which Is In
/ Colombian territory.
The Atlanta which erected signal sta
| tion on a hill on the north side of the har-
bor of Puerto Bello, Is now on the coast OF
| San Bias fifty miles southeast of Puerto
T3ello intending 10 open communication
with the San Bias Indian citizens for the
purpose of ascertaining tl.e conditions OF
the trails leading along TIE coast toward
| the Colombian frontier ard whether they
| are available for the movement OF Colom-
Il bian troops on Panama The Indians oc-
| cupy the coast between I3ombre de Dlos
| and Cape Tiburon and lave maintained
their isola ION for generations. They have
| always resisted the incursicns OF white peo-
| pie into their country, not permitting them
/ to spend a night on the mainland and fore
| ing a few adventuresome traders trafnckine
| along the coast 10 sleep OF a small Island.
| IN is reported that the IT.dians still keep
| un the old Carib custom. They are said 20
| favor Panama and are reSdy to fight the
| Colombians. Colombia never succeeded IN
! taxing OF in any way controlling the Sar
| Rlas Indians but the Pan&maians VIII en-
! deavor to establish schools In the San Blss
| country.
The l.. S. auxiliary cruiser Dixie will to-
! morrow land company OF marines. who
| will go into camp at Empire Station near
Culebra Cut The battleshtp Maine Is coal
| ing near Bocas del Toro.