The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-07

to board the steamer unless their two Gen,
erals went with them, and they clamored
for their leaders.
This sudden development called for de-
,cisiye action on the part OF the Amer
leans in the freighthouse. now numbering
some seventy men. and there was no hes
itation. The step taken was dangerous and
provoking. but one that the circumstances
demanded.
The lire of cotton-bale defenses was
quickly swung out from the freighthouse
and reconstructed. facing the Uher Inc
bales were rolled into line to form
breastwork. and the guns looked out from
between them down the length OF the
English pier. where the Colomb:ans were
gathered.
This line was not more than forty feet
from the wooden gates at the shore END
of the pier. and the Colornbians were fair
w cornered The hurried work OF chan
ging the line of defense and moving OUT
the guns was soon over. even before the
Coiombians realized what haJ beer done,
and then the small body OF Americans
faced a new situation.
DRAMATIC SITUATION
QUICKLY DEVELOPED.
rhe Colombian troops w2-a veterans.
having seen much service III The last rev.
olution. and they were known 10 be good
shots. They had plenty of ammunition
aud thew were in no sense afraid All Who
know the soldiers Of Colombia unite In
dcri; ring thIm to be fearless nshters.
without their leaders, and they were
ready enough tn fight. They realized that
a rush on the cotton bales doubtless would
cost in lives was great. they were the
sort of men who did not stop to count
this cost.
AS soon as the new line of defense was
completed and the Americans lined mp be
hind it. guns in hand and eyes strainins
to notice that first aggressive act on the
part OF the enemy. which would force the
beginning of an engagement the defend
The short range. and the positions Of
the fighters. ColOmbians lined out down
the pier and Americans grouped behind
their cotton bales. could only result in
fearful slaughter. on both sides. The CO.
lombiaus still called for their generals,
and at the same time began edSing along
toward the short end of the wharf, seek
ing. as they came. such protection as a
few piles of merchandise and a couple of
steel water tanks would afford them. Still
the Americans did nothing but watch and
wait. Lieutenant Commander Witzei, Ma
jor Black and Lieutenant brooke. were
with their men behind the dcfcnses and
held them in control.
FAILED TO APPLY
MATCH TO POWDER.
one Of the picket gates leading to the
pier was opened and an American officer
IstSS'N III iiV9it VI t-is tVt'pi psA''S'' w.
to this gate and ordered that 1t be closed.
\ Colombian Lieutenant told him the
gate would remain open. Ii was q time
when a trivial incident might easily nave
pIecipitated an outbreak from men whose
nerves We're tense and strained. so the
officer explained TO the Colombian that no
man would be allowed to leave the pier
and did not insist upon the closing OK the
gate.
The two forces remained watching each
other thus Cor an hour. the coioHbians
ont their Generals and the Americans
equally determined they should not leave
the pier. At 6 o'clock the aft
eynoon train from Panama pulled
into the railroad station, which Is
less than n hundred steps inland from
where the American line was formed. and