The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1903-12-18
CRUISER ATLANTA FINDS LARGE
FORCE AT WORK NEAR THE
PANAMAN BORDER.
lANDIMe PARTY IS SENT ASHORE
COLOMBIAN GENERAL PROTESTS
STRONGLY AGAINST PRES
ENcE OF WARSHIP.

Colon, Dee lS-The United States
cruiser Atlanta. Comp.Snder William
II. Turner. has returned here from the
gulf Of Darien. She discovered, Dec
Is, a detachment of Colombian troops,
numbering virtually about 500 men,
but according to their statements to-
failing 1900 OF 1000 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 con-
versed with the Colombian comman-
der. The latter protested energetically
against the presence of American war
ships In Colombian waters. inasmuch
as war between Colombia and the
United States had not been declared.
and politely requested the Atlanta to
leave the guilt because 1t belonged to
Colombia
Commander Turner ignored the re-
quest and the Atlanta returned to
Colon to report to Rear Admiral Cogh-
Ian.
The Colombians are clearly busy
with protective 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 partly of the men land
ed recently at the Atrato river by the
Colombian cruisers Cartagena and
General Pinzon.
Atlanta Lands Small Party.
Early in the morning of Dec. Is the
Atlanta sighted "A small schooner in
the center OF the gulf Of Darien and
followed her to the western shore,
where the schooner attempted to hide
behind an inlet. Lieutenant Harlan
p. Perrill of the Atlanta was ordered
10 board her and thereupon whale
boat was lowered and pulled towards
the schooner Ii was found that the
schooner had ON board 100 armed Co
lombian soldiers. commanded by Cen
sral Rafael Novo. who said General
Daniel Ortiz, commander-in-chief of
the Colombian forces of the Atlantic
and the Pacific. had large camp a
mile away on the mainland. General
NOvo requested Lieutenant Perrill to
land and confer with General Ortiz.
After temporarily returning to the At
Ianta Lieutenant Perrill went back to
the schooner, which in the meantime
had taken up position off beach
within q small bay. Great excitement
prevailed among the Colombians on
the whaleboat's approach. There were
repeated cries OF viva Colombia" and
there was sudden concentration of
$50 Colombian soldiers on the beach.
For some moments the situation ap-
peared dangerous and had the appear
ance uf ambuscade. General Ortiz ap-
peared on the beach when Lieutenant
Perriil went ashore, the wfaleboat in
the meanwhile lying close to the
beach General Ortiz insisted that
Lieutenant Perrill should
Fly the Colombian Flag
1t the bow OF the whaleboat or lower
the American flag at her stern be-
cause she was in Colombian waters.
Lieutenant Perrill replied that he did
not have a Colombian flag and re-
fused to lower the Stars and Stripes.
General Ortiz did not insist upon his
10 doing, but he protested in writing
against the presence Of the Americans
in Colombian waters. Lieutenant Per-
rill accepted the protest and conveyed
Il 20 Commander Turner, who handed
II to Rear Admiral Coghlan on his
arrival here.
General Ortiz did not permit Lieu
tenant Perrill to leave the point of the
beach where he landed. While Perrill
was awaiting the Colombian protest
First Lieutenant Edward B. Manwar.
ing. commanding the marine guard OF
the Atlanta rowed up in cutter for
the purpose Of communicating with
Lieutenant Perrill and to gain certain
military information Lieutenant Man
waring went ashore and the cutter
to;ned the whaleboat on the beach.
Lieutenant Perrill returned to the
Atlanta at 3 o'clock In the afternoon,
ssA0A s.~~~