The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-23

tho order. as what the government at.
l1Bogota ordered must perforce be right
and proper.
GENERAL FIuERTAs TAKES a HAND.
| Governor Obaldia left Tovar and Amaya
and walked Into tho arms OF detach-
ment OF Colombian soldiers. who quietly
arrested him and conveyed him to his
rooms In hotel. where he was kept n
close prisoner for two days. Toyar and
Amaya, having waited In vain for Obal-
dia' 8 return, and becoming suspicious. ra-
paired to the barracks TO be near the
soldiers, upon whom they could Ger.
tainly reply. They we're received at tho
barracks with honors. Tho battalion was
paraded for their reception, and Gem
ernl Huortas. OF whom more hereafter.
escorted them 10 his own rooms and
charmed them with his conversation Until
about o'clock In tho afternoon. But all
this palayor was lost on Tnvar and
Amaya. They had themselves been
through revolutions and know the signs
that are carried by the air, and they
demanded the truth Of IIuertas. Was
there on foot q revolutionary movement?
Huertas answered that no had heard
some talk OF that kind Was no im-
pilcated? The value OF conce alment was
lost and Huertas answered: To tell you
the truth, generals. am" I'M
Then consider yourself under arrest. 7"
cried Tovar, to which Hucrtas replied.
Very good. sir! viii step into the next
room to get my sword that It maybe
surrendered to you.
Opening the door as no spoke Huertas
disclosed to tho view OF Tovar and
Amayn. now thoroughly amazed. half a
company OF soldiers, fully armed AS he
threw open the door. Huertas cried to his
men:
ARREST those two men, and In an in
slant Tovar and Amaya found themselves
prisoners OF tho Colombian battalions. Al
most at the stlme moment Jose Tovar,
nephew OF the General ard commander OF
the Colombian gunhoat .Bogota, stationed
at Panama. and n man whom tho secns-
sionjsts had not dared to approach was
arrested MS hc was pa ssing through the
plaza in front 81 the Cathedral. The die had
been cast; secession was a fact. and there
was no drawing back. The seven original
consrirotors for independence immediate
ly took charge OF the situation. The flag
Miss Ossa had made was sent for IN
haste The proclamation Of independence
was produced, but as the occurrences
were secret to the city Of Panama, It
was not until the next day that public
meeting was held In the plaza 10 declare,
the independence OF the Republic OF Pan.
anna. Tho formalites of tho occasion were
discharged by the City Council Of Pana-
ma, the eleven members OF which were
advised OF what was expected OF them,
and all of whom were willing and eager 70
join teh movement which meant the con-
struction OF the canal,
AND ONLY ONE WAS KILLED.
Night was falling as this Meeting was
convened. The proclamation OF indepcn-A
dcnce was read, and each member OF the
City Council signed his name to 1t. The
citizens were then given an opportunity
to append their signatures. and q large
number ava!led themselves of 1t. Imme-
dlately after signing tho proclamation
the members of tho City Council crossed
tho street to the municipal building. ana
In their regular chamber went into lorna
session. Tho proclamation had previously
been engrossed In large record BOOK,
and tho Counclmen signed " again, per-
manent preservation being planned IN that
form Sitting behind closed doors. the
Council passed decree appointing Seniors
Arrange, Aras and Boyd as a provisional
governing 1unta, and ontrustlng 10 them
the direction OF the affairs Of tho new
republic, A * a54 NJ .5
The 1nomont, according to tho reports
Of eye-wltnesses was not q particularly
inspiring one. Tho affair was conducted
after the fashion OF any business propu,
sitlon. The streets were filled with pct''
ple. but there was neither shooting, shont-
ing nor enthusiasm, the whole transao.
ton being Viewed by the populacc most
phlogmat!cally, The City Council remained
in session during the evening 70 deal W4th
any situation that might arise; the ga.
looms were ordered closed Tor mo cSe-
Ming; the soldiers were turned out 70 90
patrol duty. but there was no violellcH
or disorder, the Spanish population tal'lns
entirely to live up to Its reputation, TOR
,xcitaEilty. Tho SUCCESS OF the movement
SO far az tho city of Panama was coll
cerned, was easily assured, General Hu-
ban Varon, commander Of tho gunnn1t
Twenty-flrst of November. holsted me
flag OF The now republic over thar SNIP
us the meeting In the plaza was IN pro-
gress. Tho Bogota had not been ilH'n'
and when he learned what was IN pro-
gress Paymaster Martinez, the only on,
cer remaining on board. took command OF
! that vessel and steamed out OF the harbor.
returning about 10 o'clock the same eve
ming to throw sir or, elght shells INTO ms
city. sacrificing the life Or one /chlna-
mantle only bloodshed in the reyolu,
tior--and doing an 1nrollsioefaple amouht
of damage to property.
From that time down to the present,
Panama has hardly had mn opportunity
10 realize 1t ,s the capital OF an indepe'l-
dent republic The governing Junta has
been directing affairs, cbaldla having
been relieved Of his goYernorshlp; but.
aside from this change In the dlreetion
OF the administration and the pIentitude