The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-01-05

situation was most critical IL the revolu-
tionary leaders should act. On this same
date the Associated Press in Washing
ton received bulletin stating that arevo-
lutionary outbreak had occurred. When
this was brought to the attention of the
assistant secretary of state, Mr.. Loom
is. he prepared the following cablegram
to the consul general at Panama and the
consul at Colon:
Uprising on isthmus reported Keen
department promptly and fully informed
Before this telegram was sent however,
one was received from Consul Malmros
at Colon, running as follows:
Revolution imminent Government
force on the isthmus about 500 men, Their
official promised support revolution. Fire
department Panama, AL. are well organ
lied and favor revolution Government
vessel, Cartagena, with about 400 men, ar
rived early today with new commander in
chief. Tobar. Was not expected until
November 10. Tobar's arrival is not proba-
BILE to stop revolution
This cablegram was received at 2:35
p. M, and al $40 p. m. Mr.. LOOMS sent
the telegram which he had already pre-
pared to both Panama and Colon. Appar-
emily. however, the consul-general at Pan
anna had not received the information en-
bodied In the Associated Press bulletin,
upon which the assistant secretary of
state based his dispatch; for his answer
was that there was no uprising. although
the situation was critical, this answer be-
ing received at S15 p. m. Immediately
afterwards he sent another dispatch.
which was received at $3.50 p. M. saying
that the uprising had occurred, and had
been successfuL with no bloodshed. The
Colombian gunboat Bogota next day be-
gan to she'll the city of Panama with the
result of killing one Chinaman. The con-
sui general was directed to notify her to
stop firing. Meanwhile. on November 4.
, Commander Hubbard notified the depart
ment that he had landed force to protect
the lives and property of American citi-
zens against the threats Of the Colombian
soldiery.
Colombia Made Threats.
Before any step whatever had been talk
en- by the United States troops to restore
order the commander of the newly landed
Colombian. troops had INDUCED In wanton
and violent threats against American cit
liens. which created serious apprehension.
As Commander Hubbard reported In his
letter OF November 5, this officer and hts
troops practically began war against the
| United States, and only the forbearance
and GOODNESS of our officers and men pre-
vented bloodshed. The letter of Comman-
der Hubbard is of uehinterest that 1t de-
serves quotation in full, and runs as fol-
lows:
u. s. S. Nashville. Third Rate.
Colon, u. 8. Colombia November 5, 1908
Sir: Pending a complete report Of thu
occurrences of the last three days in Co
Ion, Colombia, | most respectfully invit'
the departments attention to those Of tn
date of Wednesday. November 4, which
amounted to practically the making o
war against the United States by the Off
Ger in command of the Colombian troop
in Colon. At 1 o'clock p. M on that dat
| was summoned on shore by precon
certed signal, and on landing met TIL
United States consul, vice consul. and Col
o1le Shaler, the general superintendent
of the Panama railroad. The consul in
| formed me that he had received notic
from the officer commanding the Colon
bian troops. Colonel Torres through thu
project of Colon, to the effect that IL the
Colombian officers, Generals Toba1 and
Amaya who had been seized In Panama
on the evening Of the Sd Of November by
| the Independents, and held as prisoners
were not released by o'clock p. M, he
Torres would open fire on the town OF
| Colon and kill every United States citi-
zen I'm the place and my advice and action
were requested. I advised that all the
| United States citizens should take refuge
IN the shed of the Panama Railroad COM
pany. a stone building susceptible of being
! put into good state for defense, and that
| | would Immediately land such body OF
/ men. with extra arms for arming tffN
citizens az the complement OF the ship
would permit This was agreed to and I
| Immediately returned on board. arriving
| at lis D. m The order for landing was
Immediately given. and at 100 D. m. the
boats left the ship with a party OF ~ men
| under the command of Lieutenant Com
rnander IT. M. Witzel with Mdshipman
| JP Jackson as second In command Time
| being pressing I gave verbal orders TO Mr.
| Witzel TO take the building above referred
| to- to put II into the best state OF de-
! fense possible. and protect the lives OF the
| citizens assembled there--not firing unless
f! fred upon. The women and children took
| refuge on the German steamer Marcoma-
| mia and Panama railroad steamer City
| of Washington, both ready to haul out
| from dock If necessary. The Nashville
| got under way and patrolled with her
! along the water front close In and ready
to use either small-arm or shrapnel nre.
| The Colombians surrounded the buiiding
! Of the railroad company almost immedi-
\ ately after we had taken possession and
| for about one and half hours their atti-
! fude was most threatening, It being SEEM
| ingly their purpose to provoke an attack
| Happily our men were cool ana STEADY
| and while the tension was very great no
| shot was fired Al about 3J5 p. m COL
! oneI Torres came into the building Tor an
interylew and expressed himself as most
! friendly to Americans. claiming thar the
| whole AFFAIR was a misapprehension ana
| that he would like toSend the alcade OF
| Colon to Panama to see General Iopai
| and have him direct the discontinuahce
| ~ the show of force. special tram
| was furnished and safe conduct guaran-
| teed At about $50 p. M. Colonel Torres
| made the proposition of Withdrawing his
troons to Monkey Hill. IL l would witt
| draw the Nashviies force and lea"