Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-05

J
refuge on the German steamer Mar
comdnia and Panama Railroad steam
ID '.ty of Washington. both ready to
haul out from dock If necessary. The
Nashville | got under way and patron-
. 90 wiih hcr along the water front close
IN and ready to use either smail-arn
or shrtpnel fire The Colombians sur
rounded the building Of the railroad
, co."pJny almost Immediately OTTER We
had taken possession, and for about
ore und Il half hours their attitude Was
most threatening. it being seemingly
then purpose to provoke an attack,
Happily on- men We're cool and steady
ana while the tension was very great
no shot was fired. At about 2.l5 p. n,
Colonel Torres came into The building
fr" ~. interview and expressed himself
as most friendly to Ancri, ans. claim
ing that the whole affair vas 4 mis-
apprehension ana that he would lIke
to send the alcalde Of colon to Panama
to sc General T0hal and have him
direct til" discontinuance or the show
Of force. \ special train was furnished
and safe conduct guaranteed. At about
$50 =. NJ. Colonel Torres made the
proposition Of Withdra wing His tronps
10 MONKEY Hill, if would withdraw
the NJ ShVille'S force and leave the
town i'll possession &c the police until
tn" return Of the alCdde on the NOM
ing # tnn 9Th. After an interview
with the United States consul ana C5l-
o,!el ShGlvr as to the probability of
Eocd fait;l III the matter. | decid ID TO
accept the proposition and brought my
men on board. the disparity in num-
bcrs between my force and that of the
Coiumbians. nearly ten to one. making
me DESTROYS Of avoiding a conflict so
long as the object in View, the protec-
tin of American citizens, was not i'm
rcriled.
| am positive that the determined at
titudc Of our men. their GOODNESS and
evident intention Of standing their
ground. had a most salutary and de-
r:siNe effect or the immediate situation
and was the initial step in the ultimate
abandoning of Colon by these troops
ana their return TO Cartagena the fol
lowing day. Lieutenant Commander
Witzei is entitled to much praise for
his admirable work III command on the
spn:.
feel that | can not sufficiently
strongly represent to the department
the grossness OF this outrage and the
insult To our dignity, even apart from
the :1lvagery Of the threat.
Very respectfully.
JOHN HUBBARD, Commander /. :.
Navy. Commanding.
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
Navy Department. WASHINGTON, u. 9.
In his letter of Nov. s. Commnn ;rr
Hubbard sets forth the facts moro in
detail:
I. 5. S. NASHVILLE. THIRD RATE.
Port Bcllo. L *. Colombia. Nov. 8 1gna
Sir: | have the honor to make the
following report of the occurrences
which took place ut Colon and PAM
ma. in the interval between the arrival
Of the Nashville at colon 81 the even
ing of Nov. >. 1903 and the evening Of
Nov. :. 1863. when by the arrival Of liz
u. :. :. Dixie lit Coon. | WA relieved
Dcli,u0 L. :. Navy.
2 Vt The time NJ the arrival Of Tie
Nashville at Colon ii 30 L. NJ. WI
NOV. :. everything ON the isthmus WAS
quiet There was talk OF pr1claiming
liit lil'!tl''ll Il't vi l iiltillid. bhl ,tb
definite action had been taken ANA
there had been no disturbance Of peace
and order. At daylight Oh the NJ 'r.!-
ing Of NOV. .. il was found that i NcS-
sci " hich had come in durin" the ui%nt
was the Colombian gunhnat c.Irtu.til.t
between AGO ana $50 troops.
had her boarded ana learned that th"s"
troops We're for the garrison at PANE
4,
party mad not acted ana the govern
mopt of Colombia was at the tinc in
control Of the pro>inc Mi
Panama, | did not feel. iii the absence
Of any instructions. that | was juSti-
fed in preventing the landing of Ties
troops and at $50 o'clock The! We're
liscmbarkcd. The commanding OIL
rcrS, Generals Amaya and Tobal, with
tour others. immediately went over ~
Panama t. make Irra ngCnentS Cor re-
reiving and quartering their troops.
lea vinS the command in charge of 1n
office. Wnnm later learned to bc COL
pn,l Torres. The departments mes
age addressed to the care of the Unit
a States consul received nj 1880 a.
~ II was delivered ~ one Of the
;hir,'S boats while ! WAS slt the corSGlS
I'M lot to the consul rs addressed.
I'LL. message was said to have been re-
"a - at The cable office ut $50 a. IL.
m. diatcly on deciphering the mes
,.i' q went on shore To see what ar
ange merits the railroad company had
made for the transportation of these
roops to Panama. and learned that
he comp. Nv would not transport them
Xcept o. request Of the governor OF
Panama. and that the perfect ut Colon
nd thu officer let IN command of the
ROOFS had been 50 notified by the gen.
raj super intcHdent of the Panama
90. ! remained at the COM
any's Office unit! 1t was sure that 10
ction on my part would he needed to
revent the transpoI tation of the
goops that afternoon, when returned
4 board and cabled the department
le situation OF affairs. Al about $50
;. NJ. I again went on shore and re
eived notice from the general super
ltcnd,n ut Of the railroad that he had
eceived the request for tn !'"'qs'
alton Of the troops and D,,o. -.
,ould Il ave on the 8 A. NJ. :. 80"
blowing day. | immedia .,s. ,ono,,t