The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-01

y short stocky figure, broad and power
fully shOuldered ana eXuding an atmosphere
Of aggression. topped by a round head, bear
ing n sparsely deposited crown or hght
brown hair, Is to be seen on the streets OF
Panama daily. This figure approaches with
rolling walk, quick and energetic. and be-
hind a rather pallid complexion blue eyes
sparkle and twinkle. Everybody in Panama
knows and respects the mani. o. JEFF
fries, an American citizen, a native OF New
York city, who formerly held the rank of
general in the Colombian army, and who
is now admiral OF the navy Of the Panama
republic. Jeffries is one of the foremost
characters Of the isthmus. and next to
Shaler and Prescott, no American here had
a more important part 10 play in the re-
cent revolution than did he.
Although he is a typical soldier OF for
tune, Jeffries resents that appellation. Born
Of a Virginia family which has held por-
tons of the Old Dominion for more than
two centuries, he first drifted into Central
America nearly a score OF years ago as
a civil engineer on one OF the Nicaraguan
canal surveys. In these attitudes he has
been ever since. He has fought In nearly
every revolution from the borders of Peru
to those of Mexico, and as a brave and
dauntIess combatant he enjoys an unriValed
reputation. His loyalty TO the cause in
which he enlists has never been impeached.
He carefully avoids anything resembling
the demeanor of the swashbuckler, but he
can throw more lead, and throw 1t quicker
and surer than any other man In South or
Central America, and he is respected &C
cordingly.
BURIES UNFORTUNATE AMERICANS.
He has figured in romance and history; he
has busted himself for many years looking
after distressed Americans in these coun-
tries, and it is credibly reported OF him thai
he has, at his own expense, buried no less
than $50 Americans who have succumbed to
the rigors of the tropical climate. Among
this number have been four American con-
suls, and he is now educating in Washing
ton the children of an American consul who
died here and left his family destitute.
A natural fighter, expert in the handling
of men on land or sea, capable OF navigat-
ing a ship, Jeffries. whose years have been
spent in revolutionary strife, is kindly dis
posed and most genial. He speaks in low
tones, holds himself above Boosting, is de-
voted to his family. which consists of a
charming young wife, whom he married in
Costa RIGA, and a little daughter, and will
go to any amount of trouble to accOmmo-
date a friend. 1t was largely under General
Jeffries that General Huertas, commander
in-chief of the Panamanian army, secured
his military training; but Jeffries would
rely upon Americans rather than upon
Panamanians. As a result. his flagship, the
Third Of November, recently rechristened
from the Twenty-first of November, is prin-
cipally Differed by Americans. The cap
tain, who is little more than a pilot, Is a
native, and so are the sailors, but in the
responsible posts, as engineers, artilleristS.
etc, Americans alone are to be found.
In the recent revolution Jeffries-who is
said TO have declined any remuneration for
his services-waS picked to effect the cap
ture of the Colombian gunboat Cartagena.
That vessel was expected at Colon about
the time the separatistS had planned to de-
clare the independence OF the iSthmus, and
1t was arranged that Jefries, with seventy
men, should cross the isthmus and seize her
IN the name OF the republic. Her appearance
as Il transport for 450 Colombian soldiers
frustrated this scheme, but it is currently
reported and generally believed that JEFF
fries served the republic most acceptably
by engineering the scheme by which Gen
eral Huertas was induced to give to the
separatists the support of the troops sta
toned here. Certain il is that Jeffries is
high I'm official favor, his selection for the
post Of admiral of the navy, in succession
10 Ruban Varon. who delivered the gun
boat Twenty-hrst OF November 10 the revo-
lutionists, being an example of how i'm
plicitly he is trusted.
OF other influential Americans on the
isthmus, Capt. j. r. Beers, superintendent
OF the La Boca terminals of the Panama
Railroad, is a familiar figure. Captain
Beers is a retired sea captain, a shrewd and
calculating "dOwn-easter," who is so highly
thought OF that he has recently been elected
president of the leading social club in this
city.
Jimmy Hyatt. whose home is in Hyatts-
Vile, Md, has been on the isthmus for more
than fifteen years, and is accounted the
most universally popular man in the coun-
try. Hyatt lives at Colon, where he is
American vice consul. but he divides his
time about equally between Colon. Panama
1 anu the interior. ne OWNS COCOanut groves,
manganese mines, is an extensive trader
with the San Bias Indians, and has a most
env1able reputation as a prospector, it being
a habit OF his 10 take a ''cayuca," a mar
row canoe followed out Of a cedar log, and
go cruising along the coast and up and
down the rivers for weeks at a time.
WARwICKs OF THE SITUATION.
Felix Ehrman. the active member of the
banking house of Henry Ehrman. is a native
of Louisiana. American vice consul in this
city. owner of the leading hotel here, a man
of charming personality and progressive
ideas. He has lived here for more than a
generation. making yearly visits TO the
States. and is an ardent supporter of the
righteousness of the revolutionary cause.
J. G. Duque. a native Cuban. but a nat
uralized American. is the proprietor and
editor of the Star and Herald OF Panama,
the one newspaper of the isthmus, and the
principal owner of the lottery concession,
a source from which he draws a revenue
of about $500 a week. Duque made an
attempt in September TO enlist American
support for a revolution on the isthmus
by calling upon Secretary Hay. His scheme
was an individual one, as he was not in
the secret OF the separatist conspiracy.
Secretary Hay gave him no encouragement,
but when the republic was declared IL
found no more enthusiastic supporter than
DuQue. FREDERICK Boyd, who's blood is a
mixture Of Irish. Scotch and
and who is one OF the members of the gov
erning iunta. is a man of great wealth and
influence. and one who warmly champions
the plan TO link the interests of the 18TH
mus with those OF the United States.
These men. one and all, PLAYED their
parts in setting up the independence IF
Panama, and they will continue before the
people or the new republic as the strong
men OF the tsthmus. Their interests here
are OF a vested nature. and they see in
what has been done a certain promise of
/ heffpr conditions for the future TEau ara
men who have learned self-reliance in the
school q experience. and while no particu-
lar political ambitions have been revealed
among them. the new government knows
that II can 20 To them for support and as
slstancc. Therein lies the surest guaran-
tee Of the republics future stability. for
wllile were the public charac-
It's In establishing the new government.
these Americans wore the Warwicks OF the
ltuat!on. and with characteristic Ameri-
n nerve and ingenuity, they are ready TO
~aintain the republic for which they are
incipally responsible.
MERRILL A. LEAGUE.