New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-12
PLEA FOR san ANDRES.
annexation by Panama ASked-Co-
lOmbia's Eracti0nS.

Colon Jan 1.-THE schooner Herald which
arrived here yesterday evening from Bocas del
Toro brought commissioner from the Island
OF San Andres who will endeavor to obtain
the annexation of San Andres to the Republic
of Panama, owing 10 the dissatisfaction of the
inhabitants OF the island with the recent OPP
pressive exactions on the part OF the Colombian
authorities.
The commissioner says four hundred Colom-
bian troops are now in garrison on the islands
OF San Andres and Providence. and that more
soldiers are expected. The dissatisfaction. he
adds Is general IN the islands. In the last few
weeks no less than $4,000 has been collected
by means of the property tax. which the in
habitants are not IN position to meet, but
which they have been compelled TO pay. Sew
eral families have already gone to Bocas del
Toro.
The ports OF Providence and San Andres are
now closed and coasting vessels not al
lowed to depart This does not apply to Amer
lean vessels trading with San Andres. The
commissioner, who Is a seafaring man. escaped
from San Andres at night in a small schooner
hound for Bocas del Toro. Many OF those who
desire the annexation of San Andres to Pan
anna declined to sign the petition. fearing the
possible consequences.
San Andres does considerable business with
the United States in cocoanuts. about twenty
millions being shipped there annually
Panama is DESTROYS of annexing San Andres
and Providence. but 1t is believed that steps
in that direction at tho present moment would
be inopportune
The United States marines .encanped at En-
nfra and Bias Obspo are kept busy cleaning up
the ground surrounding the camps, which are
located on a healthy hill. close TO the railroad.
The marines have also cleaned the Canal Com
pany's houses all of which now present a clean
and smart appearance owing 70 the Insult
Gent number OF houses, about two hundred OF
the marines are in tents the dry season hav-
ing set in.
The marine officers are anxious to study the
trails leading toward the camps from Porto
Rello One party of thirteen men came In TO
Bias Obispo recently, after covering seventy
miles across n mountainous country i'll six days
Another expedition will set out from Porto
Relic l. a dav or two under the command or
CAPTAIN Louis NJ. Little -.
The Mavfiower has just arrived here, AFTER
scouting along the coast as far as the Gun Oh
Darian The warship stopped at several points
along the San Bias coast and found the attitude
of the Indians everywhere to be unrrlendiy'
They declined to give information of any scrt,
and refused to sell the ship fruit or fsh or any
thing required
The officers of the Mayfower were repeatedly
asked 70 leave the coast, and were made TO I'M
or Americans in their territory was unwelcome
to the natives.
A man on board the Mayfower who speaks
SPANISH, saws that in conversation with an
Indian he learned that the Colombians are IN
league with the San Bias Indians, whom they
bribed. .
The Atlanta which is still in the vicinity of
Porto BelIo. has sent out several scouting par
ties along that coast. to learn the mountain
trails leading TO Colon.