New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-02
TROUBLE ON CANAL,
Laborers from Martinique Um5o'II'ng
to 20 4shore-FOrce Used.

Colon OCT six hundred and fifty laborers
from Martinique brought here Friday on the
French steamer Versailles, under CONTRACT TO
work on the Panama Canal refused 10 dlsem-
bark or to submit to vaccination which is I'M
narrative under the American sanitary regula-
lions They clarnored TO be taken back to Mar
tfnioue. claiming that they had been misin-
formed as to the conditions here before they
embarked. and that later they had learned these
conditions were intolerable and deadly.
Yesterday morning however. 500 Of them were
with difficulty persuaded to land, and they were
sent to points along the line of the canal. one
hundred and fifty remained on board and de-
clined to leave the ship under any consideration
These were forcibly elected from the vessel TINS
afternoon by Panama and canal zone police
men, but not until nearly every one of them
had been dubbed and several were bleeding
from nasty wounds All of yesterday and last
night the Versailles was guarded by Panama
policemen.
Early this morning the French consul at
Colon NJ. Bonhenry, appealed to the men to
listen to reason explaining that they had left
Martinique under contract with the Canal Zone
emigration agent guaranteeing the payment of
their passage here. and that while working on
the canal they would have. in addition to their
wages the guarantee of free quarters and free
medical attendance. The men, however, were
not amenable to this reasoning.
Notwithstanding thu efforts Of the consul and
of the Panaman and American officials and de-
spite the information given them by several Of
their countrymen, that health and other con-
ditions on the isthmus were satisfactory and
that the terms of their employment would en-
able them to save money, they persistently re-
fused to leave the ship, barring their breasts
and invoking death in preference to going
ashore.
The captain of the Versailles, who all through
the trouble displayed extraordinary amount
Of patience. told the that he was ready
to take back to Martinique all those who were
able to pay their passage but the men argued
that the French government would be willing
to reimburse the steamship company and that
they themselves were penniless.
Before noon at the instance of NJ. Raven the
agent of the company, and of the French consul.
a squad of twelve Panaman police went on
board the vessel and told the that force
would be used If they persisted in their refusal
to disern bark Seeing that the police were
armed with bayonets and guns. the men again
barred their breasts and said they preferred
death rather than be taken ashore. Governor
Melendez Mayor Andron, the Chief Of Police
and others argued with the men, but again
without effect Ten additional policemen ar
rived at the wharf, but the Governor, wishing to
avoid blOOdShed and considering InaI the ponce
force was insufficient telegraphed to President
Amador asking permission to use the canal
zone police, TO which the President consented.
In the mean time twelve policemen from the
zone had arrived at the wharf and were being
held in readiness
At 2 o'clock the laborers were informed that
two hours would be given them to reconsider
their decision. and at 4 o'clock three of them
consented TO disembark, the others still holding
out Then the Panaman police, armed with
clubs, approached the laborers. and on their re-
fusing to quit the ship began to club them right
and left The zone police few minutes later
assisted In the clubbing, but with better judg
ment and less Unfortunately. About fifty of
the laborers leaped into the sea, but all of them
were able to swim. The captain, however. low
cred a boat, which picked them up. Nearly
every man had received blows and several OF
them were bleeding from ugly wounds
Seeing that resistance was useless, the men
Welded came ashore and began to eat the food
which had been placed on the wharf in sight
of them for several hours. Many of them had
not eaten since Saturday. AT o'clock all the
laborers who were in pitiable condition, were
placed on board train, which started for Coro-
zal, where they will be put TO work