The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-11-07
COL. BLACK
TO PANAMA
u. 5. Engineer at Portland
VIII Leave With Sec.
Taft For Isthmus.
HAS BEEN TO PANAMA BEFORE.

Colonel William Murray Black.
United States engineer in charge Of
the river and harbor construction in
Portland, is to accompany Secretary
War, William q. Taft, as consulting
engineer on the secretary's personal
tour OF inspection to Panama, Colonel
Black has received his official orders
from Washington and left Portland
Friday to join the party.
Since coming to Portland in August,
1904, Colonel Black has made many
friends, who will rejoice in the recog-
milton accorded him by the war de-
partment. He had record which
stamps him as an officer Of ability and
this would give him a name for achieve
ment in the service had not his work
in Portland already shown him to be
the man Of energy and accomplishE
ment that he is. His trip will take
him away for about three weeks and
in the meantime his work ia the
United States engineers office in the
Brown block win be fled BY snbordi-
mates. The colonel Is a West Point
graduate class Ut.
Colonel Black said in regard to his
important assignment: ~ cannot say
just what the nature Of my work Is to
be. l have received orders to report
in Washington this week in order to
accompany Secretary of War Taft on
his inspection tour to Panama. There
he is to look over the ground and see
how the work of construction is pro-
! crossing Perhaps il may be that l
will be called upon to give assistance
In making plans for defenses if any
are to be made. / presume that 1t is
on account Of my experience down in
that country that / have been ap.
pointed to accompany the expedition. ("
Colonel Blacks record in the Pana-
ma country is matter of historical
achievement. He was in Panama Is
months being a major at the time.
Upon the occasion of the revolution
when the Colombians threatened to
descend upon the Americans located
in Colon, Colonel, then Major Black,
rendered sign&I service. Commanding
about 70 men he held off force Of 450
revolutionists during the afternoon Of
Nov. 4tb, 1903 and the following day.
He had fortified the Panama railroad
offices with bales of cotton and thus
prepared for the besiegers. BY arbi-
trating matters, the Colombians were
urged to withdraw and it was here
that Colonel Black turned the tide Of
events and shipped the Coombians
away on transport. Since that time,
no Colombian troops have been on
Panamain territory.
In recognition Of Colonel Black s
good work, the consuls at Colon repre-
senting France, Germany and Great
Britain sent joint letter as an ex-
preston of sentiment for his work ana
as tribute to his valor. The mer-
chants of the town also sent him a
similar missive thanking him for his
achievement. But for Colonel Black Is
work, the uprising of the Colombian
troops would not have been known by
the historical name of the bloodless
revolution
Col. Black was the agent Of the
United States government in keeping
an account of the work and expendi-
lures of the French company working
on the canal, after Congress had de-
cided to build the pond across the
isthmus. When he returned to the
United States, he was made a colonel.
When asked whether the canal pro-
ject was feasible. Colonel Black said !;
;" Perfectly so. 1t is progressing and
it will be finished in due time. The
construction is mighty project but
the great canal will be worthy object
when completed. Portland Adver-
tiser
Colonel Black, il will be rememr
bered is the son-in-law Of Mrs. Wns
M. Gamble, Of Morristown. =