Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-07
CHAPTER vi Continued

A THIS period, Immediately following the
II proclamation Of Panama's independence.
there was widespread Indignation throughout
Colombia against the United States. Ameri-
cans were accused of starting the 'revolu-
ton" which robbed the mother country of
her richest possession, and the Colombian
Government was accordingly expected to
avenge the national honor. The native au-
thorities, lacking money and troops, did not
respond to the popular demand, and 1t was
left to the patriots" to denounce the invad-
ing Yankees, and to fit out such volunteer
expeditions as the one planned by the en-
boladores of the Gale de Las Montanas
Bogota, the largest city of the republic
the center of its official life, became the
rallying place for political maIcontents.
A "Sociedad del Integridad Nacional'-a
body Of agitators at odds with the native
government and bitterly opposed to the
United States--had been formed here. This
Sociedad had already organized two expedi-
tions against the Yankees and the Pana-
manians. Both expeditions, made UP of the
dregs Of the city, poorly armed, scantily
clad, relying for their food on such contribu-
tions as they might pick up along the way,
had left for the coast, where they planned
guerrilla warfare that would bring them,
they believed, in triumph to the Isthmus. The
third expedition was being engineered by the
emboladores, whose enthusiasm and love of
adventure made them excellent starters OF an
uprising. Even the elder poems, skepticai at
first of what was going on. soon threw aside
blacks Cheers greeted each addition to the
little army. and It was not long before Pedro
Cavallo, Trey de los Emboladores,' headed
an eager throng of followers numbering well
into the thousands.
What to do with so strange mob of
volunteers might have puzzled more ex-
perienced leader than Pedro. But nothing
daunted him. The bigger and the more un-
ruly his army, the greater seemed to be his
confidence in himself as its commander. Ana
his royal swagger won unbounded admlra-
tton. Griyny children, too young to JON the
ranks of the emboladores,. scurried hither
and thither among the bystanders, shrleking
with delight at this staging OF their iavorite
Pedro the King" Women, settingj uown
their bundles under the projecting iatticed
windows of the houses. talked wonderingly
Of this sudden glory that had come TO
youth whom they had thought skilled In
nothing mightier than the backing OF poots.
Solemn graybeards. proprietors OF dingy iittie
secretlv amazed. but still holding themselves
grimly aloof from the noisy demohstrations
of their neighbors.
hYankees are pigs" said one of these
sellers of sweets. native tobacco and white
rum, quoting gloomily the popular estimate
of Americans.
easily beaten
pher, struck by the turn OF new idea. yes,
that s so. Even a woman can peal d pis' IL
the mig has eaten too much.
yes yes Compadre! And Panama is 100
much for the hungriest pig,
Then, out OF the surging crowd OF Voiun-
teers. came a stentorian voice:
"Donde vamos. Pedro el Reyr CWhere
shall we go, King PedroT)
A.sro the President! To the Palace San
carlos ,,N shouted Pedro brandishing stick
snatched from one of the faithful.
AS the volunteers had agreed 10 DO this IN
the first place, the announcement was IN,
.ne ~, annroyed San Carlos. ''the palace"
s. ,,ot far off--a few short blocks this side
s,ss nr,ncipal plaza Of the city-and word
lno au;ckiv passed along to march thither.
wa, shouting vengeance on all Yankees. the
Sn,,aSores followed by a mob of poems,
,sd down the street, encouraged by the
N,,.,t,ve tests and delighted cheers OF the
bystanders. CO.. e.r,os mn. readv fur
49, ,,nusual visit Although 1t was popu-
,,, thln Lrown as "the palace"-as all resi-
isr,s s.s oS high officials are In Colombia--this
eN~ ee gambling structure of stone and plaster
IN no way distinguished from the build
We that elbowed 1t at each side.
-. dnauadated Wallis ran sheer to the mar
.,,r sidewalk, overlooking which We're several
hs,conies Of the kind commonly used IN span
sshs merican. buildings. large, square
nnsning. guarded by rude, heavily umoered
Seors formed the entrance TO this simple
ssscntiye mansion, which WAS built around a
s,,sS courtyard, or patrio. From thir pauio
s~s broaA nlGhfs q eaxpete4 steir: - y the
l's ~ - ~