HOTEL METROPOLE F. P. PETERSEN, Proprietor. Nos. 178-174 CENTRAL AVENUE, SANTA ANA PARK. PAMAMA, R. P. NEWLY FURNISHED. BATHS. ELECTRIC LIGHTS, MEALS AT ALL HOURS. AMERICAN SERVICE. IMPORTED GERMAN DRAUGHT BEER ALWAYS ON TAP. Hotel Centrally Located and convenient for the traveling public. the fact that the decisive battle of Royacá, which made an end forever to Spanish dominion in Colombia, had been fought and won by Simon Bolivar over two years before, namely, August 7, 1819. This was due to the large armed force maintained by Spain on the Isthmus. The forts of San Lorenzo and Porto Bello were well garrisoned, while the city of Panama was at all times kept in a state of perfect defence. To the little town of Los Santos, capital of the province bearing the same name, belongs the honor of making the first open manifestation for liberty, and this was brought about in the following way: In 1819, a small club was formed in Panama, consisting of influential citizens, for the purpose of carrying on a secret revolutionary propaganda. Agents were sent to the interior towns to organize other societies for the fomenting of a revolutionary sentiment among the population. The little society at Los Santos became so enthusiastic that it boiled over, and Independence from Spain, 1821. one day the members turned out en masse public demonstration in favor of freedom. 127 and made a ar Early in 1821, Gen. Juan de la Cruz Murgeon rived at Panama, having been appointed by the Spanish Government to the post of Captain-General and President of Quito. He was further promised the post of Viceroy of Santa Fé, if he could recover control of two-thirds of the Virreinate. This he very soon saw was impossible, and on October 22nd of the same year embarked for Quito to exercise his title of President, leaving in command of the provinces on the Isthmus, Lieut.-Col. José de Fábrega, whom he then promoted to the grade of Colonel. Col. Fábrega was Isthmian born, and when he that he was to be the arbiter of the fate of the Isthmus, he resolved to throw in his lot with his liberty-aspiring countrymen. Thereupon, a general meeting of all the civic corporations, military and church organizations in Panama was called, and on November 28, 1821, before a large and enthusiastic crowd, the independence of the Isthmus from Spanish mis-rule became an accomplished fact. Fábrega himself, was an interested spectator of this event. Some of the Spanish troops still remaining loyal to the Crown, debated amongst themselves their future course of procedure, but realizing the helplessness of their position, without a commander, with enemies on every hand, and without hope of reinforcements, they decided prudence the better part of valor, and laid down their arms. Thus was independence gained without the shedding of a drop of blood. Isthmian history came near to repeating itself eighty-two years later when the independence of the Republic of Panama was attained, with the loss of but one life, that of a Chinaman. The same year that the Isthmus threw off the yoke of Spain, Simon Bolivar termed "The Liberator" sent over a force under Gen. Montilla from Cartagena to assist the local patriots, but upon their arrival found that the Isthmian people had already secured their independence through favoring circumstances. THE ISTHMUS IN THE DAYS OF '49. The discovery of gold in California, and the lack of a safe and rapid transcontinental means of getting to the desired goal, induced many thousands of treasure hunters to seek the Isthmian transit. During the seven or eight years succeeding the first find of gold on Sutter's Creek, it is estimated that not less than $40,000,000 in gold, $12,000,000 in silver, and 25,000 passengers were annually transported across the Isthmus on pack-mule trains. By 1853 the rush was on in earnest, and according to official figures the output of gold in California for that year reached the highest mark in its history, namely, $66,000,000. The sudden development of the pack-mule train business on the Isthmus by reason of the discovery, attracted to the country a large number of Chileans, Peruvians, Indians and mixed breeds, many of whom came not to engage in an honest business, but to plunder, rob and murder. A rich field was at once opened to them on account of the demand for pack-mule trains, a business in which the majority of them were expert. The Panama newspapers of those days are filled with stirring accounts of assault and robbery, and many pathetic incidents of people who had reached Panama successful and happy only to be robbed and frequently murdered in making the transit the other side. to Often ships would arrive from California with from one to two millions of dust and bullion on board, and with half as much again probably secreted about the person, or The Isthmus in the days of '49. 129 in the baggage of passengers who trusted nobody but themselves, not even the ship's strong box. On one occasion several boxes of gold arrived at New York, apparently intact, but when opened it was discovered that from forty to fifty per cent. had been stolen. The rifling was accomplished by the aid of a certain shaped boring apparatus that would bring out as much as desired of the contents of the boxes, and fill in again with sand, until the original weight was reached. The holes in the boxes were then plugged and sealed so neatly that they could not be detected, except upon close examination. As a usual thing however, this method was too laborious, and bands of armed men made open attacks on pack trains, assisted by confederates acting as guards, or drivers. In January, 1851, the S. S. Northerner arrived from San Francisco with $2,600,000 in gold dust and treasure on board, and carrying 500 passengers. Many of the latter had their newly gained wealth concealed in their baggage. Immediately after the steamer's arrival, preparations began for the pack across. The start was made, and at a place called Cardenas, about one day's journey from Panama by mule back, the passengers were attacked in broad daylight by a large body of armed men. In the fight that followed some few of the passengers succeeded in withdrawing with their pack trains unobserved, but the robbers managed to capture two mule loads of treasure, amounting to about $120,000. were During the fight, the leader of the band, a Chilean, was shot and killed. The affair had hardly terminated when reinforcements arrived to the aid of the passengers. The robbers thereupon fled into the woods, but promptly pursued. Some were killed, others taken prisoners, while several boxes of gold were recovered in the nick of time, the thieves being come upon just as they were about to bury the treasure in the ground. the One of the pathetic incidents of the period was case of seven men returning from California, who started |