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Dr. J. CUEVA GARCIA,- LAWYER, (Graduate.)

COLON. PANAMA.

GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR.

Attends to Collections, Judicial Business, Translation of Documents and Legal Forms. SPECIALTY OF PATENTS AND TRADE MARKS.

we have profound faith in the good sense and patriotism of the Isthmian people, and we possess sufficient energy to open our way by means of labor to a happy future without any wer y or any dangers.

Colombia, we do it
Just as a son with-

In separating from our brothers of
without any hatred and without any joy.
draws from his paternal roof, the Isthmian people in adopting
the lot they have chosen, have done so with grief, but in com-
pliance with the suprem and inevitable duty they owe to them-
selves, and that of their own welfare.

We therefore, begin to form a part among the 'ree nations
of the world, considering Colombia as a sister nation, with
which we shall be whenever circumstances may require it, and
for whose prosperity we have the most fervent and sincere
wishes.

(Signed.)

JOSÉ AUGUSTIN ARANGO,

FEDERICO BOYD,

TOMAS ARIAS.

made

The formal declaration of independence was by the Municipal Council of the city of Panama at 4 o'clock of the afternoon of November 4, in Cathedral Plaza, and the provisional junta, took upon itself the direction of affairs until the establishment of the provisional government.

The Show of Fight at Colon.

The news of the arrest of Gens. Tovar and Amaya did not reach the ears of Col. Torres and his force of Colombians until the train reached Colon on the forenoon of

the 4th. He immediately notified United States Consul Oscar Malmros through the Colon local authorities that unless the imprisoned officers were set at liberty by 2 p. m., he would open fire on the town and kill every American in it. This threat was conveyed to Panama by the following telegram caught from the wire while going through:"Troops refuse to accept proposal and say unless Tovar and Amaya are released by 2 p. m., they will burn the town and kill every American it it; that Col. wants him to get in communication with the Junta and see what can be done, if necessary."

At this time the only American warship in the harbor at Colon was the gunboat Nashville, John Hubbard,. commanding, and with 192 men on board. The Nashville was ordered to proceed to Colon on October 30th and arrived at its destination on November 2d. The consul's first step was to apprise Commander Hubbard of Col. Torres' threat, and the action the Commander took is covered in his official report of the incident, as follows:

"U. S. S. Nashville, Third Rate. Colon, U. S. Colombia, November 5, 1903.

"Sir:- Pending a complete report of the occurrences of the last three days at Colon, Colombia, I most respectfully invite the Department's attention to those of the date of Wednesday, November 4, which amounted to practically the making of war against the United States by the officer in command of the Colombian troops in Colon. At 1 o'clock p. m., on that date, I was summoned on shore by a preconcerted signal, and on landing met the United States consul, vice-consul, and Col. Shaler, the general superintendent of the Panama Railroad. "

"The consul informed me that he had received notice from the officer commanding the Colombian troops, Col. Torres, through the prefect of Colon, to the effect that if the Colombian officers, Gens. Tovar and Amaya, who had been seized in Pa-` nama on the evening of November 3, by the independents, and held as prisoners, were not released by 2 o'clock p. m., he, Tor

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The President and Mrs Manuel Amador Guerro.

Isthmian American &P.R.R.News Agency & Advertising Bureau-A.Bienkowski.

res, would open fire on the town of Colon and kill every United States citizen in the place, and my advice and action were requested. I advised that all the United States citizens should take refuge in the shed of the Panama Railroad Company, a stone building susceptible of being put in a good state for defence, and that I would immediately land such body of men, with extra arms for arming the citizens, as the complement of the ship would permit."

"This was agreed to, and I immediately returned on board, arriving at 1:15 p. m. The order for landing was immediately given, and at 1:30 p. m., the boats left the ship with a party of forty-two men under the command of Lieutenant-Commander H. M. Witzel, with Midshipman J. P. Jackson as second in command. Time being pressing, I gave verbal orders to Mr. Witzel to take the building referred to above, to put it into the best state of defence possible, and protect the lives of the citizens assembled there, not firing unless fired upon. The women and children took refuge on the German steamer Marcomania and the Panama Railroad steamer City of Washington, both ready to haul out from dock if necessary.”

"The Nashville got under way and patrolled along the water-front close in and ready to use either small arm or shrapnel fire. The Colombians surrounded the building of the railroad company almost immediately after we had taken possession and for about one and a half hours their attitude was most threatening, it being seemingly their purpose to provoke an attack. Happily our men were cool and steady, and while the tension was very great, no shot was fired.”

"At about 3:15 p. m., Col. Torres came into the building for an interview and expressed himself as most friendly to the Americans, claiming that the whole affair was a misapprehension, and that he would like to send the Alcalde of Colon to Panama to see Gen. Tovar and have him direct the discontinuance of the show of force. A special train was furnished and safe conduct guaranteed. At about 5:30 p. m, Col. Torres made the proposition of withdrawing his troops to Monkey Hill if I would withdraw the Nashville's forces and leave the town in possession of the police until the return of the Alcalde on the morning of the 5th."

HAMBURG-AMERICAN LINE.

Weekly Sailings from Colon to New York

VIA KINGSTON, JAMAICA.

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SAILING TWICE A MONTH.

~ RATES OF PASSAGE:~

PRINZ STEAMERS, $70 and $60 first class; $10 second class ALTAI & VENETIA, $50. Only first class passage sold on these boats Sailings from Colon to Port Limon, Cartagena, Sabanilla, St. Thomas and Europe twice a month. For full particulars regarding passage and freight apply to

HAMBURG-AMERICAN LINE, Colon, Republic of Panama, or M. FIDANQUE & SONS, Panama.

"After an interview with the United States consul and Col. Shaler as to the probability of good faith in the matter, I decided to accept the proposition and brought my men on board, the disparity in numbers between my force and that of the Colombians-nearly ten to one, making me desirous of avoiding a conflict so long as the object in view, the protection of American citizens, was not imperiled."

"I am positive that the determined attitude of our men, their coolness and evident intention of standing their ground, had a most salutary and decisive effect on the immediate situation, and was the initial step in the ultimate abandoning of Colon by these troops and their return to Cartagena the following day. Lieutenant-ommander Witzel is entitled to much praise for his admirable work in command on the spot."

"I feel that I cannot sufficiently represent to the Department the grossness of this outrage and the insult to our dignity, even apart from the savagery of the threat.".

"Very respectfully,

JOHN HUBBARD,

Commander, United States Navy, Commanding."

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