T The Sinking of the "Lautaro". I. L. MADURO Jr., Wholesale Dealer in Views, 215 Picture Postal Cards, Souvenir Albums, Panoramic Views of the Isthmus. P. O. Box: WRITE ME FOR PRICES. {Panama. 281 ( beneath the waters of the bay. The noise of discharging cannon and the blowing up of the powder magazine on the doomed boat as the fire reached it, performed a fitting requiem over the dead body of the military chief, Gen. Alban, which went down at the same time. The upper part of the masts of the Lautaro may be readily seen to-day at low tide sticking out of the water. A year or so since there was some talk of dynamiting the clearing away the spot, but no action in regard to it has yet been taken. The Padilla remained in the hands of the revolutionists until peace was declared. It was then turned over to the Colombian Government and renamed the 21 de Noviembre, "RINGING THE BELLES.” Why should girls that wish to get married come to Panama? Because it is the greatest place in the world. for ringing the (belles) bells. The Siege of Aguadulce. In January, 1902, Gen. Herrera, the Liberal leader, with his Indian allies under Victoriano Lorenzo appeared before the town of Aguadulce in the province of Coclé. The town was garrisoned by a government force of about 1,300 men under the command of Gen. Castro. The Liberal general demanded the unconditional surrender of the garrison, at the same time conveying the information of the loss of the Lautaro upon which the government troops had depended for supplies. The demand was refused, and on January 23d, the Liberals commenced the attack. After twenty-four hours' fighting the government forces were defeated, Gen. Castro and 350 of his men escaping to Panama. In this engagement some 750 men were killed and wounded on both sides, while the Liberal leaders reported the capture of 700 prisoners. In June, 1902, the government despatched a force of 1,200 men to retake Aguadulce. The troops arrived at the town on June 20th and were immediately surrounded by a superior force of Liberals. The latter invested the place so closely as to cut off the besieged entirely from obtaining supplies. The government had provided the garrison with five hundred cattle, but these were mysteriously run off one night leaving the besieged practically without food. Such straits were they in that they were compelled to kill and eat their horses, and later on other animals, including the dogs. Decayed fruit, and pieces of palms and shrubs were also utilized to sustain life. The garrison continued to hold out until August 21, 1902, when it capitulated, over 1,000 prisoners and a large amount of ammunition falling into the enemy's hands. During the siege the garrison suffered the loss of some two hundred men through sickness and starvation. Another revolutionary expedition organized in Nicaragua landed near Chame, Province of Panama, on September 1, 1902. The party consisted of about 120 men, The Siege of Aguadulce. 217 sixty of whom were experienced veterans, and had for their leader Gen. Domingo Diaz of Panama. At Chame the expedition was met by Papi Aizpuru, Secretary of Victoriano Lorenzo, with 300 Indians. The force marched to Bejuco where at a conference of the Liberal officers, Gen. Diaz was made the military and civil chief of the Liberal forces on the Isthmus. The Indians of the Province of Coclé have been more or less independent as far back as history has knowledge of. It has been their custom to select a governor from among their number to whom all tribal differences are referred, and in whose leadership implicit confidence is placed The Panama Government has given them the right of suffrage, but they have never evinced much of a desire to take a hand in matters political, and are content to till their fields and to carry on their small trading operations. In the revolution of 1900-'02 however, they constituted quite a factor in the warring elements, but it is doubtful if they would have taken a part in it, but for the personality of their Governor and leader, Victoriano Lorenzo, who, moved by a spirit of revenge joined issues with the Liberal forces, was made a general and afterwards assisted greatly in the victories of that side. One of the commodities in which these Indians deal largely is salt, and in securing their support to the revolutionary movement, they were led to believe that if the Liberals were successful, they would be permitted a free trade in it. About the time the revolution broke out, Victoriano Lorenzo had a large farm and was attending strictly to his own affairs. He had one annoyance and that was the constant nagging of a petty official. Lorenzo finally gave the latter to understand that if he was troubled any further he would take steps to stop it. The official paying no attention to this warning, Lorenzo abducted him and took him into the mountains. The government hearing of this summary action sent troops to Lorenzo's home where they committed various sorts of depredations. This coming to the knowledge of Lorenzo, and believing himself an outlaw, he proceeded to revenge himself in Indian style by performing savage atrocities on the prisoners he captured. On one occasion he killed a Spanish priest. By this time he had enlisted quite a following and tiring of the outlawed existence which he led, he joined the Liberal forces and carried on a guerrilla warfare. On joining the revolutionists he ceased committing acts outside the pale of civilization, and conducted himself more in accordance with the usages of war. When hostilities ceased, a general amnesty was declared whereby the adherents of the Liberal cause without exception were allowed to |