Commander Kane took no steps to restore order, although a score of American marines, or jackies, might easily have gained control of the situation. At length, a force was sent from Panama to suppress the disturbance. Prestan went out to Monkey Hill to await the government troops and, for his better protection, placed two prominent Americans in the van of his men. It was midnight before the Panama force arrived at Monkey Hill, and, under cover of the darkness, the Americans contrived to make their escape. At the first fire Prestan's rabble broke and ran back to Colon. Their leader gave the order to fire the town. This was done, and, in the ensuing confusion, the mob looted the stores and houses without interference. With the exception of a few buildings upon the beach, the entire town was burned to the ground. In the reconstruction of Colon, somewhat more regard was shown for orderliness and sanitation, but the improvement left much to be desired in both respects. The town remains a straggling and unattractive collection of buildings, almost all of them frame, and commonplace in appearance. The exceptions are the hospital structures and the Washington Hotel, which is maintained by the Commission. The French erected some handsome residences and made an attempt at floral ornamentation, so that the little corner of the island called Cristobal presented a pleasing appearance in contrast to the quarter occupied by the wharves and railroad buildings. On the point at Cristobal stands a large wooden house which was originally the villa of De Lesseps and is now occupied by the officers of the Subsistence Department. This is one of the few places in the town that may excite momentary interest. The condition of land ownership in Colon is peculiar. Practically all the land is held by the Railroad under its original franchise, the terms of which provided for its reversion to Colombia at the expiration of that franchise. This debars the Panama Railroad from alienating the land. By the treaty of 1904 the Republic of Panama transferred to the United States all its right and interest in this land as the successor of the Republic of Colombia. Therefore, the United States having purchased the Railroad from the French, became the owner of the land, but subject to the restraint that prevented the road from disposing of it by sale. At the expiration of the Panama Railroad Company's franchise in 1966, this land will be turned over to the United States and the extraordinary condition of one government owning land in the territory of another will arise. No doubt the situation will be adjusted to the entire satisfaction of both governments. The land is considered very valuable at the present time, and unquestionably will become more so, for even though the Atlantic entrance of the Canal has been moved a few miles away from Colon, that city will grow into increased importance as the terminus of the Railroad, which will have a greater traffic as a result of the operation of the waterway. The visitor to the Isthmus will not linger any longer than necessary at Colon, but will take the first train possible to Panama, where much of interest awaits him and where he can secure better accommodation than he could in the At-. lantic port. There are two or three fairly good hotels in the city of Panama and an excellent one, the Hotel Tivoli, conducted by the Commission at Ancon. The railroad follows the line of the Canal for the greater part of the way, and the best view of the works is to be had from the windows of the train, unless one is fortunate enough to be |