[Subinclosure.]
Commander Potter to Mr. Moody.
U.
S. S. Ranger,
Panama,
Colombia, July 19,
1902.
No. 3.]
Sir: 1. I have the honor to report that, in
obedience to the Department’s telegram of July 10, I left Panama on
the 12th instant and arrived off the bar at the mouth of David River
on the 14th.
2. On the morning of the 15th I proceeded up the river in steam
launch to Pedregal, the head of navigation, 15 miles from the
anchorage, and by carriage to David, 3½miles inland.
[Page 308]
3. Consul-General Gudger accompanied me.
4. Consultations were had with the English and French consular
representatives and with some of the principal American property
holders in the province of Chiri-qui, two of whom from Boquete were
fortunately in David at the time.
5. Most of the Americans are located at Boquete, some 40 miles in the
interior from David, engaged in the culture of coffee, and do not
appear to have been interfered with any more than would naturally be
expected from the unsettled condition or the country.
6. Gen. Benjamin Herrera, the leader of the revolutionists, had left
David by land with the greater portion of his forces for some point
on the Gulf of Panama, presumably to meet the Government forces.
7. I received personal assurances from Gen. Manuel Quinteros, jefe
civil y militar, the representative of General Herrera at David,
that there would be no interference with the persons and property of
Americans, and that orders had been issued that their native labor
should not be molested or withdrawn to any greater extent than the
exigencies of the situation demanded during the present condition of
affairs.
8. The house of an American named Lawler, married to a Colombian, had
been searched during his absence for the presence of Government
sympathizers, for which a written apology was given immediately
after the occurrence.
9. Mr. Lawler lost eight horses, which the authorities claim were
taken by irresponsible marauding parties, and he was given written
authority to recover them wherever found. The general informed me
that in the meantime Mr. Lawler would be furnished with eight horses
in lieu of his own until they could be recovered.
10. No general manifesto had been issued to foreigners in regard to
levying money or supplies, as was reported. One individual demand
was made in the case of a Frenchman, and that may have been for
cause.
11. The reports of interference with foreigners appear to be much
exaggerated, and, in my opinion, the Americans residing in the
vicinity of David and in the province of Chiriqui are in no danger
of person or property, although unavoidably subjected to some
inconvenience in their business relations on account of the presence
of armed forces in the locality.
12. Consul-General Gudger concurs fully in this view of the
situation.
Very respectfully,
W. P. Potter,
Commander, U. S. Navy,
Commanding.
