File No. 319.1123L25/4.
I enclose a copy of the report made by Captain H. D. Mitchell, Chief
of the Canal Zone Police, to the Governor of the Panama Canal a few
days after the mêlée. * * *
The next morning after the trouble I called upon Governor Arcia of
Colon before returning to Panama and expressed earnest interest in
prompt and thorough action by Panama and in the presence of a
representative of our Government being permitted at their
examinations; he expressed himself agreeably regarding these
requests. I followed this with the note to Sr. Lefevre enclosed with
despatch No. 469, and I now transmit Sr. Lefevre’s response to same
and its translation.
Both policemen are still in confinement.
There is no question that the Panaman authorities are more alarmed
than they have ever been over the possible taking over of the
policing of Panama and Colon pursuant to Article 7 of the Canal
Treaty of 1903.
[Inclosure 1—Extract.]
Chief of Police Mitchell to the Governor of
Panama Canal Zone.
The Panama Canal,
Police and
Fire Division,
Balboa Heights, Canal Zone
April 5, 1915.
riot at colon april 2, 1915.
Sir: I have the honor to submit the
following report relative to the riot which occurred in Colon,
Republic of Panama, April 2, 1915.
During the afternoon of the 2d instant, about 1,200 soldiers
attended a ball game at Colon between the 5th Infantry and
Cristobal teams. A special train of 17 coaches took the soldiers
to Colon from their stations, and during the game was left on a
spur track. During the game a number of soldiers left the ball
grounds and visted the city of Colon. * * *
From the testimony given by a number of witnesses, it appears
that the fight between the soldiers and police first occurred at
the corner of 10th and Cash streets, about 5 p.m. It seems that
the trouble arose through a quarrel between a civilian,
Jamaican, and a soldier, caused by the negro trying to push his
way through a dozen soldiers who were standing on the sidewalk.
One of the soldiers shoved the negro aside and told him to walk
around them. The latter took exception to the actions of the
soldier and blows were exchanged until a policeman came along
and took hold of the negro and pushed him across the street,
where a number of negroes were standing. The negro returned and
was again taken back by the officer, who was jeered by the crowd
of negroes for his actions. In the meantime the controversy had
attracted a number of soldiers, police, and natives. Testimony
as to what immediately followed is conflicting and reference
will be made only to that which appears to be verified by two or
more witnesses.
- 1st.
- A policeman was accidentally struck by a swagger stick in
the hands of a soldier, which the former resented, and he
tried to arrest the soldier.
- 2d.
- The police tried to drive the soldiers away and the latter
resisted.
The trivial affair with the negro grew complicated as the crowd
increased and the police soon lost their heads and opened fire,
without any provocation that would warrant such action on their
part. I have been unable to find any evidence of intoxication
among the soldiers such as one would naturally expect to find
when looking for the causes of the riot. A number of witnesses
have testified that at least four shots were fired by the police
in endeavoring to compel the soldiers to leave this
neighborhood. Privates Klimp and Richeson were wounded as a
result of this shooting.
After this affray had subsided, in which Governor Arcia and
Commandante of Colon Police Catano assisted in restoring order,
trouble broke out again near the corner of 11th Street and
Broadway about the time the ball game terminated, which was
about 5.20 p.m.
As the soldiers were leaving the ball grounds a number of small
colored boys began throwing stones at them, and when the boys
were joined by a number of colored men a general fusillade
ensued, during which a number of soldiers, policemen and
civilians were injured and several windows of buildings were
broken. Just north of Hudson Alley and on either side of 11th
Street several policemen opened fire, from the vicinity of two
buildings located next to the vacant lots on 11th Street. Most
of their firing was evidently directed at the soldiers on, and
in the vicinity of, the special train. As the train carrying the
soldiers pulled out of Colon rocks and clubs were thrown at the
soldiers aboard by the crowd of negroes. Private Deloughery, who
was standing on the rear platform of the train, was shot in the
left side.
A squad of the guard, in charge of Corporal Maurice Langdon, was
moving east on 11th Street from D Street, and as Langdon was
standing on the sidewalk in front of a store on the southwest
corner of 11th Street and Hudson Alley he was shot, and died
while being taken to the hospital. On the afternoon of the 6th
instant Capt. Carpenter removed a 38 caliber bullet from a door
which was located about two feet to the south from the point
where Corporal Langdon had been standing. After the latter had
been shot, Privates Scott and Walsh, members of the patrol, who
were standing in the street opposite the place where Corporal
Langdon had stood, fired one shot each with their rifles at a
policeman who was firing at them from behind the building
[Page 1198]
located near the
northeast corner of 11th Street and Hudson Alley. Private Hollan
fired twice, and Private Keysanov once, at policemen who were
firing from the rear of a building located on the southeast
corner of 11th Street and Hudson Alley.
Two policemen are under arrest in the Colon police station
pending an investigation relative to the shooting.
Three empty shells, caliber 38, were still warm when picked up by
Capt. Carpenter in the rear of the building located at the
southeast corner of 11th Street and Hudson Alley, immediately
after the firing had ceased.
An investigation of the affray is being conducted by Colonel John
L. Chamberlain, Inspector General, for the military authorities,
and by Governor Arcia for the Panamans. Capt. J. M. Fulton, C.
A. C., is representing the military authorities at the
investigation of the Panamans, and Mr. Inocencio Galindo is
representing the Panaman authorities at the military
investigation.
In order to minimize any trouble that might arise between the
soldiers and police in Panama City or Colon on occasions when a
large number of the former are present, I would recommend that a
strong military guard be detailed to patrol the city.
Respectfully,
H. D. Mitchell,
Chief, Police and Fire Division.
[Inclosure 2—Translation.]
The Secretary of Foreign
Affairs to Minister Price.
S–6229.]
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Panama,
April 7, 1915.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to
refer to the esteemed note of your excellency, No. 160 of the
5th instant, which relates to the recent sad occurrences in
Colon.
As soon as I received the said note, I communicated with Sr.
Ruben S. Arcia, Governor of the Province of Colon, as to what
was the truth about the article in the “Panama Morning Journal”
to the effect that the policeman would be set at liberty, and
this functionary informed me that the notice lacked
foundation.
The investigation of the unfortunate circumstances is being
carried out in the most impartial and thorough manner by
Governor Arcia and meantime none of those detained under arrest
on suspicion for having responsibility for the death can be set
free.
I take this opportunity [etc.]
