ABRIL DE 2017
PERSONAJES the centralist power of Bogota. He knew that from one moment to other Colombian troops would arrive in Panama, and the most accessible port was Colon.
On November 3, 1903, when the events occurred in Panama, at the Pacific coast, Colombian troops, five hundred men from the fearsome Battalion Tiradores, arrived Colon on board the Cartagena cruiser, with the mission of relieving General Huertas from command in Panama.
The American owners of the Panama Railroad, involved in the independence movements, prevented the colombian generals Juan B. Tovar, Ramón G. Amaya and three other officers from traveling to Panama.
Upon their arrival in the capital, they are arrested by General Huertas, proclaimed independence and proceed to organize the defense.
Martínez, Henríquez, Clement and General Alejandro A. Ortiz( head of the Colon Police), Serafín Achurra( commander in chief of the garrison) and Luis F. Estenoz are summoned on the morning of November 4 by Porfirio Meléndez, who Informs them of what happened and that it has authorization from the Provisional Government Board to lead the patriotic movement.
The patriots decided to coordinate efforts with Colonel J. R. Shaler, manager of the railroad company, who informed them of the arrival of American warships from one moment to another.
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Calle principal de Colón en 1906. Foto: panamahistory. com
Porfirio Meléndez y su hija Aminta Torres
Aminta Meléndez y acompañada de su padre Porfirio. Foto: Cortesía César del Vasto
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