CHAPTER 35

November 3, 1903

That morning the Colombian troops arrived in Colón at the charge of General Juan Tovar, disembarked with no trouble, and immediately headed to the interoceanic train station where they were received by Colonel James Shaler, superintendent of the railway.

“General Tovar, welcome to Colón.”

“Good morning Colonel Shaler. I need to take the train with all of my men to Panama City immediately,” Tovar said in perfect English.

“I’m sorry, but we don’t have enough space available right now. I suggest you take your officials with you in one of the available cars, and when we can, we’ll send the rest of your soldiers to meet with you,” Shaler smiled. “No thank you, I prefer to wait until we are all able to go together.”

Shaler insisted, “General Tovar, Governor Obaldía specifically asked me to get you and your officials to Panama City immediately. He seems to urgently require your presence. The time of departure for the train has already passed and it doesn’t make sense to have you all out here sitting under the sun. Please, board the train with your officials and I assure you that your soldiers will arrive soon.”

In New York, Philippe was surprised to read a press release announcing the arrival and disembarkation of five hundred Colombian soldiers in Colón. Amador hadn’t lied after all. Without a doubt, that many soldiers could thwart the revolutionaries’ plans; if the plan failed now, several years would have to pass before a similar opportunity would present itself and for the first time, Philippe was genuinely afraid he wouldn’t be able to complete the canal in Panama.

At the kindness of Shaler and the request of Governor Obaldía that they immediately move to the other coast, Tovar finally conceded to take the available train that was ready to go. Still doubtful about leaving all of his soldiers in Colón, the general watched as the image of Colonel Shaler, smiling and waving goodbye, became smaller and smaller.

When he arrived, Tovar was received with honor by General Esteban Huertas and various local dignitaries, as was custom, and finally, he was taken to the barracks that served as the Colombian military base in Panama. There, Tovar intended to inform Huertas that he was being relieved of his command, and that Tovar would be leading the Colombian military in Panama. However, once inside the barracks, Huertas spoke first, “General Tovar, you and your men are under arrest. Please hand over your sword.”

When they heard about the arrest of Tovar and his vain attempt to resist, Amador and several supporters arrested Governor Obaldía, who was in favor of the revolution, but was also a representation of Colombian authority in Panama. That afternoon, the City Council declared independence and Amador, José Augustín Arango, Tomás Arias, Ricardo Arias, Federico Boyd, Carlos C. Arosemana, Manuel Espinoza Batista y Nicanor de Obarrio among others, were applauded by the crowd outside the Panama City Cathedral.

That night in New York, at Ida Bigelow’s insistence, Philippe returned to the Bigelow’s home for a dinner, entertainment, and relaxation after the nervous breakdown from which he’d been suffering since reading about the arrival of the Colombian troops in Panama. When he got back to his hotel, he found a cablegram from Amador that said: “Independence of the isthmus declared without bloodshed.”

It was an excellent note and Philippe felt great relief in knowing that there was still hope. But things could still go wrong: Colón remained in Colombian hands.

American soldiers preparing arms in the streets of Colón.

Photo courtesy of the Authority of the Panama Canal.

The following days in Colón were filled with uncertainty as Colonel Eliseo Torres, who Tovar had left in charge of the soldiers, demanded the immediate release of his superiors. Tensions were raising so much that on several occasions Colombian and United States soldiers, who had arrived to maintain order according to the treaty with Colombia, were near the point of initiating a blood-filled confrontation.

Meanwhile in New York, Philippe had just finished reading a cablegram sent by Amador requesting the agreed upon money in order to pay the soldiers immediately. Even though his first instinct was to not send the money because Amador still hadn’t confirmed that the Frenchman would be named Minister Plenipotentiary, Philippe asked banker, Joshua Lindo, to send 25,000 dollars to Panama. Clearly Amador needed to make some payments and it would be a mistake to send nothing at all.

The next day in Panama, Tovar, in his cell, received a visit from Dr. Amador.

“General Tovar, Panama is independent. We have the support of the United States and five thousand American soldiers are about to arrive to protect our new republic. I admire your position, but it won’t get you anywhere. We are sending you back to Colón and from there you will return to Colombia.”

“Absolutely not. We are going to protect Colombian sovereignty regardless of the consequences. Colonel Torres is very aware of his responsibilities and I know he is doing what he must.”

Amador approached the bars separating him from General Tovar, “Torres and his soldiers are already aboard the steamship Orinoco and have begun the return to Cartagena. We’ve shown them our appreciation. Come on, the train is waiting to take you back to Colón.”

After saying goodbye to Tovar, who still couldn’t believe what Amador had told him, the doctor immediately went to send a message to Philippe:

“Today, this 6th of November, we will declare to the Secretary of State that Colón and all of the towns on the isthmus have adhered to the Declaration of Independence proclaimed in our capital. The authority of the Republic of Panama is being obeyed throughout the territory. Press the United States government to recognize the Republic of Panama.”

Philippe knew, because of the press, that Colombia had threatened to send more troops to both Panamanian coasts and to eliminate this new intent to secede. The Revolutionary Junta couldn’t risk losing support at this time when the recognition and protection of the United States was so urgent, so he responded to Amador:

“Ask the Junta to send me the message we agreed upon on the 20th of October, before you embark to Panama. This message will allow me to resolve urgent political and financial issues. This was our agreement. If I am not designated Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States, I will not intercede so that the Republic of Panama will be recognized. I reject all responsibility for what happens in the future if the Government of Panama prefers another solution. My hands will be tied, but my heart remains the same.”

Two and a half hours after sending the message to Amador, Philippe received the following cablegram from Francisco de la Espriella, Minister of Exterior Relations:

“The Provisional Government Board of the Republic of Panama names the Recipient Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the government of the United States of America with absolute power in political and financial negotiations.”

That afternoon, Philippe celebrated with a bottle of champagne in the company of Joshua Lindo at the Waldorf Astoria restaurant.