TRACY ROBINSON, Acting Superintendent to George W. Keeler, October 6, 1873

Mr. Rohinson to Mr. Keeler.

Dear Sir: At 11.20 a.m. of this date I received telegram from Captain Dow, of which the following is copy:

“During last night the entire rebel force evacuated its position in suburbs, literally stole away and is now said to be at its old quarters beyond the Rio Grande. I walked this morning from the city to the depot for the first time in twelve days. I think there is no doubt but that the rebels are out of ammunition and have retired until such time as they can renew the fight with fresh supplies. In the mean time peace may be negotiated. Communication with the city by land is now open.”

From this you will gain an idea of the present situation. The strife may be at an end and may not. Meanwhile we can only hope for the best. Commander Brown, commanding the United States forces on shore at Panama, telegraphed me at the same time that it was thought by himself and Captain Dow unnecessary to keep a larger force than fifty men on shore to protect the company’s property, in which I acquiesced, and at 4 this p.m. the balance were sent hack on board.

I have written a letter to Admiral Almy, copy of which you will find among my inclosures. It seems but proper that I should convey the sense of obligation the company is under.

The various questions which have arisen affecting the company in its relations to the state and national governments have been all referred to Admiral Almy for solution, inasmuch as he had assumed military control of the transit and must therefore be held responsible for its safety. This we have been all the more willing to concede, as it has relieved us of an important share of the very pressing and grave responsibilities inseparable from the situation; and I am happy to say that, so far as I am at present informed, no just cause of complaint has been given these people by any act of commission or omission on our part. Day and night we have been vigilant to guard the interests of the company and at the same time to preserve the strictest neutrality.

It seems more than probable to me that the present cessation of hostilities is owing to the strict watch we have kept in the matter of smuggling ammunition to the rebels. On the 30th September, it occurred to me that it would be well to keep a sharp lookout, and I requested Mr. Wise to examine carefully every package of local cargo which might contain contraband. As a result, he came back to me the same day and reported having discovered something wrong in a shipment of 10 barrels flour, made by Mr. J. F. Cespedes of this place, examination showing that something besides flour was in the barrels. They were allowed to go forward, however, with instructons to Mr. Hunt to examine, who found each barrel to contain 2,000 cartridges, more or less, all destined for the outside party. This fact having come to the knowledge of General Neira’s government, there was an awakening on their part to an extra vigilance, going so far as to even request me not to receive or allow to be transported to Panama, from Aspinwall or the line, any cargo whatever, of a local character; a request, by the way, I could not comply with, but so far as anything suspicious has been concerned, I have taken good care not to allow it to be received.

Of course, this long interruption has caused an accumulation of Panama cargo, which now amounts to well-nigh 1,000 tons, and which up to the present remains on our hands.

Mr. Hunt reports freight-house full and 36 loaded cars on station, while we have the cargoes of two sailing-vessels, the Osprey and a French bark, a large part of which is for Panama, besides constant arrivals.

This stoppage has also interfered seriously in the matter of funds with which to meet our payments. Mr. Hunt’s collections have almost entirely ceased for the past two weeks, and it is uncertain how soon he may be able to collect September bills. It has, therefore, been necessary for us to draw for money rather than defer our payments, which I trust will be approved.

I am your obedient servant,