Ka cika wannan magana: A shekara ta 1923, Shugaba Warren G. Harding, da Edwin Denby, Sakataren Sojojin Ruwa, sun bukaci Petersen da wani tsohon dan majalisa na Republican daga New York, Albert B. Rossdale su yi tafiya zuwa
Yankin Canal na Panama don yin lura na farko game da rayuwa da yanayin aiki ga ma'aikatan jirgin ruwa, da kuma bayar da shawarwari don ingantawa. Da nufin gudanar da binciken su a asirce, Petersen da Rossdale sun shiga cikin ma'aikatan jirgin ruwa na USS "New York", sun sa kayan aiki na ma'aikatan jirgin ruwa, sun ci abincin dare tare da ma'aikatan, sannan suka tashi tare da su don izinin bakin teku. Bayan sun shiga wani gidan wasan kwaikwayo na Panama, membobin 'yan sanda na bakin teku sun kama su kuma sun zarge su da kasancewa' yanci bayan 11 PM, wanda ya saba wa dokokin Naval. Sun kasance a tsare har sai sun bayyana ainihin su kuma kyaftin din "New York" ya ba da umarni ga masu sintiri na bakin teku don sakin Petersen da Rossdale. Maimakon aikin ɓoye da aka tsara, binciken da Rossdale da Petersen suka yi niyya ya zama abin dariya; lokacin da kafofin watsa labarai suka fahimci abubuwan da suka faru, sun samar da kanun labarai masu ban dariya waɗanda suka nuna shugabannin da gwamnatin Harding a cikin mummunan haske.