 After a visit to New Orleans, Louisiana, between 16 and 22 December, she began duty with the Caribbean Squadron.In January and early February 1904, she cruised along the coast of Panama in the wake of the revolution which separated that republic from Colombia and paved the way for the construction of the Panama Canal.During the latter part of February, "Topeka" visited Kingston, Jamaica; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, before joining other units of the fleet off the coast of Dominican Republic late in the month.