The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-05-02 00:00:00

TERRIBLE INSURRECTION AT

PANAMA.

A TOWN AND ITS INHABITANTS BURNT.
Advices from Panama received at Plymouth on
Sunday give details of the insurrection in Panama.
The insurgents seized an agent of the Pacific Steam-
ship Company for refusing to deliver up antis and
ammunition which one of their vessels had brought
to Colon for the use of the Government. The American
Consul protested, but the rebel chief, after listening
to his remonstrances, ordered the Consul likewise to
be seized and carried of to the calaboose, which was
done. The Government troops rallying, the rebels
made off with their prisoners. Shots were exchanged
between the contestants, during which Mr. Connor's
personal guard was soon shot. Hearing the bullets
whizzing near him, Mr. Connor lay down as though
dead by the side of the really dead guard until the
firing ceased, as the rebels retreated towards Colon,
closely pursued by the Government troops. He
then got up, and managed to make his way back
to the Pacific Mail Company's wharf. The
rebels remaining in the town took advantage
of the absence of the troops to set fire to the
calaboose. Here, it is said, hundreds of persons had
been confined, and all of them perished. A brisk
wind was blowing, and the flames spread rapidly.
The scenes which took place during the burning of
the town were of a terrible character. Several negroes
engaged in looting premises which were burning were
shot down by the Marines who had been landed from
the Galena. The cries of the affrighted people,
especially of the women and children, were appalling.
The despair of those who had been thus ruthlessly
driven from their homes moved men to tears. The
fire continued to burn fiercely throughout the night,
and at daybreak little was left of Co.on except about
twenty houses on the north side, near the lighthouse,
and the Pacific Mail Company's premises. The eye
rested on nothing but smouldering ruins. Most of
the houses having been constructed of wood,
nothing remained but ashes. Conspicuous
among the surrounding devastation stood
forth many iron safes, the only objects which
had withstood the fire. It is impossible to give
any adequate impression of the ruins and de-
vastation. Among the many charred bodies was that
of a Chinaman, who had evidently been suffocated in
the attempt to escape with his money, his head being
incrusted with molten silver. It is said that 150
Jamaicans were shot. The general feeling expressed
by the sufferers is that, had the Jamaicans not joined
the rebels, the city would not have been fired. When
the West India mail left for England a correspondent
at Colon wrote as follows: "The situation here is
deplorable. Ten thousand people are homeless, aad
provisions cannot hold out longer than three days.
Matters here are in a critical position. It is rumoured
that General Paxon, in command of the President
Nunez's forces, is victorious in the State of Canea, has
captured Buenaventura with 5000 men, and is sending
1000 to upset Aizpuru by the first Pacific steamer for
Panama. It is feared that a repetition of the horrors
enacted in this city will take place in Panama. Advices
from Calebra, about ten miles from Panama, state
that the partisans of Preston have burnt that settle-
ment, committing all kinds of excesses."