Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-06-25
SCENES OF THE RIOTS AT PANAMA

We have been furo,shed with the follow
log passages from a private letter from Pana.
ma, which, we thiok, very clearly show who
are 10 blame IN the matter:-
The Echo Office 10 in an old raio ou pri-
yate lane leidiug from street TO street sud on
the lane was gate. After the natives ies-
cued the boy they were mostly on Que side
Of the gate aod the Americans on the othef.
A cry arose that an American was being
murdered in the garden. The American
Consul who had just arrived. said. My
God, boys We must not stand and SEQ that
rush was made and il was found 10 be q
false alarm. Another cry a,oso of the ns.
tives being engaged ia numbering an Arneri-
can and rush was made TO he gate where
the natives were. They surprising them
selves asssiled. commenced an attack on The
movement, az tile head Of which WAS Sem.
pIar. He had been apparently holding back
the crowd as caused by the false alarm, but
when the ASSAULT wal made he stopped down
for stone, and while STOPPING, was knocked
down by a stone and Instantly stabbed. the
knife passing through the body. The Am
| ericans were two 10 one 10 the natives, but
,hey nearly all rau. The man rose. turned
hack, told his name, residence. SC, aud said
he was stabbed. that he belonged TO The w.
| 4, Pesse called 10 be held and died. He
was caught by Pomeroy, (he ssys,) and an
| other,
The Consul endesvored to calm the Am
ericans, to prevent excitement, &C., as they
bad now begun TO gather after their ieIeaf.)
told them to take the body 10 the New Eng
laod tavern, aud he would go and see the
Alcslde, snd have the murderer arrested -
As the excitement was rising. he told them
he would see the AIcaIde, aod meet them on
the Plaza in half an Iiour.
Here begins my personal knowledge OF the
| affair. went to the Plaza about 3 or half
past three, p. M, aud found an assemolsge
Of 500 or 1000 Americans and Capt. Fisk
addressing them. The Consul had pre-
viously spoken, and spoken twice after
wards. He aud others tried to alIsy the ex
citement. He pledged himself to do all he
could as an officer and inau. To have tho
criminal arrested aud punished. The Gov
ernor of the province then spoke, (address
interpreted, and pledged himself TO do all
he could to keep the peace, TO arrest The
criminal. aud have him tried according TO
law, &c. &c, that he would station guard
at the gate 10 prevent egress of armed Am-
ericsns, or ingress Of any nstiyes. He said
that he and the Consul would go outside and
meet the natives (ths excitement had al
ready extended outside the walls and Mr..
Everett been killed and pacify them; aud he
and the Consul urged the meeting To dis
perse, and certainly not 10 GO outside -
While this speaking was going on. some 90
or 80, or more, were engaged in exciting the
people-by altering the most intiammatory
appeas-noi so as To Interrupt the the meet
ing much, but il produced The effect Of rais-
ing the fever-''The Cousul will be mn,der-
ed il he goes out" damn the n2geIs, we
must teach them a lesson''--'rhe stars and
stripes will be dsgraced if We let il go Off
so." &C., &c.
followed the Governor and Consul TO the
wall ard mounted II, 81 tina, bad fair
view. The Governor, Consul, aud two or
three Americans went out. pushed the scat
tering natives back TO a dense mass, aud ap-
peared to address them. While engaged at
this. the walls were filled with Americans,
ADD the same inhammatory appeals were
made as before-some told To run tor their
guns-some TO storm the arsenal, &c. The
Governor. &c.! were, say thirty rods from
the walls. aud had been followed. perhaps, |
half way by some Of the fire-eatsrs with guns.
and by some without them, into the depress-
ed paven roadway. (walked gu each side, }
watching the movement. heard a cla,-
the dropping OF stones on the pavement and
some going away. aud supposed all was set
tied. Suddenly, two or three guns were dis
charged from the road. way-why. | knew
not; but instantly the mass Of the natives
were in motion and the stones began 10 fly--
the Americans To rush for the gate. and the !
natives To rush after them; and discharge az |
ter discharge Of rifles, pistols and popguns |
from the walls. As the Americans rushed
through tho gate. (the natives bo; attempt /
ing To follow them inside,) those On the |
walls descended and joining the fugitives re-
treated short distance down The main street; !
some calling TO The Americans on the bslco
MES aud in windows, 10 come down and aid
in defending the city; To some Co send down
their arms; some calIng 10 take the arsenal.
&C.. &c.
About this time rne French fi1g was fur.
out from the consuls'o near the gate. and the
consul offered. as | vas told, protection aud
arms as iar as he could furnisn them TO The
Americans, and the 6ag was greeted with
hearty cheers. Atihis time i, looked gloomy
enough; the sbop doors all being closed as
fast as possible. the running hi,her and thiih
or. and calls for this and that, WITH the con.
tioued occasional discharge OF fire arms, the
approach OF twilight. aud the uncertainty
whether the natives would attempt TO enter
the city, aud the hazardous position of hun
dreds OF Americans tenting and roaming
without the wslls--altogether made many
pale faces. d. G. Us. lips we're pale as
Death, bu, he appeared as calm as now. |
presume my lace was pale. for own was
afraid, for expected 10 see bloody night.
but I was perfectly cool aud free from ex
citemeut as now. The American Consul
cana in during this state or uncertainty, and |
was met by calls Of what is to be done
He made a short specch--ssid he was a.
shamed Of his counirymen-that the delega
ton had peci6ed the natives and made peace
that they threw down their stones, shook |
hands with the delegation, aud began to dis
perse--thst then, in violation Of the faith Of
the meeting that sent them. guns should be
fred at the natives. "Now," said be, 81
daa,I Lxas rhnia lie is aale - hnl Ihnt he |