The New York herald., 1851-11-02
EXCITINGN FROMTHE ISTHMgS,
N0~>00NN-y~N~~~,N~~~~0y~N~~
Fight between the Foreign and Native B9atmen.
at Chagres
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.
Charges against the American Consul,
60, &C., So.
Our Isthmus CORES pondenoe


CsAasrs, Oct. 81, 1851
As you will probably receive many aecou nes more sc
less exaggerated Il the late unhappy outbresx Cayrs
the w1i'er Of those who unfortunately ths
Spanish side CT the river during the worst period Of the
excitement undertakes to give recital OF that
which occurred Immediately under the eyes OF hisS
and the few friends who with him.
On arrival at Panama IN the Oregon on the I3ss
Of October weiearned that few days before dheuity
bad occurred at Chases between TIA native f,seta
bcatmen, (most Ct whom were AmeIieans) in vaioa
several were wounded both sides This hal arisea
out of arrogant attempt the part OF tas fesgu
boamen TO prevent the patiyte from carrying pas,ru
gers to and from the steamers In the hasbos bscsus
thel sometimes transported them AZ lees price than ta
tsrff txed by the foreign boat club Al appeared 70 ~
quiet again. however on arrival az Chayrss th
evening Of the 2lsti and the American side OF tn
consisting OF some fourteen fifteen xentleman Aal
four ladss took lodgings on the other side a. hotI
srpt by native of the country while waiting for the
nails and treasure 20 arrive FOR the Cherokee n,
next day, little after twelve O'Clock, native boat
man vas attacked and feyer-iy beaten By soms
Of the others the American side and i'm sdias1 On
hsrning H. the greatest excitement prevailed on our is
the iver Ihe whole population Of natives Carthage
mans and Jamaica negroes turned out armed With guns
sabres ana almost every description OF wpapons AMI
crossed the river In body Most OF the foreign boat
men o. to the woods, but several shot. dred by
the atlantis and nearly could Learn three 4
the were wounded No violence odersd -
that their qusrel only With the boe,men aud tnsf
they yNoud do no harn TO the Calfornians through
whom they earned their livelihood Shots v.rs dr-i
however at the Office OF American Ccnsu Mr. G,asoa
sgaint whom they were greatly exspstated az he ths
owner Of several boats himself and uui-rstooi
that he took part with and sustained the foreign boat
men in tAer unjust sssumpsions No resistance bsax
offered Their they recrossed the river; ans, Aztec
vrrAl speeches we're made in Spanish ana Erglisa tas
central Of which recommend good erisr aal
not to eonfound the passengers With boa,men
however 1t that meeting was held By the boat
men on the American side, at which number o. passsa
gers re prefent and resolved that any natvs
boats the river in The morning 20 taks OIL paa
sengers to the Cherokee (the mas aud TIRE havax
arrivsa) they shouid be fred into This uHealsd
and mprudept Interference BY passepysre In quarrel
which they had business inter With against
the patty which thus far undoubtedly had the right
vas the subsequent of the Oss many lives saI
Of converting the good frelirs By hs natives
towards ne csiiornians into dradJ srim'si'y Asass
The neat morning all was perfectly qgis on ss Spa.
nish side ard at about eight O'Clock rcs number %
native boats had crossed the river unupcous Of AaY
danger 20 take on passepgerst TO the steamer Several
thete filled with travellers and their baggage vhsa
suddenly, regardless Of the safety of thsss last nur
derous Ore vas opened upon them With guns sat
yoivsrs ~ the American bosmes assisted By many q
the Csifornans before mentioned and In fv mtnuts-
several beats empted OF their occupants, se-a
drning out to sea How many were killed or irOvn.a
escsred the FIRE, which continued 90 long A. es.s
belonging to them vS within reach, psddisd back 70
element now prevailed II known that Others thAs
the bostmen bad participated in the attack Just msi.
and violent feeling od h..'iity sssD;, :. their eous
again thronsed with armed men, in redoublei numbers
and death 10 all the fle shouted from every
con need along the beach and the mos, farious
cries of vengeance allied the air The doors ssi
shutters Of our hotel closed aud listened cur
immediate party being all fortunately vi.hin a.
this time, ard all retired 10 q large room on the
second floor which having windows opening oa street
both in from. and rear sno but sir Gle nsrrov starvsy
was judged most defensible. The Windows we're barr
csded with our trunks and mattresses and IS IN tbs
q rfv cufw Grao a " A n M
other the legs Of the cot beesds aud such othsr
articles as would serve for clubs we're mustered ato ser
vice for that purpose Meantime through the veast!ss
blinds shch covered windows could tbs b,sts
loaded with passengers fastening Oh 70 the steamer.
crowds Who filed the each side OF us Pre-
seutly there cry Of ~ eatHo' and hunfrs %
them hurried up the hill to the old fort Po~er va
procured and Of the smsller Of the ola guns
there mounted the wall In q to bear UPON
the Americas town nd firing commenced sprarsntv
with round shot. An hour or so later another r,i,
opened al from the fort aud long after a,otasc
stl VI. dressed down to the ,ba.aieo ard commenced
low, wis appeared 70 ce much respected In iowa
and who evidently for the ssse preserving bic inna-
cut with thsm looked In upon us from time 70 time ssd
entrested us to svoii attracting observation mors
thsn could possibly BE- helped "a. he sail. Il r.
CURED all, ard perhaps more than ali the Ioausass
be could exert TO prevent them from sttsc King his
house This We knew TO be the fs,t from the rspsst-
ed proportions we heard from the streets 70
an assault upon us and the probability Of such cccar
renee grew stronger and stronger the dag grew older
from the fact that 70 the feeling Of veneesncs which
seemed TO animate nearly all nov aided me excte
ment ofintcxcation About this time We ss~ tro sms
rcass whom could recognise passengers vth us ~
board the Oregon surrounded BY crowd OF nsttv-f
who cutting at them With ssores 70 tns most "a
vsge manner while two three. smors whom vss Ia,
brother landlord we're apparently endeavoringt,
shield them They finally thrust in'o ncuss snt
the door closed one Of them Afterwards ssv Al tss
ffcs tf the Brish Mail Companys Agent dresdfn.lr
cut 10 pieces bu. stl living The othsr nothing cout
he besrd Of At the time got svsy Esd from the nstnrs
cf the wounds ne must have recsvet there be tt.
doubt of his death shortly sfter ths great crost
gathered around hos fee rots s5ovs that 10 which
We we're shut up AMI from ths shouts ~ c,nf isssn
that they ia pursuit u so Ansricso, vbs v~ -