The southern press., 1851-11-07
p.ep arafe Flrnt q thafres.

| OF which has a r~ady been received by telegraph
On our arrival at Panama, in the Oregon, OF
the 9th of Ostober, we learned that a few day,
before, a difficulty had occurred at Chagres
between the native and foreign boatmen, (mos
OF whom were Americans,) in which severa
We're wounded on both sides. This had ariseI
out OF an arrogant attempt on the part Of tn,
foreign boatmen 10 prevent the natives from
Carrying passengers to and from the steamers il
the harbor. because they sometimes transported
them ut less price than the tariff fixed by the
foreign boat club. All appeared to be quiet
again, however, on our arrival ut Chapres, on
the evening OF the 2lst and US the American
side OF the river was greatly crowded with pas.
sengers. our party, consisting Of some fourteen
or fifteen gentle?en and ladies', took lodging on
the other side, at hotel kept by a native Of the
country, while waiting for the mails and treasure
to arrive for the Cherokee. The next day, a
little after twelve o'clock, a native boatman was
attacked and severely beaten off by some of the
others on the American side, and Immediately on
learning it, the greatest excitement prevailed on
our side Of the river. The whole population OF
natives, Carthagenians and Jamaica negroes,
turned out, armed with guns, sabres, and almost
every description of weapons, and crossed the
river in body. Most OF the forei IN boatmen
fled to the woods but several shots were fred
by the assaiants, and, as nearly as we could
learn, three of the foreigners were wounded
No violence was offered to passengers, the
natives and negroes constantly declaring that
their quarrel was only with the b0atmen, and
that they would do no harm to the Californians,
through whom they earned their livelihood.
Shots were fired, however, at the office of the
American consul, Mr.. Gleason, against whom
they were greatly exasperated, as he is the
owner of several boats himself, and it was un-
derstood that he took part and sustained the
foreign boatmen in their unjust assumptions.
No resistance being offered them, they re-crossed
the rlyeI; and, after several speeches were made
in Spanish and English, the general tenor of
which was to recommend good order, and care
not to confound the passengers with the boat
men, all again became quiet on that side. Dur
ing the night, however, it seems that meeting
was held by the boatmen on the American side,
at which number of passengers we're present,
and il was resolved that if any native boats
crossed the river in the morning to take off pas
sengers to the Cherokee, (the mails and treasure
having arrived,) they should be fired into This
uncalled for and imprudent interference by pa
sengers in quarrel which they had no business
to intermedde with, against the party which
thus far undoubtedly had the right on their side,
and in opposition really to their own interests,
was the subsequent cause of the loss Of many
lives, and of converting the good feeling enter
tanned by the natives towards the Caifornians,
into deadly animosity against all Americans
no matter whom.
The next morning all was perfectly quiet on
the Spanish side, and about eight o'clock
large number of native boats had crossed the
river, unsuspicous of any danger, to take off
passengers to the steamer. Several Of these
were filled with travellers and their baggage,
when suddenly, regardless of the safety of
these last, a murderous fire was opened upon
them, with guns and revolvers, by the American
boatmen, assisted by many of the Californians
before mentioned, and in few minutes, several
boats, emptied of their occupants, were seen
drifting out at sea. How many were killed or
drowned it is impossible to say. Those of the
patives who escaped the fire, which was contin-
ued so long as a boat belonging to them was
within reach, padded back to their own side of
the river, where the most fearful excitement
now prevailed. 1t was known that Others than
the boatmen had participated in the attack Just
made, and violent feeling of hostility against
all their countrymen was very naturally aroused
The streets were again thronged with armed
men, in redoubled numbers, and death TO all
the Americans was shouted from every quarter
menced along the beach, and the most furious
cries of vengeance filled the air. The doors and.
shutters Of our hotel were closed and fas ened,
our immediate party being all fortunately within
at this time, and all retired to large room on the
second floor, which having windows opening on
street both in front and rear, and but a single
narrow stairway, was judged most defensble
The windows were barricaded with our trunks
and mattresses, and as in the whole party there
were only five or six pistols, and no other arms
the legs of the cot bedsteads, and such other
articles as would serve for clubs, were mustered
into service for that purpose.
Meantime, through the Venetian blinds which
covered our windows, we could see the boats
loaded with passengers Fastening off to the
steamer from the other side, and hear the con.
sultations Of the crowds who filled the streets
on each side of us. Presently there was cry
of Al caaillo!" and hundreds of them hurried
up the hill to the old fort Powder was pro.
cured, and some one Of the smaller of the old
guns there was mounted on the wall in man.
ner to bear upon the American town, and firing
was commenced, apparently with round shot
An hour or go later, another gun opened, also !,
from the fort; and not long another sill was
dragged down to the embarcddero, and com
menced firing across the river Our landlord, a
fine young fellow, who appeared TO be much
respected in the town, and who, evidently for the
sake of preserving his influence with his coun
trymen, had armed himself and was out with
them, looked in upon us from time to time, and
entreated us to avoid attracting observation more
than could possibly be helped. as, he said, it re-
quired all, and perhaps more than all, the inHu
ence he could exert to prevent them from attack
ing his house. This we knew to be the fact,
from the repeated propositions we heard from
the streets to commence an assault upon us
and the probability Of such an occurrence grew
stronger and stronger as the day grew older,
from the fact that TO the feeling of vengeance
which seemed to animate nearly all, was now
added the excitement of intoxication. About
this time, we saw two Americans, whom we
could recognise as passengers with us on board
the Oregon, surrounded by crowd of natives.
who were cutting at them with sabres in the
most savage manner, while two or three, among
whom was the brother Of our landlord, were
endeayoring TO shield them. They
were finally thrust into house, and the door
closed. One of them we afterwards saw at the
office of the British mail company's agent, dread
fully cut to pieces, but stl living. The other,
nothing could be heard Of at the time. we got