Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-11-13
crsa. EsgA. :. CAaSs...

rypasssngers cheaper than the rates
fixed by the American boatmen. II
this is the true version, we think cur
people decidedly in the wrong.
We certainly had no right 10 impose
tsrms on the natives Of that port
especially as they owe no allegiance
10 US and are not within our terrific
". We regret this outbreak. and
fearful that the feeling excited will
not end at once, but will be followed
BY many acts Of violence hereafter.
We clip The following account ol
the difficulty from the NeD York
Times:
From the Esthmus.
1.-The most important feature in the
Isthmus news relates 10 a terrible
ARRAY between the native and for
eign boatman at Chagres, resulting
IN the death Of a number of persons
on either side, some Of them Cali
fornia passengers bound home. On
the l2lh of October, the foreign
boatmen principally Americans) at
tempted, by violence, to prevent the
native Doatmen- from carrying on
their avocation between the shore
and the steamer Falcon, because the
latter carried passengers 10 and from
the shore at less than the rates fixed
upon by the whites. A general fight
was the result, in which one of the
whites was killed.
Quiet however was soon restored
and continued 10 reign until the
arrival at Chagres on the Sth ult.,
of the Oregon's passengers. The
next day, a native boatman who
carried off some passengers to the
Cherokee, was attacked and severely
beaten by some of the others on
the American side. The greatest ex-
-citement ensued among The natives.
One Of the passengers by the Chero-
kee describes the scene which fol-
lowed in letter published in the
Herald, from which we gather the
following statement:
"TEe 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 a
body. Most OF the foreign boatmen
fled to the woods; bnt several shots
were fired by the assailants, 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 boatmen, and that they
would do no harm TO the CaIiforni-
ans, through whom they earned their
livelihood. Shots were fired, how
ever. 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 understood that he took
part with and sustained the foreign
boatmen in their unjust assumptions.
"The next morning all was per-
fectiy quiet on the Spanish side, and |
about eight O'Clock large number
OF native boats had crossed the river,
unsuspicious OF any danger, TO take
off passengers TO the steamer
Several of these were filled with
travellers and their baggage, when
suddenly a murderous fire was
upon them with guns and
revolvers by American boatmen,
assisted by many Of the Californians
before mentioned. and, in few min
utes, several boats emptied of their
occupants, were seen drifting out to
sea. How many were killed or
drowned here il is impossible 10 say.
1t was known tha: others than the
boatmen had participated in the at
tack Just made. and violent feeling
of hostility against all their country
men was very naturally aroused
The streets were again lhronged
with armed men, in redoubled num-
bers, and death 10 all the Americanos
was shouted from every quarter. A
scattered firing upon the other side
wns commenced along the beach,
and the most furious cries OF ven-
geance filled the air. Presently
there was a cry OF AT Castillo =
and hundreds OF them hurried up
the bill 10 The old fort. Powder was
procured, and some of lhe smallest
of the old guns there were mounted
on the wall in a manner TO bear
upon the American town, and firing
was commenced, apparently with
round shot. An hour or SO later,
smother gun opened, also, from the
fort; and not long after, another
embarcadero and commenced firing
across the river. Subsequently,, we
saw two Americans, whom we could |
recoonize as passenpers with ms on