Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-11-08
THE LATE RIOT AT CHAGRES.

THE LATE RIOT AT CHAGRES.
gentleman who the Spanish side of the river
during the disturbance Chsges furnishes The New
York Herald with Of it, from which we mske the
annexed extracts The letter dated Chages on the
23l utimo
Son arrival at Panama, in the Oregon, the 18th
Of October learned that few days before difficulty had
Chagres between the native and foreign boamen
most Of whom Americsns) in which several were
wounded both sides. This had arisen Of attempt
the part Of the foreign boatmen to prevent the natives from
carrying passengers to ard from the steamers in the harbor,
because they sometimes transported them less price than
the tariff fixed by the foreign boat club All appeared to be
quiet again, however. arrival at Chagres the
ing of the 2lst and the American side of the
greatly crowded with passengers, party, consisting of
fourteen fifteen gentlemen and four ladies' took odg
ings the other sde at hotel kept by native Of The
ty while waiting for the mails and treasure to arrive for the
Cherokee.
The next day. little after Twelve o'clock, native boat
attacked and severely beaten by the Others
the American side, and Immediately learning it the
greatest exciisment prevailed side the river The
whole population Of natives Cshagenians and Jamaica
description Of weapons and body Most
of the foreign boamen d to the woods but several shots
fred by the assasnis, and nearly could learn
three Of the foreigner: were woun:d No violence was Of
ered to passenger the natives and negroes constantly de-
caring that their quarrel only with the boamep and
that they would do harm TO the Cafonians, through
whom they earned their livelihood Shots fired, how
ever, at the Office Of the American Consul Mr.. GLEASON,
against whom they were greatly exaperated No resistance
being offered them they recrosssd the river and after
raj speeches made In Spanish and English the general
tenor Of which recommend good order and
conound the passengers with the boatmen, all again became
quiet on that side
sDurng the night, however, it seems that meeting
held by the boatmen the American side, which
Der Of passengers present. and 1t was resolved that
any naive boats crossed The river the morning take off
passengers to the Cherokee (he mails and treasure having
arived) they should be fred into This uncalledor and inn
prudent interference by passengers in quarrel which they
had business ntermedde with, against the party which
thus far undoubtedly bad the right on their side and in op-
position really to their interests the subsequent
Of the loss Of many lives and Of converting the good
feeling entertained by the natives towards the Caurnans
into deadly animosity against all Americans, no matter
whom.
sThe next morning all was perfectly quiet the Spanish
sde and about eight o'clock large number Of native boats
had crossed the river unsupcous of any DANGER to take off
passengers the steamer Several of these filled with
travellers and their baggage, when suddenly, regardless Of
the safety Of these last murderour fire was opened upon
them, with guns and revolve BY the American boatmen,
assisted by many Of the Caonans before mentioned and
few minutes, several boats, emptied of their Occupan
drifting out to How many killed or
drowned here impossible to say. Those OF the natives
who escaped the fire. which continued long boat
belonging them was within reach padded back to their
side the river where the fearful excitement
prevailed It known that others than the boatmen had
participated in the attack just made and violent cling Of
hostility against all their counymen very naturally
aroused The streets again throngd with armed men,
in redoubel numbers, and death to all the Anercaos
shouted every quarter scattered firing upon tho other
aide commenced along h Loach. and tho furious
Of vengeance filled the air. The doors and shutters Of
our hotel closed and fastened immediate party be-
ing all fortunately within this time, and a retired
large the second Aoor Through the Venetian blinds
which windows could the boats loaded
with passengers hastening OF the from the ether
sde and hear the consultations of the crowds who filled the
each side Of Presently there cry Of Al
castillo and hundreds Of them hurried up the bill to the
old fort Powder procured, and some of the smaller
of the old guns there mounted the wall in
to bear upon the American town. and firing commenced,
apparently with round shot, An hour later another
gun opened also from the fort and not long after another still
dragged down to the embarcadero, and commenced
firing across the river"
The writer then mentions two Or three murderous attacks
which he witnessed in the street, several whom
he recognised bis passengers the Oregon
does not appear however, that any Of them were killed,
though one of them very dangerously wounded No
given He next the OF himself and
party in boat belonging English steamer which also
took Of the about S2 O0O) intended for the
Cherokee This he states the agents bad got out OF the
launches in which il down the river, into the English
specie vault in which they with the boats under their
CHARGE compelled to lock themselves for safety during
the Of the excitement They that from the loop
holes in the vault they six Of the natives shot
the cannon, by rifles from the American de How many
killed in all it difficult say-probaby about twelve
fifteen natives exclusive Of those drowned if any were
and two Americans that know of and five six others
that heard Of the Spanish side Of the number kill
cd the American side by the The writer has
no judging Probably not much damage was done,
the town appeared to be deserted when the he opened
/ from the fort"