Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-08-03
The Burning of San Juan-Further Particu-
lars

Greytown consisted of about eighty houses,
nearly all of them built of wood, and by far
the greater proportion of them constructed in
the United States and taken there on ship
| board One of these-Lyon's Hotel-cost
! S15, 600. Not more than one fourth of the
houses in the new part of the town, which has
been built sence 1850, were occupied. They
have heretofore been occupied, but were de-
serted from business considerations some time
previous to this affair. The population of
Greytown consisted of about 500 persons al
together: of which number ten or twelve were
from the United States, about twenty-five
were Englishmen, and twelve Frenchmen and
Germans. The remainder of the population
were Jamaica negroes and natives. The A
mericans English, French and Dutch were
engaged IN hotcI-keeping and trade.
The houses occupied by the natives and ne
groes were principally frame buildings, with
roofs of thatched palm leaf.
When the Cyane appeared before Grey
| town and demanded satisfaction to the amount
of S24 900, threatening bombardment if not
| complied with at n given hour, it was not be-
lieved by the inhabitants that the town was to be
! demolished, pillaged and burned. They ex-
| pected that few shots would be fred into the
| town, that few houses would be perforated,
and then hostilities would cease. Most of the
| English, however, went for protection on
| board of the British war schooner Bermuda,
| Capt Jolly lying In the harbor. Mr.. Fa-
pens U. s. Agent, together with six or sew
| en- of the Americans, sought protection under
the flag of the United States on board of the
Cyane, and the remainder of the inhabitants
of Greytown, including all of the French and
natives, together with a few English and A
mericans, left the place during the night and
morning preceding its destruction They all
encamped together on the shore in the woods
about mile distant. Not anticipating the
entire demolition of tae town by bomb-shells
and torches, they took but little of their effects
with them. All the property left was des-
troyed Consequently the houseess inhabi-
tants were in greet suffering from the want
of food, and of clothing and protection from
| the weather when our informants left. They
had stretched up sheets for tents, and many
were obliged to sleep in the open air, without
| the least shelter, and were half famished for
the want of food. \ brig laden with pre-
visions which had just arrived as the bonn
bardment commenced has probably supplied
them
The terms of Capt Hollins not being
complied with, he opened his fire promptly at
the appointed time-nearly every shot doing
! =.
but not burning up the town as he desired,
he sent ashore launch with a lieutenant and
| about twenty-five men, who proceeded to set
on fire all remained of Greytown While do
| ing so, they are said to have inspected the in
terror of the buildings rather closely, and pill
| laged as much as they pleased. Before fin
ishing this work, they were pretty thoroughly
| intoxicated with wines and liquors, and were
constantly cheering. The property destroyed
by this bombardment is stated to be half q
million of dollars.
The day before the bombardment, Capt
Hollins took possession of the guns which
were for the protection of the town, and took
them TO Punta Arenas and placed them in the
keeping of the Transit Company. During
the bombardment two shots were aimed at
the flagstaff from which foated the Musquito
| flag. The first ball severed the halyards, and
down came the flag to half mast, and the sec
ond ball cut the staff half off, from which il
! wA suspended.
! While the Cyane was cannonading, note
! was received 5y Captain Hollins from the
| Captain of the British schooner Bermuda,
stating that he regretted that he had not a
! British vessel of war there of the size of the
| Cyane-he would compel him 10 desist-
! Captain Hollins. in reply to the note, regret
/ led that Captain Jolly had not two such.
as he believed that the United States could get
| possession Of them on the same terms as they