The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-08-04
Destruction of CreytOWn.

The following are the particulars OF the de-
sttuction OF 5reytown, b. the United States
irirate Cuane:
Greytown consisted of about eighty houses,
nearly all Of them built OF wood, and 10y far
the greater portion OF them constructed in the
United States and taken there on Shipb0ard.
One Of -hosc-iyon's Hotcl-cost $l5,U0V.-
Not more than onc-iOurth OF the houses in the
new part OF the town, which has been built
since 1910, were occupied. They have here
to.ore been occGpiud, but were deserted IRON
business considerations some time previous to
this affair. The population Of GreytoWn con
sisted Of about SEQ persons altogether; o.
which number ten or twelve were from the
United States. about twenty i've were English
men, and twelve FrcAcLmen and Germdns.-
The remainder Of The population were Jainal-
ca negroes and natives. The Americans, Eng
lsh French and Uutch were engaged III hotel
keegilg AMI trading.
The houses occupied by the natives and ne
groe5 were principally frame buildings, with
roots Of matched panlleaf.
When the CgQac appeared before GrCytCwn
and demanded satisfaction to the amount OF
$4,000, threatening bombardment if not COM
pied with at given hour, it was not believed
By the inhabitants that the town was to be de-
m)Ilshcd, pillagvd and burned. They expected
that a few Shots would be fired into the town.
that few houses would be perforated, and
ten hostilities would cease. Most Of the Eng
llsh however, went for protection on board OF
the British war schooner Bofn,eaGs. Captain
jolly, lying in the harbor. Mr.. Fabens, L.
5. Agent, together with six or seven of the
Americans, sought protection under the fla
OF the United States, on board OF the Cgr5,e.
and the remainder OF the inhabitants of Grey
town, including all the French and natives, TO-
gether with Il few English and Ame.icans, leit
the place during tAc night and morning prcce-
ding lis obstruction. They all encamped to-
rethcr on the shore, in the woods, and about
nile dit ut
Not anticipating the entire demolition Of the
town BY bu,lOSAei!s and torches, they took but
little OF their ELECTS with them. All the prop
erty left WIS destroyed. Consequently the
h0uSc-css inhabitants were in great suffering
Tor the wait OF food, and OF clothing and pro-
lection from the weather. They had stretched
~ sheets Tor tents, and many were obliged t"
sep IN the open air, without the least sAcI-
ter, and were half tamished for the want oil
food. A brig laden with provisions, which
had just arrived as the bombarlmcnt COM
menccd, has probably supplied them.
The terms OF Capt. iIollnS not being com
Piled with, he opened his fire promptly at the
appointed time, nearly every shot doing eXecu-
ton. lie Hired about two hundred shots, bu,
not burning up the town as lie desired. ha sent
ashore launch with lieutenant and about
twenty-five men, who proceeded to set On fire
all that remained Of Grcytown. The amount
OF property destroyed by this bombardnent
Is stated to be hall million of dollars
The day before the bombardment Capt
Hoilns took possession Of The guns which were
Tor the protection OF the town. and took them
to Punta Arenas and placed them in the keep
ing Of the AGENT Of tie Transit Company
During the bon5arllmeat two shots were aim
cd at the flagstaff from which noatcd the Mos
quito NaG. The first ball severed the hal
yards, and down came the FLAG to halfmast
and the second ball cut the staff half off, from
which 1t was suspended.
VI ale the CETnc was cannonading, q note
was received BY Capt. Holns from the Can
t,in Of the British schooner Eern,udaS. stating
that he regretted that he had not British
vessel OF war there Of the size Of the C,rne. he
would then compel him to desist. Capt Uol-
IlnS, IN reply to The note, regretted that CAPT
Jolly mad not t3ro just such, as he believed the
United States could get possession of them on
Tie same terms as they got the Cymne. There
was good dad of anxious looking for the
British mail steamer eDcc, then hourly expect
el, and remarks were made that when she ar
rived hostilities would be immediately suspend
cd. just as the town was TO be fired the ry-
pected mail steamer arrived, bat much to the
sarprise OF all the Englsllren, the work of nil
laying and setting fire to the town went for
ward. When it was all over, the British mail
steamer left for some other port, with tie Der
asuIas in tow.