Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-28
The AMIR at Greytown-Additional par
ticuIarg.

The AMIR at Observation-Disclosures par
ticulars.
From private letters, and conversations with
passengers by the Prometheus, the New York
papers have obtained some further particulars
of importance concerning the affair at Grey
town:
"Greytown consisted Of about eighty houses,
nearly all built of wood, and by far the greater
proportion of them constructed in the United
States and taken there on shipboard. One of
these-Lyan's hotel-cost fifteen thousand dol
lars. Not more than one-fourth of the houses
in the new part of the town, which has been
built since 1850, we're occupied. They have
heretofore been occupied, but were deserted
from business considerations some time preyi-
GUS to this affair. The population of Greytown
consisted of about five hundred persons alto
gether; of which number ten or twelve were
from the United States, about twenty-five were
Englishmen, and twelve Frenchmen and Ger
mans. The remainder of the population were
Jamaica negroes and natives.
When the Cyane appeared before Greytown
and demanded satisfaction to the amount of
$24, 900, threatening bombardment if not COM
piled with at given hour, it was not believed
by the inhabitants that the town was to be de-
English went for protection on board of the
British war schooner Bermudas, Capt. jolly.
lying in the harbor. Mr.. Fabens, u. s. agent,
together with six or seven of the Americans
sought protection under the flag of the United
State on board ofthe Cyane, and the remainder
of the inhabitants of Greytown, including all
of the French and natives, together with few
English and Americans, left the place during
| the night and morning preceding its destruc
ton. They all encamped together on the
shore in the woods about mile distant. Not
anticipating the entire demolition Of the town
by bomb-shells and torches, they took but little
Of their effects with them. All the property
left was destroyed. Consequently the house
less inhabitants were in great suffering for 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 provisions, which had just arrived as the
bombardment commenced has probably sup.
piled them.
Captain Hollins fired about two hundred
shots, but not burning up the town as he de-
sired he sent ashore launch with lieuten
ant and about twenty-five men, who proceeded
to set on fire all that remained of Greytown.
While doing so they are said to have inspected
the interior of the buildings rather closely, and
pillaged as much as they pleased. Before fin.
ishing this work they were pretty thoroughly
intoxicated with wines and liquors. and were
constantly cheering. The amount of property
destroyed by this bombardment is stated to be
half million of dollars.
The day before the bombardment Captain
Holl Of he IoIxr
for the protection of the town, and took them
to Punta Arenas, and placed them in the keep.
ing of the agent of the Transit Company. Du-
ring the bombardment two shots were aimed
at the flag staff from which foated the Mos
quito flag. The first ball severed the halyards,
and down came the flag to half-mast, and the
second ball cut the staff half off from which it
was suspended.
While the Cyane was cannonading, note
was received by Captain Hollins from the
captain of the British schooner Bermuda, stat
ing that he regretted that he had not British
vessel of war there of the size of the Cyane-
he would compel him to desist. Captain Hol-
Inns, in reply to the note, regretted that Captain
Jolly had not two Just such, as he believed
that the United States could get possession of
them on the same terms as they got the Cyane.
There was good deal of anxious looking for
the British mail steamer Dee, then hourly ex-
pected, and remarks were made that when she
arrived, hostilities would Immediately be sus-
pended. Just as the town was to be fired, the
expected mail steamer arrived but much to
the surprise of all of the Englishman, the
work of pillaging and setting fire to the town
went forward. When it was all over, the
British mail steamer left for some other port
having the Bermuda in tow.
The burning and pillaging party were on
shore nearly half the day, and passed the time
in great glee. Many of them we're SO much
intoxicated, that it was not an easy matter to
get them on board again.
A number of residents of Greytown came to
New York on board of the Prometheus, being
provided with free passages by the agent.
Two persons were said 10 be missing, and
there were apprehensions that they had been
burned in the conhagration.