Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-08-04
The Destruction Of Greytown.

Hne UeSLrucCl0n OF GreyCOWn.
The following are the particulars. of the
destruction Of Greytown by the U. 5.
Frigate Cyane, noticed by telegraph yes
terday.
Graytown consisted of about eighty
houses nearly all of them built of wood
and by far the greater proportion Of them
constructed in the e. S and taken there
on shipboard. Che of these-Lyon's
Hotcl-cost $4,000. Not more than
one-fourth of the houses in the new part
of the town which has been built since
1850, were occupied, They have hereto
fore been occupied, but were deserted
from business considerations some time
previous to this affair. The population
of Greytwon consisted of about 50O per-
sons altogether; of which number ten or
twelve were from the United States, about
Twenty-Five were Englshman, and twelve
Frenchman and Germans. The remain
der of the population were Jamaica ne
yroes and natives. The American, Eng
iish. French and Dutch were engaged in
hotel keeping and trade.
Tha houses occupied by the natives
and negroes were principally frame build
lN0S. W TN EUOIS III LIldiCIicu ptlilASaA'
When the Cyane appeared before
Grevtown and demanded satisfaction to
the amount of $4,000, threatening bonn
bardment if not complied with at aglven
hour, it was not believed b. the inaabi-
tants that the town was to be demolish-
ed, pillaged and burned. They expected
that few shots would be fired into the
town that a few houses would be pefora-
ted, and then hostilities would cease.
Most Of the English. however, went for
protection on the British war schooner
Bermudas, Capt. Jolly, laying in the Ear-
Dor. Mr.. Fabens, L. S. Agent, together
with six or seven of the Americans,
sought protection under the flag of the
Uniten States on board the Cyanc, and
the remainder Of the inhabitants of Grey
town, including all Of the French and ma
tiyes. together with a few English and
Americans, 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 the
town by bomb shells and torches they
took but little of their effects with them,
MI the property left was destroyed
Consequently the hOusclcsS inhabitants
were III great suffering for the want of
food. and of clothing and protection from
the weather They had stretched up
sheets for tents, anu many were obliged
to sleep in the open air, without the least
shelter. and were half famishod for the
want of food A brig lalcn with proyi-
sions, which had just arrived as the bonn
bardment commenced, has probably sup
piled them.
The terms of Capt. IIollins not being
complied with he opened his fire prompt
ly at the appointed time. nearly every
shot doing execution. He fired about
two hundred shots but not burning up
the town rs he desired, he sent ashore Il
launch with a lieutenant and about TWEEN
ty-tive men who proceeded 10 set Oh fire
all that rcmaied of Grey ton. The amount
Ofproperty destroyed by this lombard
1nent is stated to be half million Of dol
lars.
The day before the bomhardment 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 agent Of the
Transit Company. During the lombard
ment two shots were airncd at the flag
staff from which tloatcd the Musqmito flag
The first ball severed the halyards, and
down came the flag to halfmaSt, and the
second ball cut the staff half off from
which it was Suspended.
While Cyane was canronading. note
was received by Capt. Hoilins from the
Captain cfthe British Schooner Bermuda
stating that he regretted that he had not
\ British vessel of war there of the size
of the Cayenne he would compel him t.
desist. Capt. 1ollns, in reply T. the
note. regretted that Capt. Jolly had MOI
t1bo lust such. as he believed the United
States could get possession of them OF
the same terms as they got the Cyane
There was a good deal of anxious looking
for the British mail steamer Dee ther
hourly expected. and remarks were made
that when she arrived hostillticS wOult
be Immediately suspended. just as the
town was to lie fired the expected mai
steamdr arrived, but much to the sur
prise ofall the EngllShmcn, the work Of
pilaging and setting fire 10 the town
went forward. When it was all over, the
British mail steamer left for some other
port, having the Bermudas in tow.