Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-05-08
rEnR1F1c AFFRAY AT PANAMA.
THIRTY AMERICANS KILLED.
Robbery by the Natives.

of painful character from Pdnama. Inc
Empire City arrived at Havana on the after
noon of the 24th ins'., from New Orleans,
where she found awaiting her arrival the
steamship Philadelphia, from Aspinwall, and
received on board two hundred and sixty
nine passengers for New York, from San
Francisco, per steamer Cortes, which left
San Francisco on the goth March.
The Philadelphia brings intelligence from
Panama of terrible afray between the
American Transit passengers and the ma
tives, in which some thirty of the former
were killed outright and twenty wounded.
The building adjoining the railroad station
sas entirely pillaged and shattered bv the
native mob and the wounded are fiightfully
disfgured by blows from the machete. The
Empire City brings three or four OF the
wounded, among whom are J. II. Putnam,
of Lowell, Mass: John Turner, of New Jer-
sey; D. Kilarnon, of Arkansas.
The steamship Cortes, from San Fran
cisco, touched at San Juan del Sur April l.,
and left for Panama next day, having in tow
the ship Daylight, and arrived at Panama
9Th; lef: at Aspinwall, April II, mail steamer
Illinois, waiting the arrival of the steamers
Golden Age and Uncle Sam.
We are indebted to a friend for the fol-
lowing:
AWFUL MASSACRE AND PLUMBER
OF AMERICANS AT PANAMA!
To the Editor of the ". Y. Tribune:
SIR: One of the most frigh!ful butcheries
and robberies of Americans took place at
Panama on the night of the 18th of "a pril.
On the afternoon of that day the passengers
per steamer Illinois arrived at the Railroad
Depot at Panama, on their way to the steam
ship j. L. Stephens, but owing to the low
tide they were detained on shore. A portion
of the passengers by the Cortes from San
| Francisco were also stopping at the several
hotels in the vicinity of the depot. There
could not have been less than one thousand
or one thousand two hundred Americans con-
gregated about the railroad terminus. About
sunset difficulty occurred between one of
the Illinois passengers and one OF the ne
groes, which was freely Joined by friends on
both sides, and general row now COM
|
muskets, clubs and rocks were freely used,
and with deadly effect. The Americans
were generally ura-med, having only few
small reyolvers, and, consequently, after a
short struggle, had to yield the ground. The
natives were re-enforced by large numbers.
They now made an attack upon the differ.
ent hotels and drove all the inmates out
many of whom sought safety, as they sup
posed, in the depot building.
About this time the Police God save the
termD was called in rcquisitiou; but insteat
of attempting to restore order. it is positive
ly known that a portion Of them joined the
negroes and made the assault upon the de-
pot. The police and negroes fired upon the
crowd, and drove every man, woman anC
child from the building, who, in their fright
ran in every direction-some to the boats.
and others to the thick brush and woods
where they remained during the night, anC
with the expectation of being mLrdereG
when daylight appeared. A large number
were fortunate enough to geton board Cf tho
small steamer, and were Conveyed to the J
L. Stephens. After the NATIVES had accom-
plished their work of death, and dispersed al
from the ground, they commenced plunder
!, ing the baggage and destroying everything
to be found in the hotels. The passengers
in their sudden flight, left and lost every
thing. AlIer plundering ali TO be found il
the hotels, the black mob attacked the De
pot building, which contained a large amount
of luggage and treasure, all OF which the
rascals obtained. They then commenced ic
tear up the Railroad track, and to pull dowr
the Telegraph poles, and destroyed botl
R~ilroad and Telegraph Offices They werr
aware that the Express gools would bC
brought over from Aspinwail that night, ant
had laid their plans to seize them. They
tore up the track in the vicinity of the de-
pot, in order that the engine might run OFF
| but through the ex9rtiOns Of Mr.. Williams
!, "a conductor on the road) the Express trair
, was stopped by his signals be .ore reaching
the fatal point, and the lives of those or
board and the goods were saved, and thf
train put back to Aspinwall, where it re-
manned at the time the Philadelphia sailed
4 have no m cans of knowing the number
4 killed and wounded. There we're twenty
five Americans found dead Immediately
around the depot in the m 1rning, most o
whom were passengers from the Curtes, bu
this number is probably 1t half that were
murdered. OF the number of natives kille(
but little could be ascertlined; but few, com
paratively, think, were slain.
During the night some scattering Ameri
cans were picked up from time to time BY
the police, and escorted to the gates of the
city, but Z it'll the requisition OF from S. t.
$40 each for so doing, and in several in
stances they were robbed of all money
watches, and other effects found upon thei
persons, and their lives threatened in case
OF resistance.
Soon after the commencement of hoStill-
ties the Governor OF Panama and the Amer
lean Consul were on the ground, but IheiI
exertions to quiet the riot proved Intellectual
1t is reported by some of our passengers thai
the Governor in the first instance tried tc
restore order, but alterward encouraged the
murder and plumber. My slight acquaintance
with Gov. Deas forbds me from giving any
credence to the latter report.
the Spanish portion of the inhabitants oi
Panama were much frighte ened. Every house
and place of business was instantly closed
and barred, and but few ventured out upon
the balconies during the night. The hotels
in the city were closed and guarded unit
morning.
OF the amount of money and other effects
lost by the passengers, | can give but an
imperfect idea. 1t is supposed by many that
not less than 100000 would cover the
amount True it is that large sum is lost
and much more probably than ever will be
asccrtajned.
Below hand you statement which has
been obtained through the eXertions OF l..
o. Goodridge, Esq of Wells, Fargo II Co. :
Express. 1t is principally made up by the