Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-05-09
From the Boston Journal.
The Massacre at Panama.

1t U4dSSdC4C ab es1esAAes'
The details Of the bloody massacre of
American passengers at Panama on the
night of the 18th ult., have come to hand.
One Of the Cortes' passengers furnishes
to the New York Express full state
ment of the terrible affair. 1t appears
that the passengers of the Cortes, from
San Francisco, were detained at the 18th
mus in consequence of that vessel, upon
arrival at San Juan, taking a large coal
ship and towing her from thence to Pan
anna. The George Law, on account of
the hardness of the Cortes, left Aspin-
wall before her arrival, and the passen-
gers, with their Nicaragua tickets, were
compelled to remain at Panama until
some steamer might be ready to sail
from Aspinwall for the North American
ports. On the 18th and 18th insts., re-
spectively, the steamers Philadelphia and
| Illinois arrived at Aspinwal, bringing
together over 1000 passengers, bound TO
| California. They were alltaken to Pan
anna by railroad, on the afternoon of the
18th. and we're stationed around the de-
pot, preparatory to embarkation on the
John L. Stevens-their baggage lying on
the ground about the depot and in the
store room of the building. A portion
of the baggage was removed to the
steamboat wharf, where lay small
steamer and lighter, for the purpose Of
taking off the passengers and their bag.
gage; but the tide was out, and both
were aground, SO that they could not
move from the wharf The account
says -
CAT 6 o'clock, or near that time, 6
drunken man from New Orleans, who
had arrived at Aspinwall by the Philadel
phia, called " New York jack and who
had been some time strolling around the
suburbs of the city, insulting all he met
stopped at fruit stand few rods south
of the depot, and near where an iron
boat was on the stock, being built for the
mail company, and Immediately got into
a quarrel about water melon with tht
native who sold fruit. A pistol wa!
drawn by the rowdy, and the native -four
Iished his knife in defence, and the friend
of the drunken man were soon pitte,
!, against a crowd of natives.
In a moment a general row was ava
Ikened, and knives and pistols were -four
ished without restraint.
As soon as the fight became rathe
general among those who happened to b
near, the hombres shouted Carah
americana" and hundreds of the demon
rushed into the conflict.
, The signal for assembling the police {
the city was coon given; bugles Sounds
and shouts Of warning were heard in q
directions, and in a few moments twent
or thirty soldiers appeared, armed wi
: muskets and fixed bayonets.
At this stage of the fray, and befor
many lives had been taken, the Amer
lean Consul, (Ward,) Mr.. Center, Il
agent of the railroad company, and oth'
gentlemen of influence interfered, ar
fer moment quoted the mob; but son
base spirits, who seemed to have little +
gard for life or the safety and welfare
others, could not restrain their evil pa
sions, rushed ont again, dizcharging T
volvers, and rousing again the vengean
= Of the natives.
= The Police, consisting mostly Of bla
ID natives Of the country, in full sympatl
Ut with the masses and hatred of all Eur
peans, and especially Americans, col
Is meuced firing on the passengers, kill
y as many as their miserable ability wor
IL allow.
The passengers were generally I
- armed and entirely defenceless, and t
u miscreants shot them down while endea
!" oring to escape from the melee.
" 4 few rods south Of the iron DO
Il where the riot commenced, stands t
" . Pacific House a quasi hotel, whe
were eongregated large number Of D;
= sengers. The Police and d despers
band Of natives, rushed towards it. a
? the efforts Of those inside to prevt
their ingress being Intellectual, they bro
in, cutting and shooting at everythi
that opposed them
= The bar, that was well stored W
liquors, was soon demolished. after drir
ing and securing what they desired; Ii
then made their way up stairs and bro
o. and robbed every trunk, bag and oil
in things supposed to contain clothing
%. money. The inside Of the house v
. completely destroyed
lat The Ocean House, little nearer
lat depot, and a much larger building, v
~ crowded with men, women and childr