Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1856-05-14
'AMERICANS NASSA CRED AT
P4NA NIT.

u j. II
Panama massacre, we condense from the
New York Herald:
The steamship Cortez of the Nicaragua
line, sailed from San Francisco on the goth
of March, bound for San Juan del Sur, with
about $50 passengers, which port she enter
ed and dropped anchor April lst. AT day
light, the next morning, she was moving
toward Panama, having in tow large coal
ship, destined to the latter place, where she
arrived the 9Th of April. a.f
b The George Lam, on account of the tar
dness of the Cortez, left Aspinwal before
her arrival, and the passengers 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.
The steamer Philadelphia, from Havana,
arrived at Aspinwall on the 18th of April,
and the Illinois, from New York, arrived on
the 18th, bringing thus to Aspinwall, bound
to California, over 1900 passengers
These passengers with their baggage were
taken across the Isthmus by Railroad on the
day the Illinois arrived
After their arrival at Panama, the passen-
gers were scattered about the Depot, their
baggage lying on the ground about the build
ing, or in the room preparatory to taking
the small steamer, Tobago, which was to
convey them to the John Il. Stephens, then
in readiness to convey them on their journey.
A rowdy, nicknamed "New York Jack"
was stroling through the city, and about
o'clock got into quarrel with native about
the price of Watermelon. Others partici-
pated and the row soon became general
The natives shouted, "Caraho Americans"
and joined the melee by hundreds. The sig
nal for assembling the police of the city was
given; bugles sounded, and shouts of warn
ing were heard in all directions, and in few
moments twenty or thirty soldiers appeared
armed with muskets and fixed bayonets. =
At this stage of the ARRAY, and before many
lives had been taken, the American Consul,
(Ward), Mr.. Center, the agent of the railroad
company, and other gentlemen of influence
interfered, and for moment quoted the mob.
But the uproar soon Recommended. The
police, consisting mostly of black natives of
the country, in full sympathy with the mas
SEES in hatred Of all Europeans and especially
of Americans, commenced firing upon the
the passengers, killing as many as their mis-
cradle ability would permit. The passengers
were entirely unarmed and generally de-
fenceless, and the miscreants shot them down
while endeavoring to escab BE from the melee.
The public houses were entered, one after
the other by the mob, the bars demolished
after seizure of the liquor, which was drank
or destroyed, every trunk or other baggage
was broken open and robbed of every vaua-
bic, and the inmates treated in a savage and
inhuman manner. The depot was at length
reached, in which about 500 persons were
congregated Then commenced scene of
murder and plumber such as has rarely been
witnessed even among nations renowned for
their barbarity. Hundreds of trunks and
packages were broken open, and their con-
tents taken or scattered over the ground
The floor was covered with blood, and the
papers of the railroad company and passen-
gers were scattered about, smeared with
blood Of the victims of the desperate demons.
When the mob entered the depot, the pas
sengers attempted alright toward the wharf,
but after their prosecutors had accomplished
their work of destruction at the depot, they
started in pursuit. On arriving at the head
of the wharf, and within about eighty yards
of the steamer, their progress was by some
means arrested-some say by public order
of the authorities, while Others say it was at
the sight of so many women and children
from whom the desperadoes could not expect
to take any booty. Whatever was the cause,
they did not fire upon the steamer, though
they shot into store ship lying on the north
side of the wharf, wounding one or two and
continued their ravages in other directions.
1t is estimated that the baggage taken and
destroyed including money, was worth
$4,000. or
The number of killed cannot be ascertain
ed with any great certainty, eighteen were
lying dead the next morning in and about
the depot, and many others were missing or
badly wounded. Thirty at least are suppos-
ed to have been killed and twenty wounded
among the latter is the secretary of the
American Consul. The riot lasted until
morning. aE
The mischief was principally done by the vii
lannon's police, under pretence of keeping order:
a large portion of those killed and wounded re-
ceived shots from their muskets. But few Others
of the natives had fire arms. though thew inflicted
most shocking wounds with their sabres or cut
lasses, which nearly all of them ordinarily carry
The rascals who carried mu skets nv authbritvn