The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-05-02
the MAssACRE AT PANAMA.

Late Agent of the Accessory Transit Go.
THE MASSACRE AT PANAMA.
The Panama Courier of the i7th ulmo furnishes full de-
tails of the terrible Of American citizens which
occurred in that city the 18TH We make the following
extracts
The difficulty originated in dispute about one dime
osvment for Oeea Of Watermelon The story IS tbs he
native being exasperated by the conduct Of the
drew knife seeing which the passenger fired at the
native and severely wounded him. This brought forward
another native who stabbed the passenger and then the
combatants increased considerably both sides for some
tme--a number were shot and more badly cut with
machetes. Through the exertions Of Mr. W. johnson,
the Panama railroad superintendent at the Panama sta
ton the fight then stayed for short time. But anon
ID broke out with renewed violence and an apparent Or
ganzation and evident method which told earfully for
the natives About this time began TO be evident that
epe against the Railroad Company and plumber were the
chief motives of the atrocities and depredatons which had
been and to be committed The first ARRAY occurred
between six and seven aud there but brief inter-
walls Of toerable quiet between that hour and midnight
The most terrible assault was made between nine and ten
o'clock t
All the officials the station with the exception of the
superintendent lost everything they had in clothing and
valuabes of every description. The Psrama railroad
counting-room Including the desks Of the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company was entirely ransacked, and every
thing Of value carried Off the books and papers cut
and torn to pieces and Of the safes (which contained
but little money! broken open and paged while the
other pierced to the inner Innings but nothing taken
thereom Every drawer and desk and closet was ram
sacked and nothing left in Its place uninred The
frsighhouse ridded with balls aud all the baggage
that had not been put in the lighters Off to the steam
red. The officers all left the station, except Mr.
Centre and Mr. Johnson they the premises until
the ransacking was nearly completed Mr.. Centre had
several very narrow two men were shot by his
side and he avoided the same fate by conccang himself
among the ratters Of the buildings
Some twenty foreigners killed. and between thirty
and forty badly wounded Among the latter several
women and children.
or COL TorrEs.
(tal biafs If fho Dana
warded the following protest Governor Fsbrega of
Panama:
EsGlSEERs OFFICE PANAMA RAMRoAD,
Panama, April ls, 1856.
TO his Ercelsncy Governor Of the State Of Panama:
As your excellency well knows on the evening of the
10Th instant an attack was made by an armed mob of
residents Of the city and suburbs of Panama body
transit passengers and on the property OF the Panama
Railroad Company.
The passengers were GAO in number including large
number of women and children who from New York
by the steamship illinois, and had just crossed the sthmus
by tire railroad They waiting at the railroad termi-
nu at Playa Preta for the tide in TO 60 board
Of the for California and in the time they
engaged in registering their tickets receiving their
luggage and taking refreshments Of the neghborng hotels
While in this situation they were attacked by the armed
mob as above stated.
1t matters not present whether the disturbance orgi-
mated with one party or the other ii is sufficient that
disturbance existed and that other falling il be-
came the duty of the authorities when called upon
eri iihhs fllsu! pi tlss J to sgel! it.
officers of the railroad and steamship companies who were
present. requested tho interference of your exceency and
the police.
Yourexcelency and the police appeared upon the ground
but 1t seems that instead Of attempting quiet the mob
the police immediately commenced firing upon tho railroad
depot and the passenger who had Acd TO il for safety
thus taking part with the mob.
Your excesncy must have known that most Of the pas
senees were unarmed and that the depot was filed with
helpless men, women, and children.
hat some OF the passengers attempted to defend them
selves their wives and children and that those who had or
could procure arms hired upon the mob who were firing
upon them, was perfectly natural and right But II an
pears that they merely acted in sedeenoe and that they
were restrained as much ~ possible by the officers of the
rairosd ana steamship companies who having no arms
had not the power to defend themselves or the
under their charge yet II appears from ndisputabe EVIL.
A' your ssoeensy ordered the police 70 Ere upon
the depot that this order obcyed and that by this
outrage many OF the passengers killed and wound.
While the police firing upon the dcpot and mas.
sengers side the mob broke into the epot nm h
other where in cold blood they murdered usnv of the
deenccess passengers while their knees duplicating
The mob then commenced despoilinu IN. demo, % MA.
ever u contained they robbed the freight depord there
sse sales o. the company and the clothes and effects Of tho
ofncers who occupied the building They aso ae.,rayd
wires '' ~ '"' ~egraPn
Afer the mob had taken possession Of the dcpo be no.
,nsy witnessed the piage destruction going on with
making an ehort TO prerent IT, and even II Is said as
srinR hnu snarlng In tie spoils. 5
'ne whole Continuance of the riot the mob vrre
engaged "a ronoig the individual pssseneers without dis
- ,h deprivng them Of such baggage and effects
,b With them and their persons ofsuch vaIuables a
ss ID about them, even taking the rings from the fin
@ ana ears OF females This ALSO was done in the pres
OF your sxcellency and the poce without an effort
beng made by you to prevent IL
was mol present At that disgraceful transaction The
shove statement made from tho evideoc. o r,;ah,, nv
sons who witnessed it, and whose testimony canno,
doubt "'o"' e"ono'
-FOUR excelency well knew the character Of the psop,e
composing that mob. You knew that their design was
robbery and robbery through blood and ron permitted
a. and piaes u dsspceless srau
hha helpless women and chdrea, which woaid have
The most savage oosatry earth and which IL
vas your duty, and in Jour power, % psevsht
Two dnys have passed since thc coumal Of these ont
RACES and have learn whether your srorlencv has
tsen any steps to arrest those vho engaged in them
or purpose any. 1TT Is 80 - go
Wherefore, in the name Of the Panama Railroad (om
p1ny whose agent am, I do hereby solemnly protest
against the oursges committed by the mob ~
18th inst - - s :" 'e
protest against the and piIlage mitted ON
lne persons and effects OF the passenger
protest against the attack and page committed by the
moo and police on the buildings and property Of the Pan
. ma Railroad Company
And protest against the conduct Of your erceleuey Tho
governor OF the State Of Panama ordering the police 10
fire upon the railroad depot and the
therein, in not taking the riot and In
not aording protection TO the lives and effects OF the
passengers and the property OF the Panama Railroad Com
rany
And do hereby give motto to your crcelency tina, ,b
government will be held responsible the murders and
outages committed the evening OF The 18th on the per
sons OF the passengers and for the roeres dasre
committed their effects and the property Of the