The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-05-07
From the IdspWpdn Courier.
Terrible Massacre at Panama, Z

."SN ""t'SS apa soiFlShclS, "hShNheNo
occurred on the isthmus several times
since the emigration to California COM
menced, transpired at Panama on The
night OF Tuesday, the 10th. The result
was most hoyrible massacre Of innocent
passengers, u great destruction Of passen-
gers baggage, and II devastation ofprop-
erty, both of the Railroad Company and
individual residents near the Panama
Railroad station.
The difficulty originated In dispute
about one dime between an Intoxicated
passenger and native, respecting pay
men: tor a piece of water melon. The
story is, that the rativc being much exaS.
peraied 10y the conduct of the passenger,
drew a knife, on seeing which the passen-
ger fired nj the native and severely wouE.
ded hm. This brought forward another
native, who stabbed the passenger, and
then the com6atan,s increased considera.
by on both sides for some iime-a num-
Der were shot, and more. badly cut with
machetes. s...... .
Through the exert;ons Of Mr.. J. w.
johnson, the Panama Railroad Superin
tendent at the Panama station, the fight
WAS then stayed for short time, But,
anon. it broke out with renewed violence,
and an apparent organization and evident
method, which told fearfully for the ma
livcs. About this time it began to be ev.
ident that spite against the Railroad Com
pany and punder were the chief motives
Of the atrocities and deprcdations which
hau been and were 10 be comimt,ed.-
The first atiray occurred between six and
seven p. M, and but brief intervals Of tol-
erablc quiet occurred between that hour
and midnight. The most terrible assault
was made between 0 and 10 o'clock.
All the officials on the station, with the
exception Of the superintendent, lost eve
rything they had in clothing and valua-
bIes Of every description. The Panama
Railroad counting room Grcluding the
desks of the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany) WAS entirely y ransacked, and every
thing of value carried of; the books aud
papers were cut and torn to pieces, and
one of the safes (Which contained but lit
tie money! Was broken open and piIlaged
While ihc other was pieced 10 the inner
iinngs but nothing taken thereirom.-
Every drawer and desk and closet WAS
ransacked. and acthipg LEFT in its place
or uninjurcd.
The ircigh; house was rid,lIcd with
balls, and all the baggage that had no,
been put in the lighters, to go of to the
steamer, was riled. The officers all left
the station, except Mr.. Ceuler and Mr..
johnson; they were on the premises until
the TansLcking was nearly comp,e;cd.-
MIR. Center had several very narrow Is
cares ; two men were shot 10y his side, and
he avoided the same fate hy coaccaiing
himself among the rai;ers OF the build.
inGs.
Some twenty foreigners were killed,
and between thirty and tnrty badly woun-
ded J.; among the latter were several wa.
man AMI children; among the iormer
were-R. w. Marks, of Pennsylvania, n
four year resident; NJ. dubois, of Louisi
ana, y so an old resident. Both of these
We're respectable and esteemed citizens.
whom we have known long and well.-
Mr.. Stokes, an officer OF the Walker COM
pany that came to Panama on the Cortes
was also among the killed. OF the woun.
ded we have the names Of
Mitchell Bettern, Orleans county, W.,
from Gold Hill, Placer county. Cal, was
found murdered in the woods near the
railroad station. lie had two thousand
dollars on him when murdered. so we
are informed by one of his fellow passen
ger.
An attempt having been made to get
the passengers who were in the vicinity OF
the station on board the little steamer,
the natives formed a guard at the beach,
and stripped men, women, and children.
as they approached, taking the wamen's
rings from their fingers and ears, and their
pms from their cuffs and bosom.
Rev. Jno. Selwood, late rector Of Trini-
t. Church, Crab imville, $. c., was shot
in the region of the stomach, and also in
the head, with musket halls--likewise
had cut in thejhead with some sharp
instrument.
At the police station there were some
dozen Of the "lllinuis" passengers. all oI
whom were wounded, but nope Of them
seriously, except ops-whpse name we
could not ascertain.
All the above we're attended sedulously
and as promptly rs possible, by prs. Otis,
of the illinois" Warren:on, of the Phil.
adelphia," and Riley, Of the "John l.. Ste,
vcns." DR.. kra,owchil and lie Breton,
of Panama, were engaged with wounded
that were taken TO lhem during the even
ing-and they were al tha railroad sta.
ton, dressing wpupds, when we left Pan
anna yesterday morning.
They made here the NEST successful and
lucrative piIlage OF tho night; large
number OF the passengers passed this or
deal. and amoDg thpm were few who had
not several hundred dollars, aud some MS
much as FIVE, six, and seven thouaand dol
lars. Most yielded to the demands Of th,
robbers, without much resistance, and
those who made attempts to escape or re
sist, were Immediately cut down.
Although the number cf dead and
woun led known, is not greater tLap VIZ