The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-01

Express Company Tor fAvors and Tor hles Of CAtorna
papers. n
THE PANAMA MASSACRE.
Protest OF Colonel Tolten, Chief Engineer Of
the Panama RailrOad Company, Against
tho Proceedings or the People, the Police
and tine Governor of Pannma-COrrespOn-
0encc Between Col. TOCtcn and the cover.
The following protest. made by Col. G. N. Tottsn,
Chief Engineer Of the Panama Railroad yesterday
Forwarded to his Excellency, Don Francisco FabrsgA
Governor OF the StAts:-
EsGINEgR's OFFICE PANAMA RAILROAD,
u et PANAMA, April 18, 1855.
TO Hs ExcEKNIY GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF PANAMA
Al your Excsenoy we'll knows, the evening Of the
dents Of TIE city and suburbs Of Panama, body OF
transit passengers, and tho property Of the Panama
The pssseueers were 040 in number including large
number OF women and children, who came from New
York BY the steamship Illinois, and had just crossed the
They were voting at the railroad terminus at Playa
Prieta for the ttce to in, to 60 board OF the
steamer for O. iforria and in The meantis they were
engaged In registering their tlckes receiving their lug
gage and taking rstreshmsnts at the neghborng hotels
and eatiIg houses h sef*
While IL this situation they were attacked By the armed
It matters not present whether the disturbance ORR
that ns
became theduty of the authorities, when called upon to
exert their inffueace, to 4usll IL .Ne
Finding that the disturbance becoming serieu the
02oers Of the rAilroad snd steamship Anes who
present. REQUESTED the fntsrsrsnos OF your Excs
Your Exceisncy and tbs police appeared upon tho
ground but It that instead Of attempting to quiet
the mob the police immediately commenced firing upon
the railroad depot and the who had fed to 1t
for safety, thus taking part with the mob
Your kxcsllsnsy must have known that most OF the
With Esipess men. women and chiidrea.
That some OF the passengers attempted TO defend them
selves, their wives and children; and thas those who
had, or cculd procure arms, dfed upon the mob who
were firing upcn than ms pssfsety nssural and right.
But II appears that they merely acted In self desnoe
officers Of the railroad and steamship companies. Who
having arms had not tnA power to defend themselves
Or tie property undss ts, cfsrg y:t il sppss.s fSm q
oSsys and that sy ths Outrage many OF the
Wie the paliss were airing upon !he depot and pas
sengers one the mob broke into the depot ON
colo %soS
Tho mob then commenced the depot OF what
it contained Thsy robbed tbs freight deposited
there the afes Of thu company and the clothes and
effects Ct tie officers who occupied the building. They
also the books and papers Of the c'npsny and
After the mob had taken possession Of tho depot the
police stopped firing upon ii, and entered 1t aiso aad
ing without making fort to prevent It, and even,
itis said, assisting and sharing in the spoils
Wn0ie CONT uuA0cS
rers engaged in robbing tas individual passengers with
out distinction Of sex; depIving them OF such baggage
and effects % they had With them and their Of
such vauabes thsy had about the even taking the
rings from the fingers aud esrs OF fe raies.
Thus als0 done in the presence Of yo1r Exeelency
and the police, Without an effort being made Oy you to
was not present ct that disgrAesfu trAnsac The
above statement is made from the evidence OF reliable
persons who witnessed It, and whose testimony cannot
doubt c
Your Excesnoy well knew the character Of the pls
compo osin9 that mob You knew that their design was
robbsryand robbery through blood and you permitted
An inciscrimnAts massacre and pAge Of defencsless
strangers, aud helpless women and children, which would
have dgsced the most savage country en- earth, and
which 1t your duty and In your to prevent
Two days have passed since the comitta Of these out
RACES and have yet to learn whether your Exceency
has taken any sps arrest those who engaged in
Whess,ore. IL The name sf the Panama Railroad Com.
parry, whose SCENT am, do hereby soemnly protest
against the outages committed BY the mob composed Of
citizens Of Panama and M vicinity the evening Of the
protest sganst the massacre ard piuags committed
on the persona and effeots Of the passengers.
protest against the attack aud pflsge committsd by
the mob and prcs the buldpgs ana property OF the
Panama Railroad Company
Aad protest sgsinst the conduct Of your Exssllen
the Govsrnor Of the State Of Panama. ordering the po
uce to Era upon the railroad Depot and t passengers
contafsd therein In not taking measures to avert the
lio and 10 rot aording protection TO the lives and Of
fecs tie psssengers and the perty Of the Panama
And DO hereby give no.i:e to your Exceeaey, thst
and outrsgss conmitei the evening Of the 16th
the persaD Of the and for h, robssries and
Of ihs Pansms Railroad Compaoy. g. N. r0rrEN
cozRBspoNDKNcE BETWEEN COL. TorrEN AND THE
GovERNoR oR-PRoTECrroN TO BE AFFORDED.
EScINEzR's OYFICH, PANAMA. RAILROAD Co.,
PANAMA, April l8, 1855. I
TO Hrs ExcuLUcY THE Goynsoa OF THE STATE oE Pa
The passengers, their baggage, aud the property
Of the Psnama Railroad Company having been at.
tackled snd outraged on tbs evening of the 18th Inst
ey TO sas whether you wiz protest them for the
future; and II becomes necessary to request an
early answer to this, because the steamer Golden Age is
expected to arrive to night with large number Of
sergers and amount Of treasure, which, your Ex-
ceenay cannot project with the pocs other CO. 1t
win be necessary to protect by other Means u,,
REPUBLIo OF NEW GRANADA, STATE OF PANAMA.
OFFICE SECRETARY Stair,
PANAMA, April Is, 1856.
sxsos @. N. rorrS, surKmsrkypEsr OF rHs PAsAxA
Ole sonmuniesos, dated to day f, the Of so
lopg the protection Of the authorities for the passsn
gers and treasure which are expeesd hom California
Sinoe this morning the citizen Vice Governor being In
formed that the steamer Golden Age would arrive to-
day, arranged, In ccncert With the Prefect Of thi
M sss force ssss q hs
sens, should be stationed at the rAilro.d sta,
tion Immediately that said steamer should be In sight,
which may arrive and thus Centre vas given to un-
1sAnd BY ths Prsfsc not having done so to you a.
rscty IN OF net hndtng you In your Office
This force IA ready to at order of said Preect
the the Golden Age la sight, and will bs so on
al occasions when necessity may require it.
muss add that Ia spite of the 1amentAbe occurrence
of tbs 18th the citizen Vice Governor no serious fear
with respect the security of the passeng effects
er the faars but he believes 1t would be well to ADOPT
nrscaaorary measures Which will inspire confdence Ia
the public bAHroL)hh CALVo.
Additional Details Of the Attack on the
Railroad stasion--nIore Of the Killed and
wsurded.
We are abe, says the Psasms Herald OF April 10,
10 Ay Ssor. the ,ubi correct version OF tina proceed
irss on Tuesday evening last ct the railroad station sy