Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-05-06
mas.aere of Americans auPanama.

the Patriot last week, mentioned the fact that a
terrible riot bad occurred at Panama in which twenty
Americans bad been killed and some thirty others
wounded II is believed that the real cause of this
riot was desire to plumber, as the California pas
sengers were nearly all robbed and all the officials
on the station, with the exception OF the superin
tendent, lost everything they had in clothing and
vsluables Of every description The Panama Rail,
road couI ting room Including the desks of the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company, was entirely ran.
sacked. and everything of value carried of: the
books and papers we're cut and torn to pieces and
one Of the ssfes-which contained but little money
was broken open and pillaged, while the other
pierced to the inner Innings but nothing taken
thereirom. Every drawer and desk and closet was
ransscked, and nothing was left in it's place of un.
injured The freight house was riddled with balls,
and all the baggage that had been put in the light
ers 70 go OF to the steamer was riisd
The n. Y Herald contains list of the psssen
gers and the amount in money and clothing of
which each one robbed. The aggregate amount
Is $4,000. Mrs P. N. Seony Of New Orleans, fur
nishes tbs n o. Picayune with the following state
ment in regard to this atrocious affair:
We have had the pleasure of an interview with
Mrs. p. n. Scofy formerly of this city, and now
q resident of San Francisco, who came passenger
In the Cortes from that city, on the goth ult.,
her way to this place, on visit to her friends and
relatives. She was an eyewitness Of the outrage
Gus proceedings of the rioters at Panama on the
18th Inst and suffered severely from them
Accompanied by her four little girls, the eldest
only eight years of age, the youngest infant she
took passage for San Juan de Nicaragua, in the
Cortes on the 10Th Of March, leaving her husband,
merchant of standing in San Francisco, and who
went from New Orleans in lS49 as one OF the early
pioneers in the settlement of that city. On ac-
count OF apprehension that the steamer would be
seized if il went TO San Juan, the captain proceed
ed with Der to Panama where arriving, Mrs. Scoffy
to the Ocean Hotel to pas the night, and take
the Philadelphia the next pornng for Havana,
there to meet the Granada, on its way to New
Orleans.
That afternoon the steamer Illinois, from New
York, bringing great number OF passengers for
San Francisco had arrived at Panama but the pas
sengers were detained the steamer Taboga not
being able 10 leave until the evening Every place
was crowded, aud there weremany persons in the
streets as well 10 the hotels, eating houses &c
Mrs. Scoffy says she was sitting at the window Of
the Ocean Hotel, looking out upon the street and
a man, who was afterwards ascertained TO be
one Of the passengers OF the Illinois, from New
York, apparently purchasing fruit OF native, who
g-sticulatng violently, aud evider tly using
harsh language though she could not hear what be
said, The American had no arms of any kind that
she saw in his hands, nor did he strike or offer to
strik- the fruit seller, who, however, il seemed TO
her, threw something at him in anger. In a mo
msnt angry shouts were raised, and, as il by pres
concerted signal the whole space in front of the
hotel began TO swarm with the excited population
of the place rushing, with arms in their hands, in
discriminately upon the passengers These mostly
81, al e
the mob by retreating the hotels, and the store.
house and depot of the railroad Thither they were
pursued, and their places of retreat attacked
by the ruf6sns, keeping up an incessant ere with
muskes and pistols, while those who were over.
taken in the streets were shot or cut down.
The women and children who were n the Ocean
Hotel were taken into upper room, and All at
tempt was made TO guard them FROM danger But
the rioters though told that there none there
but women and children, kept up continued fire
the windows and doors Of this part of the house
Ali this time there attempts made to FIRE the
hotel and Mrs Scofy, who understands the Spanish
language heard frequent cries OF tear it down."
At length, it was thought prudent TO remove them
from their perous position TO tho depot, and, if
possible, 20 get them on board the steamers at the
wharf Mrs Scofy left the room, holding her young
est child in her arms, aud leading Others while
one of the passengers took up the fourth in his arms
They we're met at the door by one of the rioters
armed with knife who told this man to put down
the child, that he had been firing upon the natives
and must die. Mrs ScOffy demonstrated, aud be
sought the wretch not 20 injure the guardian OF her
child; whrreupOn n man, who seemed to exercise
influence over the rest, peremptorly ordered
she rufisn TO let the man 60, saying that he was
that lady servant, and the proceeded without fur
thrr molsstation. Ars ScOfy with her family, and
others OF the passengers for HaVsna, got on board
the TAboga which put out from the wharf, and they
were placed on board the Philadelphia in safety.
During the fusilaie upon the hotel, while the wo-
men aud children, with not few OF the men best
des, were covering below the level Of the windows
to avoid the shots, Mrs. Scody says that there
cries raised that the police arriving. This for
a moment gave them some hope, and she raised her.
self and snstched look from one Of the windows.
What was her surprise to see these keepers of the
peace drawn up in line, and engaged n firing upon
the house
n these fact our informant AYERS she is ready,
AMI il il will be Of any service 10 the cause OF
justice, is DESTROYS to verify upon her oath. Her
accoant in general agrees with the others that we
have already published, as to these Infamous and
outrageous transactions.
In the general seizure and plumber OF the baggage
Of The unfortunate sojourners for that short space OF
time at Panama, Mrs. Scoffy suffered to the extent
of every thing che possessed. Her three trunks,
(the checks for which abe showed us,) her carpet
bags and baskets, all shared the general fate; and
she aud her children arrived al Havana without a
change OF clothing.
Her account of the brutal treatment OF its III ated
victims by the mob shows that il was actuated by
the most savage aud barbarOus malignity. The dead
bodies OF those who were shot down were nsuted,
their passage tickets in some instances, being twist
ed into roll and stuck into the wounds made by the
bullets
We forbear at this time, making such comment.
upon tots outrage as the narrative we have been Civ
lag FROM th- lips Of e,s-WiIuess abuudantly sug
gests. We can only say thath strengthens great
in the wow We have already intimAted that il is
clear IA TOR the prompt Gu1 decided action Of our
Government.