Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-05-07
Massacre Of American Passengers at
anama

EdQamd.
A shocking massacre of passengers
occurred at the Isthmus, on Tuesday,
the 18Th ult. A difficulty occurred be-
tweed a drunken passenger, and a ma
tive, which led to a general rising OF the
natives 10 the number of two or three
thousand. These all armed, made a
murderous attack upon the passengers.
who were totally unarmed. The colored
police, a strong body of men, were call
ed out, but they took sides with the ma
tives, and fired upon the passengers. A
correspondent of the N. Y Times thus
describes the scene which took place at
the Ocean House.
The lever doors and windows were
quickly barred and FABRICATED. All was
terror and confusion. In a few minutes
the house was surrounded by a multi
tude of half clothed, Infatuated sayages,
armed with foWling-pieces, pistols, and
hachets. Some were breaking in The
lower doors and windows; some hurl-
ing stones, and firing at the upper win
dows. The house was crowded. The
shrieks of the women and children, the
the yells and threats of the natives, the
noise of firearms and stones, the crash
ing Of doors and windows made the scene
one of Undesirable excitement and ter
ror. Women pushed their children I'M
der the beds, and crept in after them
Boys and even men sought this poor pro-
lection.
The natives soon piliaged the Pacific
and Ocean Hotels, and some adjoining
stores kept by Americans Several of
the passengers were killed and many
severely wounded here. All lost their
baggage and money, watches and jew
elery.
Many passengers had c~opgregated at
the depot. The natives were approach.
ing the side of the building on which
the freight-room was situated. Their
shouts and yells came nearer. Their
shots struck the building and pierced
the thin siding" wounding those who
thronged the room. The firing became
incessant. The passengers seemed shut
up TO destruction. Mary were cropping
about the dimly-lighted builling for pla.
ces of safety. Families were called sud
denly together, and stood, or crouched
down, silent with fear, and some threw
themselves fat upon their faces, as the
best way 10 avoid the ballels that were
flying around them.
The natives soon effected an entrance
into the depot, an began shooting, cuI-
ting down, and rObbing the passengers
who were huddled together in that part
of the building to which they had easy
access. An eyewitness tells me they
tore off the rings from the fingers and
ears of the women. They snatched and
struggled for every watch and breast pin,
and trihing ornament. They demanded
all The money the passengers had, on pain
of instant death. And those who had
given their all to redeem their lives, were
sometimes, though upon their knees cry
ing for mercy, cut down or shot by the
savages who followed those who had
robbed them. They broke open every
trunk, cut open every carpet bag. and
wantonly destroyed what they did not
desire to keep.
Among the killed were Michael VIII
tiun, of Orleans county, Vermont ;
of Pennsylvania /; Dubois of
louisiana ; Stokes, an officer in Walk
er's army. or IA dead in the freight
house, there was only one name, that of
Stokes, which was known.
Among the wounded are w. H. Hun
Ter, Theodore Desably, Secretary of the
American Consul at Panama, and Mr..
Palmer of the R. R. Company, all resi-
dents of Panama also George G. Field,
New York /; Joseph Barker, Bangor ;
of Providence ; Lieut.. Swan, Of
Ne /; and Patrick O'Neil, of San Fran
cisco.
The passengers upon whom this out
rage was committed, left San Francisco,
Goth in the steamer Cortes, for
San Juan, but landed at Panama, hear
of General Walk er's troubles.
Some 80 to 40 persons were killed and
so 10 60 wounded.
This outrage calls loudly for action
on the part of the government.