Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-05-22
Fearful Riot at Panama.

"A serious and fatal renconter oc-
Cured at Panama on the 18th ult.,
between the passengers of the steam
er Illinois and the natives Of the city
and suburbs. The passengers, per
the Illinois, were unable to embark
on the Pacific steamer, owing to the
state ofthe- tide. and, as is usually
The custom, ayailed themselves Of the
delay to procure refreshments, fruits,
&c. About six o'clock P. NJ, a
passenger, rather the worse for liquor,
got into a difficulty with one of the
native vendors Of fruit, spirits, &c.,
drew his revolver and fired at him. =
The mar who had fired the shot was
met shortly afterwards at hotel,
When an indlscriminate attack was
made upon him aud disparity, by the
natives, until gradually the affray
becam general. The natives rushed
for their arms, and the passengers
retreated to the hotels, and station
houses of the railroad company
In few moments the Pacific house
was attacked, broken open and pill
laged; the store of Mr.. McCalister
suffered a similar fate and the Ocean
Hotel Was seriously damaged. The
depot, in the meantime, was broken
into by the natives; four or five per.
soDs were shot, and as many wounded.
Whilst this wrs going on, the few
passengers 10 the railroad depot who
we're armed, having expended most
oftheir ammunition, coull only return
a stray shot to the volleys poured
into them by the Infatuated mob
The work Of plumber went on, the
company's office was riled, and all
the books, furniture and papers were
destroyed; trunks, carpet bags, ex-
press freight and packages were bro
ken open and their contents made
way With, the rails taken up in sew.
eral places and the telegraph wires
cut to prevent communication with
AspinwaIl.
The butchery was kept up until
9 o'clock, by which time fourteen A.
mericaus were killed and twice as
many wounded, whilst only three ma
|tiyes we're killed and about dozen
wounded.
Attempts we're made to set fire to
the station, and the passengers, fear
ing they would be burned to death,
made sally from the depot, in which
many we're wounded by the knives
Of the natives, and with difficulty
escaped into the bush from their
pursuers.
The Governor of the State of Pa
mama was present and counienauced
the afflir, even ordering the police
10 fire upon the railroad depot and
the passengers therein; taking no
measure to suppress the riot or af-
ford protection to the lives aud eff
fects of the passengers.
The Picayune gives the statement
of Il lady who was an eyewitness to
the whole Of the proceeding, in which
it is averred that the Snatives" were
the aggressors from first to last.
Her account of the brutal treat ment
of its Inflated victims BY the mob
shows that it was aotuated by the
most savage and barbarous maligni-
ty. The dead bodies of those who
we're shot down were insulted,. their
passage tickets, 10 some instances.
being twisted into q roll, and stuck
into the wounds made by the bullets.
This case calls loudly for prompt
interference on the part Of our Gov
eminent, which should take immedi
ate action and demand instant and
ample redress for the outrageous
proceedings. No mere apology
should be deemed sufficient.
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