The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-05-16

officers had been unable to organize an etfec-
tive force, and resistance could not BE- made.
The building was crowded with passengers
guarding their baggage, aud endpavoring TO find
SAFELY there, scne Of whom met the Tor, man
fully bnt the force could no, be- resisted, and
they broke in and made he place real >Iaagb-
Ter house.
At least 800 persons were in the depot when
it was attacked, several of whom were killed
on the spot, and many others badly wounded.
Here was shocking scene presented, not
only Of murder but robbery and pillage. Hun
dreds Of trunks and packages We're broken open,
and their contents taken or scattered over the
ground. The floor was covered with blood
ana the papers of the railroad company and
those of the passengers were Strrwn about,
smeared with the blood of those who were the
innocent victims at these Internal demons
When the depot was entered the crowd dis
perspd in all directions; but q large portion of
them fled towards the wharf and the small stea-
mer lying at the outer end. Upon this were
crowded 600 or 700 persons, including nearly
all the women and children A considerable
portion Of the baggage of the Illinois passen-
gers had been removed from the depot before
the affrav commenced, and vas piled upon
tighter which lay on the outside OF the Trbogo.
This part of the baggage was hid irom the ma
tives, and from this, or some other cause, was
left unharmed.
When the villains had driven everybody
from the depot, they followed in the direction
whence the greatest nulnb-r fled, towards the
wharf. On arriving at the head of the wharf,
and perhaps eighty yards from the steamer,
their progress was arrested by some means,
not exactly asctrtained-Somr said by public
order OF the authorities, while others supposed
it was the sight Of so many women and chill
drpn, from whom the desPeradoes could not rX-
prct to take any booty. Whatever was the
cause they did not FIRE upon the steamer, though
they shot into a storeshi2 that lay on the north
side Of the wharf, wouudiug one or two, and
they continued their ravages in other direc-
tionS.
The passengers ofthe Cortes, We're many Of
them, within the walls OF th- town, stopping at
the various hotels, and, therefore, not more
than half Of them came within the range otthe
scene of action. Al the first alarm, the gates
Of the toxin we're closed, ard about O'Clock all
the business houses were shut and every build
ing in the CITY blrricaded as well as might be,
under the circumstances. CONSERVATION pre-
vailed throughout. The bells of the city rung,
terror among the inhabitants.
II wonId b. vain TO at'rmpta detail OF ouira-
grS committed upon the passengers. Some
were robbed Of all they had-monpy and cloth
ng-whi!p others only paid tribute OF a few
dollars, under promise of protection by the
police. One Cortps passenger was robbed OF
$1,000 in gold dust and another OF 43 ounces
50 800 The money was, in somn cases,
l. 4 10 L. ND oft I'D N
belts around the owners and in The latter case
The clothes were siript from The person in a bru-
tai manner, and the MONEY taken, sometimes
leaving the victim heippss and blerding.
At the Ocpan House and Pacific all the bag
gagr was scattered as at the depot, and more
money taken in proportion, brcaus- many Of the
inmates at those were rrturnn, Caliiornians.-
Ther- was among these, also, large amount Of
valuable baggage, consisting of Jew e!ry, trink-
cts, Grape shawls, &c, carried as presents.
Ii is estimated that the baggasr taken and
DESTROYED was worth 900, bes3cs the mo-
nty lost, which was at least 100000.
The loss of lie could not be ascrrtained with
certainty. Eighteen were living dead the next
morning il and about the depot, and many 9th
ers were missing and badly woanded--prrhars
ten mortallv At least thirty must have been
ter is th- Secretary ofthr American Consul.
VERY f.w of the killed were known to the
Cortrs' passengers. A desperate fellow, by The
name Of Stokes. and 0ap other of the Cortps
passengers, were known to be among the killed,
aud several others missing. II was reported
that abou; forty natives were killed, including.
several Of the police. The ret lasted TIL near
/ morning.
: a.. ,t,I F,t-y
children only were killrd, though several others
were badly wounded: one having her hand
shattered to pieces, aud another WAS SHOT thro'
the shoulder.
The mischief was principally doae by the
I ,illauous police, under prrtencr Of kerWng or
/ der: a large portion of those killed and wound
ed received shots from their nlus&rts. Bot few
others of the natives had firearms though they
/ inflicted most shocking and brutal wounds with
/ their Sabrrs or cutIasSrs, which nearly all OF
1 them ordinarily carry.
/ The rascals who carried muSkets ''by author
/ ity" fred into the houses, and crowds h nno-
/ cent people, who were striving 20 escape, with
ont ihr slightest excuse OF indlcement, except
/ hatred of mpricanS and adctermination to Kill
ami rob all they could.
The Panama Railroad Company suffered so-
verelv All the papers Of liz Office not only
wprr. destroyed, bot the building was rIddlrd,
and the track torn up some distance from thr
depot, in order 10 secure the cars that nsight run
in from AspinwalI, and also to prevent tram
from running out.
1t is understood that among the killed were
/ two of the atchmen Of thu company.
/ The express matter Of Wells s. Fargo, COM
/ ing by the Illinois, was not carried ocer to Pan
ANA with the passengers, but started on a train