The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-29
PANAMA. June II, 1870.


5E.a PANAMA, June IT, 1870.
On the Isthmus there il very little OF any general
interest TO communicate. In Panama, OF course the
IRE and its eYects form the principle topic OF con-
versation. Most people seem to think the chances
Of returning prosperity are very small. The gov
eminent seems pretty much Indifferent to the
peoples losses, but determined that the dencit
in the commercial tax caused by the fire
shall be made up by such merchants as escaped
being burned out. some will probably reopen stores,
and others are preparing to leave The place alto
gether. At the second meeting, called by the Presi-
Dent TO take into consideration the deficit question,
the President refused che plans proposed by the
merchants and dissolved the meeting. 1t is not
known what the Executive viii do to squeeze funds
enough to keep up the government, especially the
$50 IDLE soldiers we have here, without whose bay
Onets, we suppose, the government would not feel
safe.
We have nothing new from Bogota except that
the treaty was nearly about being signed by the
Executive, and conjectures about the value and
probable success OF the English company now ask
ing for similar privilege.
The steamship Henry Cbauncey goes home to-day
In tow OF the Alaska. The United States corvette
Eyack Captain Eastman, Is still In port.
general suspicion having arisen against the own
ers OF the Aspinwall Hotel-Messrs. Clement 4 Julian
Maylin-that the hotel had been wfully set fire to,
the government ordered them to be arrested. Ex-
aminatons have been taken, but SO far as we
know. no proofs have been forthcoming. Neverthe.
less Is customary In such cases. they are still
fused their liberty and treated II known by pre-.
vious character to be persons OF bad conduct.
The country continues healthy, and the people
occupied repairing damages.
The Presidents resolution oblIging the merchants
hoxra
to the treasury was made public on the MORN
ing OF the nth. This extraordinary measuren as
the decree expresses it, is to be put in force until
the next meeting of the Legislative Assembly OF the
State We. Of course, think this extra burden more
than the merchants can bear, but don't know what
remedy they have.
We regret to learn that the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company steamship Alaska. which arrived at AS
pinwall from New York the 18th inst is found TO
have both shafts injured, one SO badly that It has
wheel. She win OF course be unable to tow the
Henry Chauncey to New Yoek as was expected The
York nsht Keeping each Other COMPANY Sia The
steamship Salvador will not be due here till the GOTH
The steamship West Indian, from Santa Martina, has
arrived but brings no later news
BY the steamer Colorado we have dates from
Guatemala to the 7th inst. The general news is OF
OF Guatemala has agreed to transfer the subsidy
hitherto paid TO the Pacific Mail Company for touch
Ing monthly at one OF the ports Of the republic to
the Central America and California Steam Navlga-
ton Company, to which the steamship Prince Alfred
belongs.
Congress to declare null the treaty of limits between
Guatemala and Belize, which was entered into
the 30th OF April, 1859, between the President OF
Guatemala and her Majesty the Queen OF Great Brit
ain: the reason for this being that the stipulated
road Of communication had not been carried into
eject.
There Is no news from the other republics.
Particulars of the Late Disastrous Fire In
Panamn.
From the Panama Mail, June III
We are sorry to have to record in Panama one OF
those terrible accidents OF fire common to all towns,
cities and villages which, by destroying In a few
hours property and capital. must necessarily add
depression. Shortly after midnight. towards Sunday
morning. the 9th nst 1t seems fire was discovered to
come from one OF the rooms IN the upper story OF
what they could and the fire had 1t all its way.
After being tor some time confined to the hotel build
Ing in which 1t originated, from being isolated on
three sides, the flames at last reached the neghbor
ing house Of Mr.. Revell0 across narrow lane which
separates from the hotel. The city fire engine,
from an unwise economy, was nearly, II not alto
gether, useless. There was no water 10 be had. The
hose could not reach to the sea even the tide had
been in and the force or the engine could not force
such water as well could give much beyond the
first balconies.
The pueolo would not touch the fire engine, but
eagerly entered the adjoining houses. and we're very
active in throwing all the furniture into the street.
where IL soon caught fire and rendered communica-
projecting balconies while some fOOlishly took the
tiles Off the roofs, whereby the fire soon found All
entry.
company with very lax organization, no COM
bined effort was made against the fire. Nobody
was authorized to act and naturally everybody was
willing that his neighbours house should be pulled
down for the general good rather than his own.
A tongue OF fire having shot across the
lane caught the oveIhanging roof OF Mr..
Revello's house after that all the building
on both Sides of the street was soon In
flames. There were frantic and dangerous efforts
made to pull down balconies, and save the furniture
Of each house by throwing it into the street, AT thus
time there was no want Of people, soldiers ana
and nobody would obey, The soldiers were dis
tinguished by the energy OF their bugler, and the
police in many prevented people saving their
furniture by asserting that 1t must be thrown in the
street FIRST and that was the duty assigned them The
fire having turned down san Juan de dos street,
had by daylight left only the walls standing, or all
the houses except one OF the north side which yet
had roof on, and forms corner with the narrow
lane running at right aangles. On the side opposite
the confagration had reached the Panama Bank,
which 1t threatened also to consume. At this crisis
Captain Dow, Of the Panama Railroad Company's
steamship Costa RIGA, happened to come on the
scene and asked to direct the operation to arrest
the progress Of the fire. With twelve men under his
orders the fire was checked, and the bank saved.
This was not accomplished without considerable
personal risk only avoided by cooness and presence
OF mind.
Company's steamer Constitution, also arrived with
about fifty men, which, together with sixty men from
the United States steamer NyacK, unuer charge OF
Mr. Belden, the MASTER by their Efforts the onward
progress OF the fire both sides Of the street was
we may say, entirely checked Captain Eastman, Of
the Nyack offered to superintend the operation
OF blowing up q house, but could find no one to
authorize It, About midday the large steam
fire engine arrived from Aspinwall, in consequence
OF telegram sent for the purpose. In fact as
soon as the news was known at Aspinwal, the rail
road company, with their usual energy, despatched
special train at with the fire engine and about
thirty Of the brigade under Captain Stuart-the
time taken after starting 10 arrive at Panama was
one hour and three-quarters- where they did good
service in extinguishing the threatening amount OF
smoulderng fire and flame yet remaining. We
noticed also Captain Spisbury, Of the Pacific steam
Navigation Company ashore, with some men from
the steamer Peru.
In rejecting on the lessons we might take from
such sad calamity, the first thing which struck
one during the fire was that there was no sors OF Or
gained body with power to act on sucn emer-
gencies We can't help asking If the troops who
are supposed to be always stationed here could not
be drilled to extinguisn fire under their own ofi-
GERS and to save life and property instead of leaving
to chance ana confusion the victory over sucn u
dread enemy. II such had been the case the fire
would have been arrested in the Aspinwal house
and confined there and all the subsequent misery
TO hundreds OF families now houseess would have
been avoided