The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-12
COLOMBIA.


wall-The Losses Of Property and
Life-The Want of Brcakwater-
Peace and Finance in the Interior.
PANAMA, Feb. l, 1873
The people of Panama were astonished to learn
by telegraph on the morning Of the 10th ult. that
strong norther had commenced at Aspinwall the
night before, accompanied by sea 80 rough that
several ships had been wrecked, moles carried
away and steamers compelled to put to sea to save
themselves from destruction. The atmosphere in
and around Panama, while all this was taking place
ON the other side of the summit, showed nothing
unusual.
SUDDEN SWELL AND DESTRUCTIVE ACTION OF THE
SEA.
1t seems that until sunset Of the 18th the day
passed over quietly. The north wind then began
eleven O'Clock p. NJ. threatened destruction to all
property within their reach. The storm, particu-
larry OF the sea, came on so suddenly that the
steamships and sailing vessels that lined the
wharveS were taken by surprise. The Royal Mail
steamer Tasmanlan managed to get up steam and
go out to sea. The French steamer Desirable held
out at her anchorage with her engines turning
ahead and two anchors down. The West India and
Panama Steamship Company's steamer Bolivar
succeeded in saving herself in y similar way.
But no such chance was left Tor the
SAILING VESSELS
in the harbOr at the time. There were no bu oys or
anything else to haul out to- so the wharves, to
which they were made fast, have suffered the con-
sequences.
The three -masted schooner Royal Arch OF Bos
ton, with coal for the Pacific Mail steamship Com
pany, was driven stern first through the compa-
ny's mole, at which she was lying. The bark
Orient, OF Boston, went at the French wharf and
wrecked 1t as well as herself The schooner c. II.
Kelly, of Boston, broke adrft and went ON shore,
but may possibly be gotten OF. The Halifax
schooner j. W. Halls fell foul OF the French
steamer and suffered some damage. Other sailing
vessels were saved, principally by the active exer-
tions Of the Panama Railroad people.
A., MIA LIE pAMAuE ,. ., ,, -,
and other produce on it, cannot be less than three
hundred thousand dollars.
One half of the French wharf was carried away,
with two car loads OF indigo that were on It,
The Liverpool COmpany's wharf suffered much
from bark which was lying alongside OF 1t when
the storm commenced, and 1t may safely be asserted
that there Is not sound wharf to-day III ASpin-
wall
Three small coasting schooners sunk at their
The steamship Henry Chauncey kept outside, and
thus escaped the storm in the harbor.
The brig Gilmore Meredith became total wreck
on the reef A boat from the shore trying to reach
her was upset, and two Aspinwall men were
HINTS FOR ENGINEERING SCIENCE.
With all this Sudden destruction OF property be-
fore US in q harbor OF so much Importance as that
OF the Aspinwall terminus Of the Panama Railroad
1t natural to ask, Can nothing be done to modify
or prevent repetition? The question is certainly
a very serious one, and one that the company must
take up as soon as possible. The natural cOntgura-
ton OF the bay and It's long axis being the direct
line OF northers and the waves propelled by them
SUCH dCCIucuIS 10 lie anu property IHuSL DC eA-
pected. Nevertheless ii Is conceded by all disin-
terested experts that breakwater could and
ought to be constructed and which would not cost
more than the value OF the present damage. In
fact, q mistaken economy has had great deal to
do with the loss of shipping in this case from the
want Of the requisite fitting out OF almost all the
vessels that have been wrecked.
PUBLIC HEALTH.
An endemic fever OF malarieus type, called
by the people tdbi0n, from its resemblance to a
similar fever which prevailed last year on the At
lantc coast, continues TO prevail In Panama. Its
continuance Is due to atmospheric causes and ter
restrial emanatlOns. Although not con tagious the
authorities OF Guayaquil have declared that all YES
sells from the lsthmus shall be subject TO quaran-
tine-aA uncalled-fOr measure, which will en- taf
great deal Of inconvenience TO commerce and pas
sengerS.
BRITISH DIPLOMACY.
Mr.. Hamilton, British Minister TO Quito, Is now
in Panama, on his way to Ecuador, and will OF
course be detained here.
THE DARIBN IsTHMus EXPEDITION.
Nothing has been heard from Captain Selfrfdge
and the Darien expedition since the Tuscarora left
this port for that part OF the lsthmus.
From the interior of the Republic up to the 18th
lance. The State OF Cauca continues tranquil and
members for Congress were assembling at Bog0ta.
FINANCE
BY an arrangement entered into between the
Colombian government and Mr.. O'Leary, the Com
missioner OF the foreign bOndholders, the amount
OF the national debt has been reduced from
s24 600 to 49, 900, and the interest payable
ann ually from $3.50 900 to $450,000.
The Bolivar Railroad yielded in the month Of
October last 81, SIS 80 OF profits proceeding from
27057 packages OF exports and ~, 500 OF imports,
by eleven steamers and eight schOonerS.