Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-04-24
THE lSTHMUS OUTBREAK.
ALONG AND DISASTROUS REBELLION.
Detailed Account of the Destruction of
Colon by the Rebel Leader Preston
The Horrible Scenes Enacted
During the Attack.

PANAMA, April 1.-THE long and disas
trous revolution which has been depopu-
lating and running this republic since No
vember last has led to the most awful con-
sequences which up to the present has
stained the annals of revolutionary Span
ish-America. The most terrible of these
consequences was the destruction of Co
lon. After Preston, the rebel leader, was
defeated in the engagement near Aspin-
wall he retired to Colon and about noon
on the 30th the men from Panama, mum
bering some l20, advanced upon the town
and heavy fire ensued. The scene in
town beggars description. Bullets were
flying in all directions and the terrified
populace abandoned homes and fortunes,
seeking safety in flight. The town was
entirely constructed of wood and the bull
lets passed through houses as if they had
been cardboard. When defeat became
certain to Preston the fires commenced.
Many declare that Preston personally
fired the government house where the
first fire originated, while others assert
that the Haytien General Portugal was
the author of the outrage. He is the same
man who fired Jacmel in Hayti some
months ago He is now, together with
Il companion, prisoner on board the
were set at different points.
A strong wind was blowing and pan
demonum of fire. robbery, shooting and
misery ensued. All who could, fled on
board ships. For days thousands of the
populace occupied flat and box cars
which were hurredly run out along
the Panama railroad track. The
United States marines and sailors
are reported to have acted admirably.
Troops from the English gunboat Lilly
were also landed and assisted in keeping
guard. but We're withdrawn after the
canal company had formed IA guard for
the protection of their property. This
guard caught many of the plunderers as
did also the men of the Galena. All caught
red-handed We're Immediately tried and
on the following day shot. Fifty eight
persons. among whom it is believed were
several Innocent people, We're thus sum
marily dispatched.
During the fight between the troops,
which went hence and Preston's people,
some twenty or thirty persons, We're
killed. while many more were wounded.
All these were burned during the fire and
the charred bodies of all yet cucumber
the streets. Fire flashed through the
houses. IN hundreds of which pow
der, alcohol and general merchandise
were stored in immense quantities and the
frequent explosions from which added
terror to the scene. The panic-striCken
or water for two days. Conferences had
been held during previous days by com
miSsOnerS sent hence to discuss matters
with Gen. Aizpuru. He, however, de-
manded the unconditional surrender of
Gen GoVima and threatened TO attack
the city unless he surrendered. Govima.
howeN or. declared that he would remain
inside the city and await results. by
daylight armed men of Aizpuru's band
hand captured the steeples of Santa Anna
church and soon drove in the outpOSts
They then dashed from ciHlrch to church
and from street corner to street corner, II
heavy and continuous rifle fire being
meanwhile kept up. Ultimately the bar
racks in which Gen. GOVima had shut
himself were surrounded and at o'clock
in the afternoon he surrendered, In all
Twelve persons We're killed and about an
equal number wounded.
One Hundred Rebels Thrown from IA
steamer and Drowned.
leo says that on Wednesday officers of
the Colombian government selected one
hundred of the worst rebels imprisoned at
Colon, and placing them on Il steamer
carried them into the bay, where the en-
tire hundred were thrown overheard and
drowned.
A Manifesto melting People to War
Against Americans.
PANAMA, April ia Spanish manifesto
was published to-day, melting the people
to war against the Americans. News
from the interior is not reaSSuring, and
much alarm is felt at Panama over the
prospect of an attack by government
troops ut Cauca. The health of the
American troops is good.