The Portland daily press., 1885-05-18
ATROCIOUS MASSACRE.
Laborers of Culebra Killed by
Caucan Soldiers.
The Victims Employed on the
Isthmus Canal.
Over Thirty Jamaicans Murdered for
Their Money.

PANAMA, May THE following are the par.
tieulars of the massacre of Jamaicans at Gu
Zebra, on the night of Agril 4th. 1t appears
that four Caucan soldiers went on foot from
Emperador to Culebra, both important Sec
tions of the canal. On arriving at the latter
place, whittier they had been sent to keep
guard over a circus, they entered the camp in
which the carrying OF arms is prohibited, and
where their rifles and machetes were taken
from them by the canal police, who undoubt-
ediy would not have thus acted had they
known they we're soldiers. But the truth is,
few of these new arrivals wear uniforms, and
as their appearance is not very martial no de-
cision can be arrived at by sight as to who they
are or what their intentions may be. The
four men who had lost their arms then return
ed to Emperador and told their comfades they
had been disarmed. Then all left together for
Culebrs, with the avowed purpose of taking
revenge,
On arriving at Culebra, circus perform
ance was going on. All entered, and there
found some congenial spirits, natives of Car
tnagens, as usual armed with maehetes, and it
was determined to commence at once the al
ready premeditated crusade of murder against
the Jamaicans. They then proceeded 10 the
laborers' barracks, known as camp No. where
they were fred upon by the watchmen. They
fired several volleys in return, and then broke
in the doors and killed and wounded the
whole of the SO inmates, eight of them being
murdered on the spot, and twenty wounded,
many OF whom have since died. All were
shot IN several places, and there was not one
OF the number who was not gashed in one or
mora places with the murderous machete. All
these victims were Jamaicans, and all were In
their beds when attacked. People in smaller
houses were also killed and wounded. The
canal company buried 90 bodies, and sent in 10
wounded to the hospital in Panama. It is
known that many wounded persons fed into
the forest, where they subsequently died.
Every box, bag or valise found was plundered,
and dead and wounded alike had their pockets
rit1ed. These poor wretches had only been
paid off the same morning, which was really
the incentive to the crime, a crime which is
supposed to have been committed more by
Carthagenians than by the soldiers, who could
have had no personal animosity gainst the
poor victims. The soldiers left at o'clock on
the morning of the 18th, when they carried off
two Jamaieans, whom they captured at the
last moment. These men, being witnesses of
the crime, might have given evidence, to gnard
against which they were murdered, without
the least form of trial, at Emperador yester-
day. The murderers, for the sake of courtesy,
are called Colombian troops, and as such the
United States authorities have favored their
landing. 1t will surprise all lovers of law aud
order to learn that not one of these murderers
has been arrested.
Jamsicans, and in fact, all who can, are
abandoning the Isthmus in thousands. There
is no law or order, and the Caucan troops nov
here are pleased at this state of affairs, as they
hope to reap profit thereby. Every effort is
being made to blind the public as to the par
ticulars connected with the Culebra massacre,
but many reports contradict the color the eau
can partisans endeavor to give it.
Passports are now required to enable one to
leave the Isthmus, and poor, half-starved
laborers, who are returning 10 the islands now
that they are in fear of their lives, find them
selves compelled to pay 81 in order to legalize
their exit from this disturbed region. 1t is
needless to say that the self-appoiuted collect.
ors of this tax are delighted at the exodus
which is now taking place.