The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-05-05
THE RECENT TROUBLES.

well afford to spare the wretches who were
shot.
THg REcrST TROUBLES.
"The late trouble was Of q more serious
character, yet It need not have beenifthe
officers Of the American ship Galena had
dared 10 strike blow in the interests Of
humanity. About the 1st Of March the
fifty soldiers Of the Panama Government
and the sfifty policemen Of Colon were
called away by an outbreak in the city Of
Panama. Colon was left without q govern.
ment and Prestan and his followers simply
walked up TO the e6overnment House, took
possession OF It and assumed the govern.
ment of the city. No ono thought any.
thing Slit. The same thing had happened
many times before. On the aOth OF March
the steamer Colon, with arms and am.
munition for Prestan arrived. He pre-.
sented the bill Of lading iorlhis military
supplies and the Americans in authority
decided that he should not have them. He
then arrested Captain Dow, OF the Canal
Company. and Mr.. Wright, the American
consul. They were only released upon
the condition that Prestan should be
allowed TO have his consignment Of arms
in the hold Of the Colon. When they had
been liberated they refused TO make good
their words and the rebel became very
angry and declared that be would burn
the town. The troops OF the Colombian
Government had been worsted by the
rebels before this and they held undis.
tufbed possession Of Colon. There were
about 200 Of them, cowardly negroes,
without discipline or efficient arms. The
day after the Conapl was set free the city
was fired in Eve places. No ono thought
that 1t would be done. Men, woman and
children aed in haste from their homes,
leaving everything behind them. a strong
wind blew from the sea, and It seemed
that the whole city was IN flames in less
than an hour. Nothing was saved. One
was fortunate enough to escape with his
life. How many persisted in the flames
no one knew. It was sickeping TO walk
through the place the day alter the con,
tIagration and see the oharred limbs and
bodies protruding from the smouldering
ashes Of the ruined houses.n
WHAT SHOULD. HAVE BERN DONE. I.
"Coald the FIRE have been ayerted9"
"Yes, easily. Adetachment Of marines
from the Galena could have prevented
the rebels from starting the flames in 90
many places. The sneaking negroes who
composed the rebel army would have fed
In terror before hall Q hundred United
States or British aeamen. There would
have been no battle. The rebels would
have simply slunk out OF the town. Thou
sands OF dollars worth Of property and
many lives were lost because the GaIena
would not lift q hand to aid us. Was It q
time toobserye forms and TO study treaties?
! hold that 1t was an emergency which
demanded action. Why should the of
GERS OF the Galena have stood idly by and
seen homes and people bprped9 The
night after the fire was a aterrible one. The
city was given over to robbers. Desper.
ADDE'S OF all nations lived at Colon, and
they were allowed to blow open safes,
steal money, goods and whatever there
was to be had. No one attempted to
drive the rascals away. The ,Galena WAS
there with armed men. Human beings
were being killed and robbed, hut the Of.
Gcers heeded Il not. They were respon-
sible 10 Secretary, they said. They
would not act without orders from Mr..
Whitney, no matter whatfhappened. So
the pillage went on.
"The next night / was taken from nv
bed atnigLt by q force Of armed men and
conducted TO the house Of George Rprt,
who ia superintendent OF the Panama
Railway o mpany. demanded TO know
the reason of the outrage. These men
are yiplIantes, said he, aud We can shoot
you live choose to do so.n u would call
you murderers In France ! answered.
sWill you tell me what you want?'
"Bnrt said: Did you not say that II
was the fault OF the Americans that Colon
was burned? Did you not say that was
aware that the town was 10 be set fire ?
Did you not say that the town WAS Get ON
FIRE In different places by my ordenS
bold ACCUSATIONS.
"'1 did say those things, answered,
and / repeat them now. not only said
them, but they were talked Of by the
whole foreign population, and 1t is well
understood that everything which | have
said istrse. You had prestan, the rebel,
at pour house every dsytor weeks before
the FIRE and was hia boGom friend. You
plotted with him and have been over.
heard at times. You were the only per-
SON in Colon who removed his yalnables
to o ship the day before the fire. You
were wise. You lost nothing which you
wanted to save. Youlost the books ofthe