, 1885-04-25
the BURNING OF COLON.
Full Partlculars Of the Recent COuna-
gration...Fcarful Scenes
Enacted.

NEW YoRK, April l7.-Advlees by
mail from Panama To the sth inst
are received. The story of the burn
ing Of Colon, or Asplnwall, Is given
as follows; A lawyer named Preston
seized the opportunity Of the absence
Of the perfect OF Colon with troops
for the purpose Of meeting General
Slzpurn, who had attacked Panama,
to seize the city Of Colon. He levied
forced loans and collected a mixed
force, which caused much apprehen-
sion among merchants and citizens
On March 10th the Pacific Mail
steamer Colon arrived with arms
and ammunition. Preston demand
ed these munitions, and upon the re-
fusal OF the demand by the Pacific
Mall officers, he Imprisoned them,
Tic sent word to the commander OF
the Galena that these prisoners would
be released n the munitions OF war
were delivered to him, and they
would be shot n the marines were
h,nded. Commander Kane then
took charge Of Colon IN the name Of
the United States Preston suhsc-
quently had an engagement outside
he city with troops from Panama
md was defeated, the Pacific Mail
officers escaping during the fght.
About nOln on the 3Oth, men from
Panama, numbering some one hrn-
dred and twenty, advanced upon the
town and a heavy ire ensued. The
scene In the town beggars deserip-
tion. Bullets were iiying In all d.
rections, and the terrified populaee,
abandoning homes and fortunes,
were seeking safety In flight The
town was entirely constructed Of
wood, and bullets passed through the
houses as though they had been
cardboard.
When defeat became certain to
Preston, the fires commenced. Pres
ton is now, with many others, held
In close confinement. Directly one
Gre was started, a dozen were seen
In different directions A strong
wind was blowing and q pandemo-
mum Dfffair, robbery, shooting, and
misery, ensued. All who could, aed
on board the ship. Few saved any
thing. Thousands iiocked to the
new town, lately built by the canal
company, on ground they have
formed al the entrance TO the canal,
whilst Others took refuge In the few
houses which remained standing on
the beach. The machine shops and
round houses Of the latter company
were fortunately saved, but an i'm
mense quantity Of rolling stock was
destroyed, together with local mer-
and transit cargo.
United States marines and sailors
are reported to have acted admin
bly,. Troops from the English gun
boat Lily were also landed and as
sisted IN ke-pIng guard. This guard
caught many plunderers, as did also
men Of the Galena All caught red
handed were Immediately tried and
on the following day were shot
Fifty persons, among whom 1t Is be-
lleved were severil innocent peoplr,
were thus summarily dispatched.
During the fight between the
troops which went hence and the
Preston people some twenty or thir-
ty were killed, while many more
were wounded. All these were
burned during the Ere, and the
uharred remains Of all still encum er
the streets
fumes flashed through the hOuS'
In hundreds Of which powder, aleO-
hol, liquors and general merchan-
-, - 49, -, ,,".... :, .,-...i,-.t,..
sie1' a,'u W - 49, 80 !. a. -s..S -..''
l.o'n mes @.IoS 80. .,L 'o,I - -.
,nr Iin,. oe''SAeu P1r-'. -. -
''llo7' wi'''ou, ~ P'O,''.o''o ',' =. - 80,
'o' '"O ui's~ AHe I a'''"' ia'O
rompany's superintendent Mr. u.
A. Burt, and the director general OF
the canal company, NJ. Jules Ding
ler, have done everything in their
power 70 alledrfc misery md d.
tress, and vessels in the bay OF all
nationallties, were freely opened to
the refugees
Whilst the troops reckl essly taken
from here by General Comma to
fight In the streets of Colon were
thus leading to the destruction OF
that town the streets OF Pintm
arsa.Nn IsaanrrrafIImU With Winn nhnfa