New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-18
THREATS TO MURDER AMERICANS.
DETAILS OF THE BURNING OF COLON.
DOW AND CoNNoR EXPOSED TO FIRE, BUT MAR
RowLY ESCAPED.

DOW AND CoNNoR EXPOSED TO FIRE, BUT MAR
RowLY ESCAPED.
The steamship Colon, of the Pacific Mail
Line which sailed from Aspinwall OH April g. arrived III
this city yesterday From her officers and other sources
additional particulars obtained regarding the de-
structon Of the city OF Colon by fire. and the progress OF
the revolution Oh the Isthmus The steamer arrived at
her wharf Colon March 20. Previous To that time
all the troops at Colon. or Aspinwa had been sent
10 Panama by order OF the acting President Comma TO
defend that official from the attacks Of General Azpurn
who was endeavorng to place himself at the head Of the
Government He succeeded In capturing Panama
There being no troops at ASpnwall, aud the Prefcct
being absent, a lawyer Prestan, asSuaed command
and gathered about hm motley crowd of adYenturers
When the steamer Colon arrived Prestan demanded tho
delivery OF board. This was refused by
Superintendent C0nnJr, OF the steamship company
whereupon Prestan arrested him and locked him up
Preston then took possession Of the steamer and
began to search for the arms. but he did
not find them The OF the vessel
offered no resistance. Captain DOW the general agent
the steamship company soon after arrived ana lnne
diaely alter his arrival conference was held In the
Pacific Mail Office, at which were present Prestan ana
several aides guarded by large force Of men, with Cap
tain Dow Mr. Con1Or. Consul Wright, Lieutenant Judd,
and Cadet Richardson. of the United states steamship
Galena Prestan made formal aud unconditional demand
for the immediate delivery OF the arms. Captain Dow
refused the delivery. giving as his reason
that he had been notified by the National
Government not to deliver them. lmne-
diaey and without further remark Prestan ordered his
soldiers TO arrest body present which was d9ne.
and they all marched to the caaboose soon after
board the Gaena with the message to Captain Kane at
he would hold these men until tue arms were drvergd
and that Galena attempted TO land force for the
purpose Of releasing these men he Prestan would hre
the boat aud II the fire was returned ne would shoot
every prisoner the calaboose and murder every Amer
lean In the city Aud following mp his threat force OF
twenty negroes. armed with machetes halted In front
~ he paua Railroad Oflge.
day.
ing the desperate character Of Prestan and tnat he
would out his threats Soon after the prisoners
locked up Frestan made another demand Tor the
arms under threat of shooting Dow and Wright and they
gave orders the delivery OF the freight Captain Kane,
of the Gaena refused 10 deliver the arms IN the even
ing ne landed force the Pacific Mail dock took pos
OF the wharf ana office. cast on lines O the Colon
and hauled her out ins the stream He then brought
the Gaena alongside the wharf In the place OF the Colon
In the meantime Prestan seeing what was going on re-
arrested Captain Dow and Mr. Connor ana marched
them the caaboOsc At A. III. on March 81 thev TOOK
Captain Dow and Mr. Conuor from the calaboose ana
marched them up TO Monkey Hill, where Prestan nad
slight engagement with the Government troops trom
Panama. During the engageinent they placed G@ptah %
unately for those gentlemen the guards placed over
them became frightened and ran away giving Them an
opportunity to escape OF which they dd not hesitate 10
avail themselves and they walked back 10 Colon, ana
went board the Pacific Mail steamer by boat from Crs
tobal Colon In the morning Csptain Kane landed hs
entire force, including Gatlng gun, 3inch rue ana
judd with instructions. knowing the priAoners had
escaped. TO obtain their release at all hazards Tho
Railroad office and Pacific Mail wharf ard office.
Immediate ly after the United states forces mad taken
their positions Colombian National troops came In
from Monkey Hill and drove the insurgents back into
their barracks and q continuous fire WAS kept up by
both parties during the forenoon The firing started at
about noon and Pfestan seeing he being defeated
fired the city In places and fled AT the same
time trade wind blowing. and the destruc
ton OF the city complete. Nothing remains but the
Panama Railroad Companys buildings, on the beach,
and the Pacific Mail and the Canal Companies property
the " Terraplen."
The insurance companies refuse payment for all losses,
the ground that they due to ncendiarsm or
war The Government will be held responsible, but
claim against IL Ia said to be OF small value Prestan
was the several houses, but II thought the
forced contributions he collected made him indifferent
TO his losses.
when the steamer left General Ibanez had been named
Governor OF Colon by Apurn, who was In possession OF
Panama. Ten thousand persons were made homeless by
the fire. The United States marines were preserving
order The that large American force was coming
to the Ishmus created great excitement as annexation
feared. But when the facts became known conf
aeDce restored.
CHICAGO, April 17-A dispatch from the City OF MeIi-
says that when the troops Of the Colombian Govern
ment finally entered Colon after It mad been burned by
the rebels under the leadership OF Prestan they cap
several squads OF rebels In the past ten days the
number OF these prisoners has been considerably aug
mented the receipt of struggling rebels captured In
the surrounding districts IL II not known how many
thus held prisoners at Colon but good authorities
place the number at about 400.