The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-04-11
BILLoWS OF FLAME.
An Eye WITNESSES Account OF the
Burning of Colon.
Women and Children Shot DOwn in the
Streets or Perish in the Fire.

New ORLEANS. April 10.-W. j. Mitchell,
who arrived at home today from Colon, by the
British stesmer Australian, gives syl interest
ing account OF the late disturbances there H
says that the battle between the rebels aud The
government troops ragged from O'Clock in the
morning until in the afternoon, and during
that time the rifle and artillery fire was inceE-
SAINT. Suddenly smoke was seen arising from
point inside the rebel barricades, ard as 3
strong wind was blowing at the time, the fire
spread rapidly in all directions. Up to this
time the fight had been confined to one por-
tion OF the town, but as the fire spread the
rebels commenced to scatter and retreat. AS
soon az they appeared in the streets, they we're
fired upon until the fight ragged all over the
town, The fire, IN great billows of flame,
swept rapidly from street to street. aud from
buildings to docks and wharves CroWds of
women and children could be seen moving
from place to place amid the whistiing bullets.
and tnose who managed to escape being shot
down IN tha streets sought protection on board
the ships in the harbor, bat q great number of
them perished in the flames. 1--WE also," con-
tinued Mr.. Mitchell. "sew large number of
civiiaas who we're killed By stray bullets be-
fore they coEld seek shsl'sr from the lesden
hail which swept the streets. IL would be i'm
possible to estimate the number OF ives lost
in the conflict. One Gay after the battle. y hen
the rebels had retreared iuto the interior, we
visited the town and saw the streets sirewn
with dead bodies, aud the chsrred remains of
GuoSo VINO Hau p6en DurnSu 10 G6atn-'
Mr. Mitchell said ia regard to the crcum-
stances which led to the arrest OF the United
States Consul and az officer OF the United
States man-of-war Galena, that it was in this
way:
One of the steamers of the Pacific mail line came
to Colon with large number of guns consigned to
the order OF Preston. The rebel Commander held a
bill Of lading for the arms and asked the gent of
the steamers. the United States Consul and an off
Ger of the Gaena issue order for the delivery
OF the arms. The order was refused, and Preston
had the three officials arrested and locked up inside
OF his barricades. He then threatened to have
them shot unless they signed the order. This was
done under protest. and they were released; but in
the meantime, the American war ship had taken
the Pacific mail steamer to an anchorage in the
bay, and then returned and took possession of the
wharf. This movement prevented Preston from
securing the arms. but had he been aware OF it be-
fore he released the prisoners he doubtless would
have had them shot, The action of Preston in
burning Colon is heartily condemned by Gen. Aiz-
puru the commander of the rebel forces about
Panama. as the act of common brIgand, and he
says that if he is captured he will be shot.
The rebels are now in possession of all the towns
in the interior. Great distress prevails at Palm,
and the water supply for the town has to be brought
from Monkey Hill, the city. When we LETT
Colon, the forces OF the American war ships were
protecting the Panama railway property, and were
feeding the destitute as best they could. A vast
amount of uneasiness prevails there still for the
reason that it is believed that the rebels will gain
the upper hand.