The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-04-25

Gen. Grant stands . good show to
recover entirely from his recent dan
gerous illness. He has recovered %
as to be up and take carriage rides.
United States Of Colom bia.
Central America is astir with rev.
olution and insurrsction. and some
bloody scenes have been enacted
there within the last fortnight. A
dispatch dated Panama, April 18th,
is rs follows:
The project Of Colon went to the as
sistance of Panama, which had been
attacked by the rebel Gen. Aizpura.
A lawyer named Prestan seized the
opportunity of the absence of the
project with all the troops, to seize
the city of Colon or Aspinwall. He
levied forced loans, and collected q
mixed force, which caused much sp-
prehension among the merchants
and citizens. On March Goth the
Pacific mail steamer Colon arrived
with arms and ammunition. Prestan
demanded these munitions, and on
refusal to deliver them by the Pacific
mail officials, he imprisoned them.
He sent word to the commander OF
the Galens that his prisoner would
be released If the munitions were
delivered them, and they would be
shot il any marines were landed.
Commissioner Kane then took charge
OF the Colon in the name of the
United States. Prestan subsequently
had an engagement outside of the
city with troops from Panama, and
was defeated, the Pacific mail officers
escaping during the fight. About
noon on the Both the men from Pan
anna numbering l20 advanced upon
the town and heavy FIRE ensued.
The scene in the town beggars de-
scription. Bullets were flying in all
directions, and the terrified populsce
abandoning homes and fortunes were
seeking safety in fight. The town
was entirely constructed OF wood,
and the bullets passed through the
houses as it they had been cardboard.
When the defeat of Prestan became
certain the fires commenced. Many
declare that Prestan personally fred
the government house, where the
first fire originated, while others
assert that the Haytisn General,
Portugal, was the author of the out
rage. He is the same man who fred
Jacmel, Hayti, some months ago.
There is just ground for this belief.
He is now, together with . compan-
ion, close prisoner on board the
Galena. Directly one fire started q
dozen were set in different directions.
A strong wind was blowing and
pandemonium of FIRE, robbery and
shooting ensued. All who could fed
on board ships. Few saved any
thing. Thousands focked to the
new town lately built by the canal
company on the ground they have
formed at the entrance to the canal,
while others took refuge in the few
houses which remained on the beach.
The United States marines and
sailors are reported to have acted
admirably. Troops from the English
gunboat Lilly were sls0 landed, and
assisted in keeping guard, but we're
withdrawn after the canal company
had found guard for the protection
of their houses and property which
had remained intact. This guard
caught many of the plunderers, as
did also the men Of the Galena- All
caught red-handed were Immediately
tried. and on the following day were
shot Fifty EIGHT persons, among
whom it is believed we're several
innocent people, we're thus summari-
ly dispatched.
During the fight between the
troops which went hence and Pres
tsn's people some twenty or thirty
persons were killed, while many we're
wounded. All these were burned
during the fire, and the charred
bodies of all yet cucumber the streets.
While the troops recklessly sent
from here by Gen. Comma to fight
in the streets of Colon, were thus
leading to the destruction of that
town, the streets of Panama were
resounding with rife shots. Most OF
the houses in Panama are built of
stone and afforded better protection
to non-combatants than the build
ings in Colon did. Ultimately the
barracks in which Gen. Comma had
shut himself were surrounded, aud
at 4 o'clock in the afternoon he sur
rendered. Twelve persons were kill
ed and about an equal number
The attacking party were