Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-04-02
FOREIGN NEWS.
CENTRAL AMERICAN WAR.
A Long and Bloody Battle Promise to
the United states Consul BrOken-The
City OF Aspinwall Laid in Ashes.

WASHINGTON, April l.
The following dispatch from Commander
Kane, of the Galens, has just been received
BY the Secretary Of the Navy:
Aspinwall is in ashes burned by the in
surgents to escape capture bv government
troops. The Pacific Mail dock, railroad
property on the north end of the island. and
the canal property at Cuispal are the only
buildings saved. Shipping is safe. have
all my force on shore protecting property.
NY ship 10 crowded With refugees, and thous-
ands are destitute and without shelter.
La LIBERrAp via. Galveston, !
April l, 1855.
On March 80 Gen. Barrios attacked Va
dorian. the frontier position of El Coco, thus
breaking the promise given by him to the
United States minister, not to invade Saliva
dor, and commencing operations without .
declaration of war.
The battle ragged fercely until nightfall,
when the Salvadonian forces concentrated on
Chalchuapa. At daylight on the 3lst fight
ing commenced around San Lorenzo. After
a severe engagement which lasted ten hours,
the Guatamalan forces were completely rout-
ed. Their lossas were heavy.
NKw YORK. April l.
A despatch received at the Office of the
Panama Railroad Co. gives the following ac-
count of the destruction of Colon:
The revolutioists have destroyed Colon by
fire. The wharf of the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Co. is the one which remains standing.
The shops and property on the beach are
saved. Stop all freights. We need six wharf
building gangs, material for the construction
of wharves, pile-drivers etc. Communics-
ton with Panama has been entirely cut off.
WASHINGTON. April |.
Tho ASpipWon diff3culfv Al cd NJ
conference this afternoon, between Secrcsa-
ries Bayard and Whitney.
Bsysrd, at the request of Whitney, de-
fined the treaty responsibilities of the United
States in this matter. Bayard then went to
see the President, aad late this evening an
informal meeting of the cabinet was held at
the White House, at which the matter was
fully discussed The conclusion reached
was that while the government is not called
on to take cogniZance of internal broils at
Panama, yet 1t has been by treaty guarsn-
teed free and uninterrupted transit across the
Isthmus. Acting on this conclusion Secre-
tary Whitney tonight telegraphed order to
the commandant of the Brookly navy yard to
get all available marines at the yard in readi
ness for immediate departure, and provide
also some Gattling guns and men to handle
them. He also sent the following dispatch to
J. B. Houston, president of the Pacific mail
company at New Yo&: The government
proposes to have transit from Panama to
Colon open in the shortest possible time. In
order that your company may avail itself of
the advantages of this action few days de-
lay of your steamer to receive shipment of
armed forces will be necessary. How many
men can you carry?
Secretary Whitney has also telegraphed
Capt. Kane of the Galena, at Colon, and Con-
sui Adamson at Panama, for further in
formation as to the CONDITION of the railroad
and steamship property, and whether transit
across the Isthmus remains open. He said
tonight, that if the replies to these dispatches
confirm the present advices, the men and
guns from the BROOKLYN navy yard will be
forwarded Immediately. He said further
that the U. s. steamers Alliance and Swatara
are now enroute for Colon. The Alliance is
from Kew West and the Swatara from New
Orleans.
PANAMA, via. Galveston, April l.
Communication with Colon is reopened.
The force sent from here attacked Preston on
the afternoon of the 30th ult. and drove back
the outposts. On the morning of the 3lst,
the fight in Colon commenced. The fire was
heavy while the fight lasted. Preston, when
he saw defeat was inevitable, made his es-
cape. Everything was swept away. save a
few of the Panama X. r. buildings on
the north beach. All of the pieces,
except the Pacific company were burned and
all the railroad company's books lost. The
canal company saved its books and $l60, ZOO
in specie. All the cars on the tracks were
destroyed. The suffering is intense. No
food or water is to be had. Cars loaded with
supplies will leave here tonight Many cti-
zens are utterly ruined. All is quiet in Pan
anna. Aizpuru will send troops to hold Colon
and prevent the expected pillage.