The Portland daily press., 1885-04-02
AsPINWALL BORNED.
Panama's Seaport at the Mercy of
Insurgents.
Incense Excitement In Washington Over
the Navy Department Report.

NEW YORK April Ia despatch received at the
office of the Panama Railroad Company gives the
following account of the destruction of Colon:
"Revolut1enists have destroyed Colon by fire, and
the wharf of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company
is the only one which remains standing. Ships and
property on the beach saved. Stop all freights
We need six wharf-building gangs, material for
the construction of wharves, pile-drivers ETC.
Communication with Panama has been entirely
cut off.
WARRINGTON, ID. c., April 1.-The following
despatch from Commander Kane of the Galena, has
just been received by the secretary of the navy
Aspnwal is in ashes, burnt by insurgents to escape
capture by government troops. The Pacific Mail
DOCK the railroad property the north end of the
budnes eved TSe Shipping IS safe f have s
my force on shore protecting property and my ship
is crowded with refugees. Thousands are destitute
and without shelter.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-The Aspinwall difficulty
was discussed at conference this afternoon be-
tween Secretaries Bayard and Whitney, and secre-
tary Bayard at the request OF Secretary Whitney,
defined the treaty responsibilities of the United
States in this matter. Secretary Bayard then went
to the President, and late this evening infor
NAL meeting of the Cabinet was held at the White
House, at which the matter fully discussed, and
the conclusion reached was that while this govern
ment is not called on to take cognizance of the in
ternal brOils at Panama. yet it has by treaty guar
anteed free and uninterrupted transit across the
Isthmus. Acting on this conclusion, Secretary
Whitney tonight telegraphed orders to the COM
mandant of the Brooklyn navy yard to get all the
available marines at the yard in readiness for i'm
mediate departure, and provide also some Gatling
following despatch to j. b. Houston, president of
the Pacific Mail Company at New York.
"The government proposes to have the transit
from Panama to Colon opened for interrupted trav-
ell in the shortest possible time and in order that
your company may avail itself of the advantages OF
this action a few days delay of your to re-
ceive shipment of armed forces will be necessary.
How many men can you take?"
Secretary Whitney has also telegraphed Captain
Z Koran nf hn of nj md (nnau nj
at Panama for further information as TO the con-
diton of the railroad and steamship property and
whether the transit across the Isthmus remains
open. He said tonight that If the replies to these
dispatches confirm the present advces, men and
guns from the Brooklyn navy yard will be forward
ed Immediately. He said further that the United
States steamers Alliance and Swatara now on
route 1or Colon, the Alliance from Key West and
the Swatara from New Orleans
PANAMA, via. Galveston, April 1.-Communica-
tion with Colon is reported. A force sent from
here attacked Preston the afternoon of the Both
ulr. and drove back the small outpost On the a.
m. of the 31st the fight in Colon commenced. Can
mons were used and the firing was heavy. While
the fight in pregress fire. the origin of which is
not yet known broke out in the town. Preston when
he saw defeat was unavoidable, made his escape
Many Of his men were killed or captured. sIhe
town by this time was in flames and everything was
swept away save few Panama railroad buildings
on the north beach. Most of the other buildings
and all the railroad companys books were lost. The
Canal Company saved its books and SIC, 600 in
specie. All the tracks were destroyed. The
new town of Christopher Columbus escaped the
flames. The suffering is intense, and water or
food is to be had. Three loaded with supplies
will leave here tonight. Many citizens utterly
ruined. All is quiet in Panama. Aizpuru viii
send troops to hold Colon and prevent expected
pillage.
LIBERTAp, via. Galveston. April LON march
Both Gen. Barrios attacked Vadorian, a frontier
position of Ell Coco thus breaking the promise
given by him to the U. S. Minister not to invade
Salvador, and commencing operations without a
declaration of The battle ragged ercely until
nghtfall when the Salvadorsn forces concentrated
upon Chalchuapa. At daylight on the 31st, fighting
commenced around San Lorenzo and after a severe
engagement which lasted 10 hours, the Gaute-
malan forces were completely routed Their losses
WI ham