The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-04-22
PLUNDERED PANAMA.
An Official Report of Commander
Kane of the "Galenao Oh the
! Preston Outrages.

Kane Of the 'Galenao Oh the
i Preston Outrages.
Courageous and Gallant Action of thu
| ( Sailors and Marines English
/ Assistance Acknowledged
Preston's Outrage Oh American Citizens
| xWAsHINGToN, April 1S.-Com'
mander Kane, Of the United States
steamer Galena, has made a report to
Secretary Whitney, under date Of
April S, relative to the burning of
Aspinwall by the insurgents on the
afternoon of March 31st, and the
pat taken by his command for the
protection of American citizens and
their property. The Commander
says: About 1890 p. m. Of March
3Oth it was reported to me that
the American steamer Colon had
madea small American flag at the
fore. union Gown, and that they
were signaling that the steamer was
being attacked by insurgent troops.
I Immediately sent boat to the
Colon in charge of Lieutenant Judd,
United States Navy, to see what
the trouble was. He returned in
abput half an hour bringing United
States Consul Wright and was in
formed that there were arms and am;
munition on board the Colon and
that Senor Preston, chisf Of tie in
suigent forces here, had demanded
the delivery of the arms aud that
Mr.. Conners, the Aspinwall agent Of
the Pacific Steamship Company,
WAS UNDER ARREST
and that Preston had promised not
to interfere with the steamer before
8 p. NJ. when the general agent of
the steamship company, Captain
Dow, would arrive from Panama. pro-
vided the Galena would put no force
on board Of the steamer. In the
meantime, at 2:45, I sent Lieutenant
Judd, who was accompanied by the
United States Consul and n avail Ca
det Richardson, to meet Captain
Dow and direct him not to deliver
any arms without my orders and also
to communicate with Preston and to
say I desired an interview with him.
Lieutenant Judd met Captain Dow
at the steamship office, where were
also Preston and some Of his aides.
Lieutenant Judd communicated my
Instructions and Preston at once
called in some of his guards, arrested
Lieutenant Judd, The United Safes
Consul and Capt Dow and ordered
them taken to prison. At the
United States COnsulale's the Con-
SUBS clerk, Mr. Cosanover, an Amer
lean citizen, was forcibly removed.
Naval Cadet Richardson was permit-
ted 70 return to the ship to bring the
news of the arrest. He also informed
me of the threat of Preston that it
the Galena attempted to land force
it would be fired upon and if 1t fired
a gun the whole party would be shot.
The insurgent guards were now as
sembled on the wharves Ill force and
had thrown up barricades on the
Northern pier of the harbor.
TO RESIST OUR LANDING,
sent a demand to Preston for the
Immediate release of the whole party,
but Lieut.. Judd returned on b'ard
and the demand was not delivered.
Lieut.. Judd and party were held as
prisoners for nearly two hours and
only released when the United States
Consul had given his consent for the
delivery Of the arms. This promise
was exactei under penalty OF death
for the whole party. Daring the
absence of Lieut.. Judd the 'Galena'
had been dropped down within
hundred yards Of the "Colon's"
wharf and every preparation made
for seiz:ng that vessel. Commander
Kane further relates how he got
Consul w, light and his clerk on
board the ''Galena" and adds: Il now
determined to wait no longer, so Or
dered all of the armed boats manned,
WITH THREE GUNS
under the command of Lleuten ant
Judd and made all prepalations to
release the two agents by force, if my
demand was not complied with.
While these preparations were being
made Captain Dow and Mr.. Conner
appeared and informed me that they
h ad escaped from Preston's forces"
He proceeds: "Having now under
my protection all the Americans
who had been arrested and hearing
firing of the Government troops
from Panama, who We're driving the
insurgents before them iuto their
barricade in the town, l ordered
Lieutenant Judd with his force to
leave sufficient men to protect the
officers of the Pacific Mail Company
and then take possession of the
United States Consulate offices and
stOrehOuses, the Panama railroad
company's offices and to use his force
for the protection of American prop
erty. This was done. Here follows the
story of the fight between Preston's
forces and the Government troops
and the burning of Colon, substan-
TALLY as already given. The Cam
mander adds: The Crew of H. B. NJ.
gun vessel, Lilly, rendered great as.
sistance in saving shipping at the
wharves, none of which was de-
stroyed. The fire did not extend to
the Panama Canal Company's prop
erty at Chrlstoper Colon. All that
has been saved of the town of Aspin-
wall is due to the protection afforded
by this ship and the efficiency and
bard work Of the officers and men in
fighting the fire. He concludes
"The complication of the afternoon
of March 80 could have been avoided
had been informed in time regard
ing the arms ON the COlOn.'
Looks Fishy.
NEW York, April 1S-Mrs. Mary