The morning call., 1890-09-15
FIERCE COMBATANTS.
Tragic Occurrence Upon the
Steamer City of Panama.
Bloody Encounter in a Mexican Port-0ne
Man Mortally Wounded-Barrundia
Witness to the ARRAY.

The Pacific Mail Company's steamer City
OF Panama, Captain Clark. which has been
plying between Mexican and Central Amer
lean ports for the last SIX months, came up
to this port to have thorough oyerhaulng
and locked at the Oriental Dock. where she
was boarded yesterday by CALL reporter.
The yeSse. does not look near as trim as
the company's vessels that run out of this
rort, but will no doubt do so when she
comes off the dry-dock at the Union Iron
Works, to which place she goes to-day. She
Will have her engines and machinery over
hauled and be placed in first-class condition,
ready to cope with the heavy seas that oc-
caslonally prevail between Acapulco and
Panama.
When the reporter boarded the steamer he
was shown four bullet-holeS in the main sa-
loon, mute evidences of serious conflict
that occurred on board just before she came
to this port, during which one man was
probably mortally wounded.
DEADLY FOES.
From one of the officers on board the YES
sci it was learned that about month ago.
when the steamer was on her last trip from
Acapulco to Panama, she touched at Salinas
Cruz Mexico, and there took on board two
EdHES VI iicIl WHO were SOlus5 W SHdiii-
perico, Guatemala. to work in the coffee
plantations. There were fifty i'll one gang
and twenty in the other.
The boss of the first gang was man
named Silvia Gonzales, and of the other
Manuel de Soto The two men were deadly
foes and had had many rows on shore before
boarding the vessel. When they boarded the
steamer quartermaster stood at the gang
way, which is customary at the southern
ports, and relieved each OF the male passen-
gers of his weapons. Pistols were taken
from Gonzales and De Soto. The latter was
accompanied by woman whom he called
bis wife, and the two were ,Signed to state
room Z on the Starboard side of the ship,
while Gonzales was given a room ON the
port side.
Early in the day while the steamer was
taking in cargo the two men met forward
and after war of words had IL fist fight,
during which De Soto had his nose split.
His injuries were dressed by the ships sur
geOn and he then went to his state-room,
where it is presumed by the officers he pro-
cured another revolver from the woman
who accompanied him.
FLYING BULLETS.
About o'clock in the afternoon, just as
lunch was over, and the vessel was yet
lying at the dock, De Soto came downstairs
from the Social Hall and at the same time
Gonzales entered the dining saloon from the
door opening on the deck from the starboard
side.
As soon as the men met they glared at
each other and then clinched. De SOLO
pulled a revolver, and the two fought for its
possession. The walters, who were just clear
ing off the tables under the direction OF the
second steward, scattered in all directions.
De Soto held ON to the weapon, however,
and fired five shots. The first one, which
narrowly escaped hitting the second stew
ard, went through the ceiling, another
struck the corner OF the bulkhead OF the
stewards room and glanced off, third
struck the casing OF the pantry and still an
other went into the bulkhead of the purSerS
room, where it is yet Embedded.
GoNZAL Es' WOUNDS.
The fifth bullet fired by De Soto passed
through Gonzales shoulder. As soon as the
firing ceased some of the crew rushed in
and disarmed De Soto. 1t was found that
he had a siX-chamber fOrty-four caliber
revolver, in which one cartridge yet re-
manned. The other i've had been fired DE
Soto was sent ashore and delivered mp to the
Mexican authorities.
Gonzales, on being examined, was found
TO be seriously wounded in Two places. One
bullet had passed completely through his
shoulder, and another, supposed to be the
one that struck tie stewards room and
glanced off had entered his abdomen on the
starboard side and became lmbedjed there.
He WAS tenderly cared for and then placed
on stretcher and sent ashore TO the hos
pital.
BARRUNDIA WAS THERE.
Among the passengers on the City of
Panama when the atfray occurred was Gen.
eral Barrundia, an account OF whose tragic
death at San Jose de Guatemala on board
the Pacific Mali Steamer Acapulco, Captain
Pitts, was published in THE CALL on Satur-
day.
The General was on his way from Salinas
Cruz to San Bento ut the time. He took
the deposition of the wounded man, who
was thought to be diving, and delivered it to
the officers who took him and his assailant
ashore.
The officers of the City Of Panama speak
in the highest terms of General Burrundia.
They say he spoke English fluently and was
a thorough gentleman and they were greatly
grieved to hear of his sudden taking of.