Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-01

having stopped the passage of trains across the
Isthmus Of Panama The revolution Of 1885
having stopped the passage of trains across the
1sthmus Secretary Whitney sent t~o battalions
OF marines to the scene Of the trouble. On
their Lrriva! transit was Immediately opened.
The insurgents having thrown up barricades in
the streets of Panama. threatening to cut off
communication bv the Central and South
American cables the marines entered the town,
destroyed the barbados, arrested the revolu-
tionary chiefs and shut them up until they
agreed to behave better.
In the great labor riots Of 1877 the marines
performed most valuable services regular
troops at Baltimore. Reading and elsewhere.
During the historical Boston fire OF November
3, 1872 the marines were summoned from the
navy yard in that city to aid the police in keep
ing peace and in preventing wholesale robbery
by gangs OF thieves who swarmed like vultUres
to the carrion. In May. 1871, a peaceful party
OF officers and sailors the Salee river in
Corea, was fred upon bv native troops from
forts. To avenge this outrage. the ships of the
Asiatic squadron attacked the forts with their
guns and landed a battalion of marines with a
brigade OF seamen. The marines and seamen,
after fierce lighting. captured all of the forts in
that neighborhood and killed several hundreds
of the Coreans
In June. 1870. the steamer Forward, bear
ing the San Salvador flag. landed $50 men of
different nationalites at Guaymas, Mexico.
They took and robbed the custom house, ex-
acted tribute from merchants and compelled
the United States consul to supply coal for their
vessel. As soon as news was received OF the
outbreak the United States steamer Mohican
started in pursuit OF the piratical craft. which
was captured and destroyed by marines and
soldiers in six boats. Three years earlier an
American bark. the Rover, was wrecked at
the south end of the island of Formosa and her
officers and crew were massacred by savages
To teach the latter a lesson a force of marines
and sailors was landed and destroyed many
villages OF the savages, killing large numbers Of
them.
THE ARIEL AND THE ALABAMA.
Even the bravest man cannot always win.
Early in December, 1862, two companies Of
marines Of seventy men each sailed from New
York in the Pacific mail steamer Ariel for
Aspinwall. being assigned for ships Of the
Pacific squadron and for the garrison at Mare
Island, Cal. OFF the eastern end of Cuba a
steamer hove in sight flying the United States
flag. This was presently lowered and the stars
and bars of the confederacy were run up TO the
peak of the stranger. Being admonished by a
shell from the latter, which cut away his fore
mast. the commander of the Ariel hove TO, and
presently boat filled with armed men came
alongside. The mysterious steamer proved TO
be the dreaded Alabama. Perceiving that any
resistance would endanger the lives of many
women and children the marines surrendered
their arms. Lieut.. Armstrong of the confeder-
ate navy addressed them. asking for twenty
volunteers to- fill up the marine guard of the
Alabama and promising them great rewards in
prize money, but not man would turn traitor.
The officers and men were paroled, and. after
being ransomed for $3.50, 600, the Ariel pro-
ceeded on her way.
The famous raid of John Brown at Harper's
Ferry occurred in October. 1859 When the
insurgents had taken refuge in engine house,
where they kept u large force of troops at bay,
100 marines arrived on the scene. battered in
the door with long ladder and captured the
party. There was big riot in Washington
on the first day OF June 1857. Large numbers
OF hired rufians were imported from Balti-
more by the klow-nothings to take possession
of the polls. They brought out q brass cannon
and terrOrized the town. Two companies of
marines turned out, captured the cannon and
dispersed the mob after several shots from
guns and pistols had been exchanged. Sixty
of these men were raw recruits, having been
under drill only three days.
In November, 1855. there was an instruction
at Monterideo OF SO sangulnary character that
the lives and property OF foreign residents were
in great danger. United States marines were
landed from ship in the harbor and doubtless
prevented q frightful massacre. Their duty on
such occasions, which they have many a time
fulfilled, is particularly TO guard the shops.
While preventing the footing OF business estGb-
lishmeEts they keep watch over all places where
liquor is sold to keep not only the mob but the
edlIOrs aitO lTOu bettlIS Oruuk IL ~ alWdys
an important part OF their business to control
and keen in order the seamen who lack SOL
dierly discipline and are always apt to commit
excuses when there is opportunity. Ma
rines are never found to Gbet muiiny. In
the same year the marines distinguished them
selves in an attack on fleet OF pirate junks in
the Yellow sea. These freebooters we're par
ticularly bold and strong at that time, and
when they captured vessel the most horrible
scenes which the imagination can associate with
piracy were enacted. On the occasion referred
to boats from United States steamer Powhatan
and the British sloop Rather attacked the junks
and destroyed many of them.
There are actually horse marines in the serv-
zee of the United States. but these are merely
those officers who are entitled by rank to tide.
II they go on shipboard they do not take their
horses with them. Majors. lieutenant colonies
and coionels in the corps have horses. 1t is a
matter of history that woman named Hannah
Smell fought for long time in the ranks Of the
royal British marines. She was wounded twelve
times i'll various actions and was finally dis
charged hnnorably. her sey being undiscovered.
Marines are a very ancient institution. Such
sea soldiers were regularly employed onwarships
by the Greeks and Phpncians five centuries
before Christ. They did the lighting while the
sailors managed the vessels.