The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-08-18
The old Spanish bridge.

excavations all over the site or the
Old oity and 10 open the past as far
as possible to the light of the pres
ent. Already there is great tourist
travel out to old Panama. and with
the completion Of the canal this Will
be one OF the sights of the country. a
concession has already been given to
build an electric railway. and this viii
probably ne constructed IN time
In the Footsteps of the buccaneers.
This country fairly teens with his
tory. All the wealth OF the Pacifc
coast OF our continent was brought
hero, and the pirates and buccaneers
lowered about these waters. hoping to
catch ana rob the Spanish gslleons.
Now and then the stiles We're besieg-d,
ana one OF tho most graphic stories
Of our hemisphere is that OF Captain
Henry Morgan and his band in the cap
ture OF Panama. The story was noted
down by one OF the pirates who kent
record Of everything. 1t was pub
lished about seven years after the
events occurred. and II describes the
expedition as a whole and in detail.
The pirate writer's name WAS John
Esqucmeling. and he published his
narrative In 1873. 1t was first printed
in Dutch, but II has been done ever
! into Spanish and English. and copies
OF u may now be bought.
EsqGemeling tells first of the cap
ture OF Porto Bello by Morgan. The
forts which he took are sun In exis-
tence. and they lie across the harbor
near tho great quarrles. from Were
we have been getting the stone for
the concrete work Of the Gatum locks
Porto Belle is practically nothing to-
day. but in 1868 1t was one of the
chief landmarks OF the New World and
was noted everywhere for its wealth
and Importance. 1t was then the
strongest fortified town that the King
OF Spain had in the West Indies. with
,he exceptions only Of cartagena and
Havana.
Esquemelins says that Its castles
were almost imprognable. and that the
garrison consisted OF 500 soldiers. I,
had population OF about 5000 peo-
pie and among its buildings were some
great warehouses where the silver ana
gold were brought upon mules. and
where the ships landed the negroes
brought here 10 be used as slaves.
When Morgan took Porto Bello he
slipped in and embarked some distance
up the coast lie then marched with
his buccaneers down to the forts and
put the Spanards to the sword He
blew M one Of the castles and set
ire to another. The battle was ter
rible one. and tho spapiards fought
hravely The governor of the town
refused to surrender. saying. Il would
rather die az = soldier than be hanged
as "a coward"
After taking the town the pirates
looted it. They tortured the citizens
To make them give up their wealth.
and this with such cruel,ics that many
died on the rack.
BesicginE Old Panama.
Morgan now sent word arross the
Isthums TO the citizens OF oil Panama,
demanding ransom. This was re-
fused, and the pirate went with mis-
crow back To Cuba and thence IN Ia
maica 10 prepare for its capture. They
had then in ready money 25o,o0O pieces
Of eisht as we'll as a great stock OF
linens, silks and other goods.
The fail of old Panama occurred in
1871. and the fleet which started QUIZ
to take it was perhaps the largest
pirate gang ever gotten together. II
had thirty-seven ships and 1900 men.
Morgan was admiral and ne divided the
! fleet into two squadrons and made
fixed scheme of division as to what
share every man should have of the
booty. When tho pirates engaged
with Morgan they did not know just
where they were going and had tho