The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-09-26

Capt. John Morgan, the master DUO
cancer, did in 1871. when he led his
/ band of cutthroats down from the
hills upon Panama After he had fin
ished with that big. fiourishing city
there was so little left Of it that the
Spanish moved five miles west along
the coast and there built a new PAN
ama-the Panama we know today.
The story of Morgan's justly famous
exploit, often told, never grows stale.
1t is wonderful story Of desperate
bravery, endurance, suffering and ruth
less cruelty, and as John Esquemeling
/ was the first to relate it in detail, so
he has been the best. Howard Pyle
has well said: In the case of the
EsQuemeling history. it should be de-
cidedly hands on. One touch OF the
modern brush would destroy the
whole tone of dim colors Of the past
made misty BY the lapse Of time"
So ! wish had space to quote the en-
tire story of Morgan and Panama as
Esquemeling. who was one Of the
band, tells 1t. Some of ii, at least,
must be given In his quaint language,
beginning with the capture by part
OF Morgan's feet of Fort San Lorenzo
at the mouth of the Chagres river.
Says Esquemeling:
Captain Brodely being made com
mander, in three days after his de-
parture (from st. Catherine's) ar
rived in sight Of the said castle OF
Chagre, by the Spaniards called St.
Lawrence. This castle is built on a
high mountain at the entry of the
river, surrounded by strong palisades,
or wooden walls, filed with earth,
which secures them as well as the
best wall Of stone or brick. The top
OF this mountain is, in a manner, d.
vided into two parts, between which
is ditch thirty feet deep. The castle
hath but one entry, and that by a
drawbridge over this ditch. To the
land 1t has four bastions, and to the
sea two more. The south part is to-
tally inaccessible, through the craggi-
ness OF the mountain. The north is
surrounded by the river, which here is
very broad. At the foot Of the castle,
or rather mountain, is strong fort,
with eight great guns, commanding
the entry of the river. Not much low
err are two other batteries, each of six
pieces, to defend likewise the mouth
Of the river.
No sooner had the Spaniards per
ceived the pirates, but they fired in
cessantly at them with the biggest of
their guns. They came to an anchor
In small port about league from
the castle. Next morning, very early.
they went ashore and marched
through the woods to attack the castle
on that side. This march lasted fiji
TWO OF the clock in the afternoon, be-
fore they could reach the castle by
reason of the difficulties Of the way
ana its mire and dirt; and though
their guides served them very exact.
~ yet they came so nigh the castle
at first that they lost many of their
men by its shot, they being in an omen
place without covert"
The pirates bravely assaulted the
castle, sword in one hand and fire.
ball In the other, but were renulsed
with heavy loss. Renewing the at
tack under cover of darkness. there
happened very remarkable accident
which occasioned their victory. Ono
Oh the pirates being wounded with an
arrow In his back, which pierced his
body through, he pulled it out boldly
at the side OF his breast, and winding
little cotton about It, he put II into
MS musket, and shot It back 10 the
castle, but the cotton being hindlod
by the powder, fired two or three
houses in the castle, being
matched with palm leaves. which the
Spaniards perceived not so soon as
was necessary; for this fire meeting
with parcel Of powder, blew II nm
thereby causing great ruin, and no
less CONSERVATION to the Spaniards
who were not able to put stop to Il >
Fun advantage was taken of this nv
me buccaneers, and they set fire to
ne palings and gained a foothold
within them, despite many flaming
bots full OF combustible matter and
'dious smells, which DESTROYED many
u the English" All next morning
be fight ragged. but about noon the
English gained breach through
which they fought their way TO the |
Ieart Of the castle. THE Spaniards !
sho remained alive cast themselves
own from the cast into the sea.
hoosing rather to die thus flew or |
one surviving the fall) than to ask |
uarter for their lives. The governor
imself retreated to the corps du
uard. before which were placed two
ieces Of cannon; here he still de-
ended himself, not demanding any
uarter, till he was killed with mus. |
ct shot in the head"
In a few days Captain Morgan ar.
wed with the rest of his feet and or.
anize1 the expedition against Pana-
IA. He took his men by boat up the
hagres as far as Cruces, now a vii
ge not two miles from the canal. and
'ere landed them for the overland
arch. Leaving $50 men with the