Nelson of the railroad company were not far away when the outbreak occurred, and quickly sent for Col. Garrido, and the police. Meanwhile some of the passengers had started down to the wharf to embark, while others clamored for guns and ammunition to go to the rescue of the women and children in the hotels. All the arms in the railroad office at the time consisted of a double-barreled gun, brace of pistols, a sabre and fourteen old flintlock muskets. After some delay these guns were given out and loaded for defence, but a sentry was stationed at the door to prevent any from going out and joining in the fight. While this was going on, Mr. Center, another of ficial of the railroad, succeeded in getting the women and children removed from the Ocean Hotel. Col. Ward, the American consul, and Mr. Sabla, his secretary, arrived on the scene at this juncture, and endeavoured with other cooler heads to restrain the male passengers from mixing in the fray. An old cannon belonging to the railroad company was dug out of the sand and loaded with rivets, but Col. Ward and Mr. Center gave positive orders that it was not to be fired unless an advance was made by the mob. The consul then sent his secretary to see if the police were coming, but as he did not return, (having been shot in the leg), the consul and Mr. Nelson went forward to see how matters stood. They had not advanced beyond the Pacific House when a crowd of natives came from among the cane huts. Mr. Nelson called to them not to fire, but they disregarded the order and let off a number of shots, some of which hit Col. Ward's horse. Mr. Nelson expostulated with the people, but they told him to keep out of the way and not to go back to the station, unless he wanted to be killed. Mr. Nelson persisted in his course toward station and finally reached there in safety. the In the meantime most of the passengers and persons at the station had got inside the company's fence and sheltered themselves as well as possible from the bullets that now flew thick and fast. The mob had maintained a regular fire on the building, killing several and wounding others A report was then spread that the natives were changing their positions and everyone felt a little easier, believing that when Col. Garrido arrived with the police, the affair would be speedily terminate. Soon after the bugle of the police was heard, but instead of charging on the rioters, they joined issue with them, and commenced firing on the depot. By this time the natives had reached the freight house and were busy pillaging it. Col. Ward, with some of the others then returned to town for the purpose of inducing the Governor to come and stop the massacre. On their way up they were halted by a party of armed natives, but were finally permitted to proceed. Arriving at the Governor's house, they found him away, but there was a crowd of men about the place carrying guns and demanding powder and ball. After some further search, the Governor located in another street. He agreed to accompany the American party back to the station, but stated he had already been there, and got a bullet through his hat. Reaching the scene of the trouble once more, they found the natives still plundering the Ocean Hotel, and McAllister's store, while a man on the beach had a cannon loaded and pointed at the steamer Taboga lying near by. It was with some difficulty that he was induced not to fire. Here too they learned that Col. Garrido of the Taboga, disarmed the pass police had gone, on board the While the other officials were absent on the above errand, Mr. Center who had remained behind started take a look about the depot. He found the freight room filled with men, women and children, all trying to screen themselves from the firing, then very brisk, and in a state of the wildest excitement. From here he entered the office where he found a group of men trying to keep the outer door closed. He proceeded to assist them, and while doing so saw a man killed before his eyes. On the floor of the office lay four or five of the dead and wounded. Leaving the scene of the slaughter he next managed to get a plank over the beams of the freight door, and looking out upon the Cienaga, he distinctly saw the police outside the depot firing deliberately into it, Col. Garrido with his sword drawn cheering and urging them on. Proceeding from here to one of the rooms in the upper story of the station, Mr. Center discovered two of the passengers trying to hold a door shut. Even as he approached them, they were both shot, one dying instantly and the other in a few hours. The natives finally forced a passage into the freight room, and commenced to rifle and plunder carpet bags, and trunks, while the frightened passengers congregated here, cried for mercy. Night of Horror in April, 1856. 165 “El Cielo” We beg to call the attention of the READERS of this BOOK to OUR SPLENDID AND COM PLETE LINE OF NOVEL- Every Incoming Steamer Brings See our SPECIALTIES in CLOTHES When Mr. Nelson and Capt. McLane reached the station after leaving the Governor, they found the police outside in a very excited state. They claimed they had been fired upon from the upper story of the depot, and were desirous of retaliating in the same manner. Upon Capt. McLane promising investigation, Col. Garrido ordered further demonstrations upon the part of the police to cease, and together they went to the room upstairs in the depot from which the shots were alleged to have come. This room they found filled with women and children, the few men there declaring they had never fired a shot. About this time the authorities had obtained the ascendancy over the mob, and as soon as possible the remaining women and children were conveyed on board the steamer. Some of the passengers had taken to the bushes in the outskirts of town, and a search party was sent out to round them up. One was met who said he had been robbed by men calling themselves policemen. |