Derienni
Encyclopedia
Derienni the native bandits of Panama
in the early 1850s, during the California Gold Rush
who robbed the pack trains crossing the Isthmus of Panama
with sacks of California
gold and ran off with it into the hills. These highwaymen harassed the gold trains to the point that several of the large shippers were considering transferring their business to the Transit Route of Commodore Vanderbilt who promised to hire units of the Nicaraguan army as guards.
The Panama Railroad Company sought help from Wells, Fargo & Company
and a private police force, the Isthmian Guard was organized and led by Randolph Runnels
, an ex-Texas Ranger
. He identifyed the ringleaders and suddenly one night in early 1852 he had 37 of them hanged in a public square and the trouble ceased for a time. After half a year, robberies began again Runnels and his men investigated again and after another night in late 1852, he rounded up the remaining offenders, 41 more were hung ending the reign of the Derienni.
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
in the early 1850s, during the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
who robbed the pack trains crossing the Isthmus of Panama
Isthmus of Panama
The Isthmus of Panama, also historically known as the Isthmus of Darien, is the narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, linking North and South America. It contains the country of Panama and the Panama Canal...
with sacks of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
gold and ran off with it into the hills. These highwaymen harassed the gold trains to the point that several of the large shippers were considering transferring their business to the Transit Route of Commodore Vanderbilt who promised to hire units of the Nicaraguan army as guards.
The Panama Railroad Company sought help from Wells, Fargo & Company
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
and a private police force, the Isthmian Guard was organized and led by Randolph Runnels
Randolph Runnels
Born in Texas probably in 1830, Randolph Runnels was a nephew of Hiram Georges Runnels. He became a Texas Ranger and took part to the Indian wars....
, an ex-Texas Ranger
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
. He identifyed the ringleaders and suddenly one night in early 1852 he had 37 of them hanged in a public square and the trouble ceased for a time. After half a year, robberies began again Runnels and his men investigated again and after another night in late 1852, he rounded up the remaining offenders, 41 more were hung ending the reign of the Derienni.
Source
- Joseph L. Schott, Rails Across Panama - The Story of the Building of the Panama Railroad 1849-1855, The Bob Merrill Company Inc., New York: N.Y., 1967.
- Michael L. Conniff, Panama and the United States: the forced alliance, University of Georgia Press, Athens, Georgia, 2001.