Watermelon War
Encyclopedia
The Watermelon War was a riot that occurred in Panama City
, Panama
, on the morning of April 15, 1856.
During this time, many Panamanian citizens despised the American citizens because they felt as if the US had dominated the labor force. Panamanians that once held jobs were left unemployed, because once the U.S. completed the trans-Panama railroad, they terminated the entire labor force. The U.S. then filled the administrative and supervisory roles with Americans, while only a few jobs were left for the Panamanians on the railroad lines.
During this railroad boom, many U.S. citizens were seen passing through Panama City, and with the animosity brewing, a riot was inevitable.
, John L. Stephens, transported about 1,000 passengers to Panama City. However, the station was located at the waterfront and Panama City did not then have any wharf
s where ships could dock. Therefore, ships like John L. Stephens had to dock on a surrounding island
, in this case Taboga Island
, and then be ferried to Panama City. The passengers could only be ferried during high tide
and, on this particular day, the John L. Stephens arrived during low tide; therefore, the passengers had to sit and wait on high tide.
Most of the passengers were drunk by this time because many of them had visited the local cantinas before the trip. One American, Jack Oliver, walked around the station and encountered a vendor, José Manuel Luna, selling watermelon
. Oliver grabbed a slice of the watermelon, which was priced at five cents per slice, and refused to pay for it. From here, accounts differ. The most accepted version states that the vendor yelled at Oliver and eventually pulled out a knife
and threatened him. One of Oliver’s friends then tossed five cents at the vendor, but the vendor continued yelling at Oliver until Oliver pulled out a gun
. At this point the vendor took off running, but another Panamanian, who saw the entire incident, grabbed Oliver’s arm and the two struggled for the gun. During this struggle, the gun went off and a bystander was wounded.
At this point, the riot was unavoidable as more Panamanians arrived and more shots began to be fired. Many Americans were beaten unmercifully, robbed, and many buildings were destroyed. When the police arrived later, one of them was hit by a bullet
, which forced them to join in the riot. Everyone in the area, even the police
and authority figures, were involved in the Watermelon War.
Finally, a train
arrived filled with armed railroad men, who were led by Randolph Runnels
. The railroad men then fired at the mob
and most of them ran for cover. Runnels then shouted to the mob to put down the weapons and come out with their hands over their heads.
In the end, Governor Aniño, submitted an official report that stated 15 Americans were dead and 16 wounded, and 2 Panamanians were dead and 13 wounded.
, Amos Corwine, recommended in his report " ... the immediate occupation of the isthmus." This raised a series of diplomatic controversies. Accordingly, the North American authorities attended to the report and on September, 1856 American troops unlawfully invaded Panama disembarking in the isthmus and taking the railway station.
On September 19 of that year, a detachment of 160 soldiers took possession of the railway station. The city was calm and three days later, the troops moved back without having fired a single shot. This brief occupation was supposedly justified according to the U.S. government by a clause in the Agreement of 1846, by means of which, the United States was guaranteeing the neutrality of the isthmus, so that transit was not interrupted.
1. That the city of Panama
and Colón
had to be free cities and that they were governed under the sovereignty of Panama, and jointly they will control a strip land twenty miles wide from ocean to ocean, with the railroad as the central line.
2. The Republic of New Granada
, which was then the name of Colombia, had to transfer several islands in the Bay of Panama to the United States to use them as naval bases.
3. New Granada had to transfer its rights on the Panamanian Railroad to the United States
4. New Granada had to pay compensation for damages for the loss of life and the destruction of property.
The United States was not alone in demanding indemnifications; France
and Britain
, whose citizens turned out to be affected as well, also demanded compensation.
In turn, the United States used this incident as an excuse to put Article 35 of the Mallarino-Bidlack Agreement into practice. That is to say, its prerogative of safeguarding the neutrality and free transit in Panama, and use of armed forces when the local government is deemed unfit. This motivated a series of American interventions in the isthmus during the 19th and 20th century, which at last irritated the xenophobia and the nationalistic feeling of the Panamanians.
According to the Gazette of the State of May 3, 1856, the dead persons were Lucas Prados and Apolinar N. of Panama; and Robert Marks, of Pennsylvania
; Octavio Dubois, French; N. Stokes, of the filibusters of William Walker (filibuster); Alexander Sweet, of Maine
and another 12 of whom the names are not known.
Panama City
Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...
, Panama
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...
, on the morning of April 15, 1856.
Background
From 1850 until 1903, the US military had created very strong tension between Panamanian citizens and US officials. The tension brewed until massive race riots and revolts appeared all over Panama, creating turmoil in an already battered nation.During this time, many Panamanian citizens despised the American citizens because they felt as if the US had dominated the labor force. Panamanians that once held jobs were left unemployed, because once the U.S. completed the trans-Panama railroad, they terminated the entire labor force. The U.S. then filled the administrative and supervisory roles with Americans, while only a few jobs were left for the Panamanians on the railroad lines.
During this railroad boom, many U.S. citizens were seen passing through Panama City, and with the animosity brewing, a riot was inevitable.
The Riot
On April 15, 1856 morning the U.S. steamerSteamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
, John L. Stephens, transported about 1,000 passengers to Panama City. However, the station was located at the waterfront and Panama City did not then have any wharf
Wharf
A wharf or quay is a structure on the shore of a harbor where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers.Such a structure includes one or more berths , and may also include piers, warehouses, or other facilities necessary for handling the ships.A wharf commonly comprises a fixed...
s where ships could dock. Therefore, ships like John L. Stephens had to dock on a surrounding island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
, in this case Taboga Island
Taboga Island
Taboga Island , also known as the "Island of Flowers," is a volcanic island in the Gulf of Panama. It is a tourist destination, about 20 km from Panama City, Panama.-History:...
, and then be ferried to Panama City. The passengers could only be ferried during high tide
Tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....
and, on this particular day, the John L. Stephens arrived during low tide; therefore, the passengers had to sit and wait on high tide.
Most of the passengers were drunk by this time because many of them had visited the local cantinas before the trip. One American, Jack Oliver, walked around the station and encountered a vendor, José Manuel Luna, selling watermelon
Watermelon
Watermelon is a vine-like flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a special kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind and fleshy center...
. Oliver grabbed a slice of the watermelon, which was priced at five cents per slice, and refused to pay for it. From here, accounts differ. The most accepted version states that the vendor yelled at Oliver and eventually pulled out a knife
Knife
A knife is a cutting tool with an exposed cutting edge or blade, hand-held or otherwise, with or without a handle. Knives were used at least two-and-a-half million years ago, as evidenced by the Oldowan tools...
and threatened him. One of Oliver’s friends then tossed five cents at the vendor, but the vendor continued yelling at Oliver until Oliver pulled out a gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
. At this point the vendor took off running, but another Panamanian, who saw the entire incident, grabbed Oliver’s arm and the two struggled for the gun. During this struggle, the gun went off and a bystander was wounded.
At this point, the riot was unavoidable as more Panamanians arrived and more shots began to be fired. Many Americans were beaten unmercifully, robbed, and many buildings were destroyed. When the police arrived later, one of them was hit by a bullet
Bullet
A bullet is a projectile propelled by a firearm, sling, or air gun. Bullets do not normally contain explosives, but damage the intended target by impact and penetration...
, which forced them to join in the riot. Everyone in the area, even the police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
and authority figures, were involved in the Watermelon War.
Finally, a train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
arrived filled with armed railroad men, who were 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....
. The railroad men then fired at the mob
Crowd
A crowd is a large and definable group of people, while "the crowd" is referred to as the so-called lower orders of people in general...
and most of them ran for cover. Runnels then shouted to the mob to put down the weapons and come out with their hands over their heads.
In the end, Governor Aniño, submitted an official report that stated 15 Americans were dead and 16 wounded, and 2 Panamanians were dead and 13 wounded.
Consequences
On July 18, the American commissionerCommissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
, Amos Corwine, recommended in his report " ... the immediate occupation of the isthmus." This raised a series of diplomatic controversies. Accordingly, the North American authorities attended to the report and on September, 1856 American troops unlawfully invaded Panama disembarking in the isthmus and taking the railway station.
On September 19 of that year, a detachment of 160 soldiers took possession of the railway station. The city was calm and three days later, the troops moved back without having fired a single shot. This brief occupation was supposedly justified according to the U.S. government by a clause in the Agreement of 1846, by means of which, the United States was guaranteeing the neutrality of the isthmus, so that transit was not interrupted.
Proposal
In response to the riot, the United States made the following proposals:1. That the city of Panama
Panama City
Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...
and Colón
Colón, Panama
Colón is a sea port on the Caribbean Sea coast of Panama. The city lies near the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal. It is capital of Panama's Colón Province and has traditionally been known as Panama's second city....
had to be free cities and that they were governed under the sovereignty of Panama, and jointly they will control a strip land twenty miles wide from ocean to ocean, with the railroad as the central line.
2. The Republic of New Granada
Republic of New Granada
The Republic of New Granada was a centralist republic consisting primarily of present-day Colombia and Panama with smaller portions of today's Ecuador, and Venezuela. It was created after the dissolution in 1830 of Gran Colombia. It was later abolished in 1858 when the Granadine Confederation was...
, which was then the name of Colombia, had to transfer several islands in the Bay of Panama to the United States to use them as naval bases.
3. New Granada had to transfer its rights on the Panamanian Railroad to the United States
4. New Granada had to pay compensation for damages for the loss of life and the destruction of property.
Compensation
Finally the government of New Granada accepted the terms and signed the Herrán-Cass Agreement. On September 10, 1857 the New Granada government established a sum compensation of $412,394 in gold for damages.- 195,410 dollars for indemnifications derived from the riot.
- 65,070 dollars for new claims.
- 9,277 dollars for expenses of the commissioners
- 142,637 dollars for interests.
The United States was not alone in demanding indemnifications; France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, whose citizens turned out to be affected as well, also demanded compensation.
In turn, the United States used this incident as an excuse to put Article 35 of the Mallarino-Bidlack Agreement into practice. That is to say, its prerogative of safeguarding the neutrality and free transit in Panama, and use of armed forces when the local government is deemed unfit. This motivated a series of American interventions in the isthmus during the 19th and 20th century, which at last irritated the xenophobia and the nationalistic feeling of the Panamanians.
According to the Gazette of the State of May 3, 1856, the dead persons were Lucas Prados and Apolinar N. of Panama; and Robert Marks, of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
; Octavio Dubois, French; N. Stokes, of the filibusters of William Walker (filibuster); Alexander Sweet, of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
and another 12 of whom the names are not known.