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"THE DERIENNI" ATTACK AND PLUNDER OF THE GOVERNMENT TRAIN NEAR CHAGRES.
Entered according to the Act of Congress in the year 1852, by A. R. ORTON, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Northern District of New York.
PROLOGUE.
The discovery of gold in California has given a change to the affairs of the whole world. Since the first yield of the precious metal to Mr. Sutter, the race of mankind has been unsteady and transitory. While a new state has become settled, we might say, the rest of the universe has been unsettled. The eye of man has become gorged with visions of wealth, and stories of streams running with precious gold, and of mountains whose height is the almighty metal. All these illusions have aroused the latent spirit of enterprise in the unfortunate; has given scope to the vicious cravings of depraved hearts, and rein to the unbridled lusts of the dissipated. It has opened fields of enterprise, and revealed to us forests of vice. California gold has subverted religion, and made for us thieves instead of believers. Its highways, while they are choked with poor, honest, industrious men, seeking that which, in more Northern latitudes, they have never had, or, perhaps, have lost; fathers seeking dowers for their children, and a competence for old age; husbands pining for their wives, but hoping soon to carry back to their beloved ones, the only remaining link in the chain of happiness unconnected, and that is money; the young man who, desirous of procuring a name or a fortune, also clogs the thoroughfare; there is, lurking in the train, men whose life is alcohol, whose happiness is gaming, whose religion is money, and whose social comforts are to be found in nothing save in their own notions of them. Gold and crime have been synonymous terms since the discovery of the mines. It has brought into the world more scoundrels, more accomplished ruffianism, than whole ages could have otherwise organized.
You have heard, reader, of mining associations, and gold washing associations, and companies organized for the opening of huge gambling houses, and palaces of vice of another character; but as yet, with all the writings which have deluged the reading public upon the mighty Eldorado before your eye, with letter upon letter which have added to your knowledge, you probably have not heard of associations of thieves, robbers and assassins. Depravity is so low, and the gain so high, that men have actually left the olden countries to become members of banditti. Highway robbery on the Isthmus, is as romantic and chivalrous an affair as we read of in Spanish and Italian novels; but the former are, in truth, known, while, for the latter, we have only to rely upon the inaccuracy of romancists for our information. The Derienni comprised intellect, perseverance, daring and unanimity, worthy of a better cause. Its deeds we shall bring to light; its more prominent crimes will be found in these pages. Regardless of consequences, but mindful of truth, shall we push our work through to the last.
The public of Panama city has done its duty, in sending into the interior a band of honest men, to risk their lives in the summary punishment of the Derienni. Their labors were attended with partial success; they have scotched the snake, but not killed it. The monster Derienni shows its head now, sometimes, and when the stakes are ample, is not backward in making war upon life and property; and too often do we hear of a traveler murdered for the few grains of gold in his possession; and a mail train is occasionally attacked, and slaughter may transpire. We give the lives of the three men shot by citizens; they were hardened and depraved ruffians, but had been innocent once; and that remark contains a moral to the thinking mind, which may be of service at a future time. We do not pander to any morbid taste; but hope, by the exhibition of vice in its nudity and its undistorted state, to cause the young man to avoid the embrace of crime, and follow the path of honesty, perseverance and virtue, the only true road to wealth and peace.
