Watermelon Riot facts for kids
The Watermelon Riot was a big fight that happened in Panama City on the evening of April 15, 1856. At that time, Panama City was the capital of Panama State, part of the country called the Republic of New Granada. The fight started when an American traveler took a slice of watermelon from a street seller and refused to pay for it. A heated argument quickly turned into a shootout. Soon, a large group of local people joined in, fighting with the Americans. Before the fighting stopped, at least fifteen Americans and two Panamanians were killed. American businesses, including the main train station, were badly damaged or completely destroyed.
Contents
Why the Riot Happened
Panama's Important Location
During the 1800s, the United States became more and more interested in the isthmus of Panama. This narrow strip of land was the easiest way to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in Central America. After the Mexican–American War and the California Gold Rush, many people in the U.S. wanted to travel west. Crossing Panama offered a much faster route to the Pacific. Traveling across the middle and western parts of America was difficult and often dangerous back then.
Treaties and US Interests
Because of this, the U.S. government often talked with the government of the Republic of New Granada (which included Panama). These talks focused on making sure people and goods could travel freely and safely through Panama. An important agreement from these talks was the Mallarino–Bidlack Treaty in 1846. In this treaty, New Granada agreed that the United States could step in to protect the safety of the Panama area.
This part of the treaty was first meant to stop other countries from taking control of Panama. But later, the U.S. used it to protect its own interests. This meant they could get involved if there were local problems or the many civil wars happening in New Granada. Before the Panama Canal was built, the main thing the U.S. wanted to protect in Panama was the Panama Canal Railway. This railway was finished in 1855.
Impact of the Railroad
Before the railway was built, many local Panamanians made a living by transporting goods and people. They used riverboats and mule trains. The new railroad caused many of these people to lose their jobs. This loss of work made them angry at the railroad and at Americans in general.
The Riot Begins
The Spark: A Watermelon Slice
On the afternoon of April 15, 1856, a train arrived in Panama City. It carried about 1,000 passengers who were on their way to California. Many women and children were among them. The ocean tide was low when they arrived, so they could not immediately get on their ship, the John L. Stephens. This ship was supposed to take them to San Francisco. While waiting for the tide to rise, some passengers explored La Cienaga. This was a poor neighborhood near the train station, home to freed slaves, workers, and new immigrants.
The incident started around 6 p.m. A small group of American passengers met a fruit seller named Jose Manuel Luna near the train station. One passenger, possibly named Jack Oliver, took a slice of watermelon and then refused to pay. An argument started. Oliver pulled out a gun, and Luna grabbed a knife. Another passenger stepped in and paid Luna for the fruit. Right after this, a local man named Miguel Habrahan rushed out from a crowd. He grabbed the gun from Oliver and ran into the neighborhood.
Fighting Spreads
Soon after, hundreds of local men gathered. They were armed with machetes, stones, and other weapons. They began fighting with the Americans, who fought back with their own guns and weapons.
The first fights happened around the American-owned businesses in La Cienaga. Within a few hours, places like the Pacific House, the Ocean Hotel, and MacAllister’s store were completely destroyed. After a short break in the violence, a second wave of attacks began. This time, the target was the railroad station, where most Americans had gone for safety.
Police Involvement
The Panama City police joined the mob. They tried to control the situation at first. But then, the acting governor of the area, Francisco de Fabrega, ordered them to attack the station. Most of the deaths that night happened after the police and the mob fought their way into the building. The railroad station was destroyed, parts of the train tracks were ripped up, and telegraph lines were cut. The violence around the station finally ended around dawn.
The U.S. consul in Panama City reported that 15 Americans were killed and at least 50 more were hurt in the chaos. Also, two Panamanians died, and 13 others were wounded.
What Happened Next
Investigations and Blame
After the riot, both the United States and New Granada started investigations to find out what caused it. The U.S. asked Amos Corwine to write a report. Corwine had been a U.S. consul in Panama City before. His brother also worked for a shipping company that had many business interests in Panama. Corwine's final report blamed Miguel Habrahan, the man who took the gun. He claimed Habrahan signaled to "native negros" to start a planned attack, with help from Panama officials.
New Granada's investigation was led by Lino de Pombo, the foreign affairs minister, and Florentino Gonzalez. Their report said the riot was a sudden uprising. They believed it was started by John Oliver and made worse by past bad behavior from Americans. They also mentioned that some American adventurers, called filibusters, were in Panama City. They also pointed to the job losses caused by the railroad as reasons for the anger. They denied that the attack was planned or that Panama officials helped.
US Intervention and Payments
Corwine's report suggested that the U.S. should "immediately occupy the isthmus." On September 19, a group of 160 American soldiers took control of the railway station. The city was calm, and three days later, the troops left without firing a single shot. The U.S. said this short occupation was allowed under Article 35 of the Mallarino-Bidlack Agreement. They claimed it was to protect Panama's neutrality and free travel. This event turned out to be the first of many times the U.S. would get involved in Panama.
The United States asked New Granada to pay for the damages and losses from the riot. The two countries signed a treaty called the Cass-Herran Treaty in 1858. New Granada agreed that it was responsible for not keeping the peace. A group was set up to review claims, and about $500,000 was given to U.S. citizens who had suffered damages.
See also
In Spanish: Incidente de la tajada de sandía para niños
