Morgan knew that success depended on
taking instant advantage of the panic of the enemy, and he advanced
without delay against the town. It was strongly defended with artillery,
but the impetuous assault of the freebooters carried all before it, and
after a three hours' fight the city was in their hands.
The scenes that followed were marked by the most atrocious ferocity and
vandalism. The city was given up to indiscriminate pillage, attended by
outrages of every kind, and in the end was set on fire by Morgan's orders
and burned to the ground, much of its great wealth being utterly consumed
through the sheer instinct of destruction.
Fortunately for the people of Panama, the majority of them had sought
safety in flight, taking their women and all their portable wealth. In
pursuit of those that had fled by water Morgan sent out a well-manned
ship, which returned after a two days' cruise with three prizes. It also
brought back news that a large galleon, deeply laden with treasure in gold
and silver and carrying away the principal women of the town, with their
jewels, had escaped.
Pages:
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203