146 



NARRATIVE OF A 



scenes that followed were such as were to be expected in a 

 city abandoned to the rapacity and cruelty of a barbarous 

 horde. Houses were broke open and plundered ; the 

 worst of outrages were committed on private families ; a 

 number of persons were shot down in the streets, and the 

 Vice-President, Salaza, was killed in his own house,* It 

 is due to Carrera to say that these excesses were not com- 

 mitted by his directions, and that perhaps it was not in his 

 power to prevent them. As soon as an opportunity was 

 afforded, some of the authorities came to a parley with 

 Carrera, and prayed him to state the terms on which he 

 would consent to evacuate the city. The demands of the 

 rebel chief were, all the money and all the arms that the 

 Government could command. He was, however, at 

 length satisfied with eleven thousand dollars, a certain 

 number of muskets, and — strange as it must seem — the 

 rank of Lieutenant-General, which was offered to, and 

 accepted by, him. The latter concession seems to have 

 been the most gratifying to this modern Massaniello, who, 

 in his impatience to display his newly acquired honors, 

 appropriated to himself, and put on, a uniform belonging 

 to a General Prem. In compliance with the agreement 

 made, he now collected his forces, and with a good sum of 

 money, and his men well armed, withdrew from the city. 



But from that day the star of Carrera ceased to shine 

 with its usual brightness. Having attacked the town of 

 Amatitan with a body of four hundred men, he was re- 



* I will take the liberty of adverting here to the meritorious conduct 

 of our late Consul in Guatemala, Charles Savage, Esq., on the occasion 

 of the capture of that city by the insurgents. The foreign residents there, 

 it seems, applied to him for protection against the outrages they had rea- 

 son to apprehend. This appeal, though Mr. Savage could scarcely be sup* 

 posed to possess the means of affording the protection desired, was effectu- 

 ally responded to ; as, according to the statement of the foreigners them- 

 selves, Mr. Savage, by his activity and firmness, and by exposure to per- 

 sonal danger, actually succeeded in saving the property, and perhaps the 

 lives, of some of the residents alluded to. A letter of thanks, signed by 

 twelve persons, was, in consequence, addressed to him. 



