The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-13

peginnlDg 10 The Atlantic SnOfe, winch nau
been located ON the island Of Mansanela,
where Aspnwall now stands, and at the
same time NIessrs. Lotten and Fautwine
were relea | from their contract and re-
tanned as engineers of the road by the
company, who determined to build it
themselves. This island contained a little
more than square mile. 1t was mostly |
swamp, GOV red with dense grove of |
water-loviDg mangrove, huge vines and
thorny shrubs. In the Shiny mud aliga-
tors and other reptiles abounded. The |
air was filled with pestilential vapors, and
swarming with sand-flies, mosquitoes and |
other insects, TO protect themselves from |
which men protected their faces with wells.
They could not reside on the island, and
an old brig was brought down loaded with
materials on which the men had their
quarters.
THE FIRST BLOW.
Thus situated and with few native as
sistants, the first blow was struck by
Messrs. Frautwine and Baldwin, in the
month Of May, 1850. The work was
commenced with no imposing ceremony,
no speeches, no playing of music or noise
from cannons. Two American citizens,
with axe in hand, leaped from native
canoe, and were followed by a retinue of
half dozen Indians, who cleared the path
with their rude machtes, or striking into
the numerous cocoa trees, which soon fell
with crash to the beach and thus was
commenced railroad which, from the in
terests and difficulties involved. might well
be looked upon as enc of the grandest en-
terprises ever attempted.
The work had now fairly commenced
and was pushed ahead with a small force
until July, when more laborers arrived,
and the work proceeded more rapidly
until the rainy season set in, when their dis
comforts were greatly increased. They
could not live on the island, and the quar-
| tiers on the old brig were very poor. Be-
low decks was alive with mosquitoes and
sand-flies, and to sleep upon the deck ex-
posed them to the drenching rains, and
large numbers were kept sick by the mo-
| ton of the ship. Labor and the nalariou5
influences of the climate told upon them,
and soon one-half of the entire force were
sick, and with no physician, their suffer-
lngs were intense. Although an old
steamship had been sent down on which
they were quartered, which was goat
improvement on the brig.
IN July
fittv mora labore,s arrival mil ,he work
was kent On no fast ns nosaible If was in
the rniddle ot the rainy season and the
working parties beside being constantly
drencbed. were forced to travel throucb
the mud and slime to and from their work
IN the steamer. At niobt. wet and OK.
hausted. thew were OBLIGED TO toss and roll
among the nitiless mosquitoes. Numbers
were daily taken down with the fever, NV
which loyge occese;ons to tho worL inc
nortv wore const.ntiv neoded
p"Iy 1mI,, a ~, rnora lahorors or,;vod ord
&c Tho i;pe boa boen located two and a hole
m;les It was decided to locate two miles
fnrtbor 10 save fat;gpe and loco of t;,ne
IL wac dotermincd to erect a Int in the
swomn The lumber was carried m The
hacks Of men for three miles md here
mil, from rude hoards hiob unor The
st,,r,rs of ,raos 70 Loo, H. fron, tho ,,o,a,
suoa aroo,od tSo trst d,rai,;mr ho,,s" -
r ma ,.h;ct thev ,yare ohl;asa y" ,od "
thronob water M IN tho wa,st ""'>
'Ni's W
IN AUGUST, 1850,
another station was commenced at Gatun
distant eight miles from NAVY bay. and
two of the companys vessels arrived at
this place laden with stores and material,
The numher. Of men. now spqnlA pqd aR,cH5s
pitfalls were established. For a time The
work progressed quite randy bpt siclroSs
caused by exposure to incessSnt rains and
the malarious atmosphere made such in.
roads that more than one-half of the entire
number were soon on the hosnitai record
while MANY more deserted and tho un,l,
came to a pause. But new accessions ,yoro
rapidly coming and in December ot Tho
commencement of the dry season the sick
ness abated, and one thousand men were
soon at work, and by April, 1861. a LARGE
portion Of the road to Gatun had been com.
pleted, and October 1st train of cars mass.
ed over the road distance of eight miles
In November the affairs of the comnanv
looked dark Over ST .OOO. OOO had heen
expended, its shares were down nj n low
figure, vet the officers kent the
work moving by using their own
individual credit. In the same month
news reached New York that California
passengers had been Transported over n
portion of the road and confidence was
again restored in the undertoL;nn De d.,
July. 1859, the work had been com6leted y
distance of twenty.three miles from Tho
Atlantic terminus. to noint where IL
crossed the Chagres river which Of ,,,;s
place was 300 feet wide and fowing tbronnI,
a deep and rocky channel. A bridge uso
nearly completed across IL wben 4 w ,as
swept away IN one NIGHT toroo We" ns
several hundred men. mostly Irish wo Ue
now at work upon the road but bn;re, " ,,,'
able to endure the climate and he;nn Sod dh
cared for. sickness and death soon tb; I"aJ
their numbers and for nearly vea n uar,,
little work was done. AlthouCb valrahiyo
time had been lost the directors were not
disheartened, and soon redoubled their eY'
ertlops TO trv and retrieve the;r orror IN ,o.,
ing idle so long. Irshmen Enol i III ,ay