The Charlotte Democrat., 1888-01-06
Monkeys on Wires.

Picture to yourselves a country of im-
penetrable vegetation, with gigantic palms
and plantains, with jungles so dense that
it is hard work with a stout and sharp
machete to make path through them,
q country of intense heat, of iunumerable
mosquitoes, and ticks, and malaria, and
snakes, and vegetation that grows up in a
day to height that interferes with the
labor of man. Such are some parts of
the Mexican State of Yucatau, and it is
through such regions that the telegraph
which connects the Mexican capital with
important points like Saa Juan Baptista
or San Christobal must penetrate. This
is q country where the linemen go in cou-
plies, and armed with rifles to fight off the
fierce "puma" or Mexican tiger, who as
saults man and is especially ravenous for
telegraph constructors. Linemen are
often attacked by these formidable beasts,
whose stuffed skins one sees in Museums
in the City of Mexico. No, l should not
want to encounter a puma if were alone
aud unarmed. 1t would be of no use to
take to tree, for the puma would get
there, too, and he can shin up telegraph
pole with neatness and dispatch. The
Mexican linemen down in the hot coast
tending to their lines. A scarcely less
formidable Antagonist is found in the
monkey tribe who inhabit the jungles and
chapparal of Tabasco. Literally the
"woods are full of them" Their favorite
diversion, when not in quest of food, is TO
betake themselves to the telegraph line
for gymnastic exercises, and linemen as
sert that often one hundred able-bodied
monkeys may be seen swinging on the
wire, or festooned, monkeY-fashion, by
looping their tails. The continuous vibra.
tiou of these forest gymuasts starts the
iron nails used on the cross arms, and
these often come down, bringing the wire
with them. And it is not safe matter
to undertake to disperse these robust
monkeys who play great havoc with the
telegraph lines in the sparsely inhabited
State of Tabasco. Liuemen have found
that on shooting monkey swinging on
the wire they have been pursued by a
whole regiment of monkeys, who, with
stones aud nuts, have pelted them severe
ly. "It is no joke" said a lineman re-
Gently, "to have tribe of monkeys pur
sue one; they are very strong, and car
hit with stone or stick 10 a fashion tc
make a man howl with pain, a thing the
monkeys enjoy hugely. They keep up ar
incessant chattering when pursuing us
and the noise is enough to frighten one
out of his wits" Here is point for tele,
graph linemen in the United States to
consider when offered position down iu
the Mexican hot lands. One should be
monkey proof, and coat of mail would be
very good protection did not the heat
of the coast climate make it impraceic, y
BILE. "Monkeying with the telegraph" is
| phrase which a Mexican lineman can
appre ciate. And not to monkey with
monkeys he has found to be safe rule i
be wants to keep a whole bone in hi,
body. 1t may we'll be imagined thai
when a wire gets down in the hot country
that it is no small affair to pick it up
again, for, what with fighting tigers
monkeys, and mosquitoes, not to mention
the cheerful jigger or borer who works
his way under ones skin, and sticks there
the business is not at all monotonou'
one, and may be safely recommended tt
| youthful readers who are dreaming of tht
Msyne Reid sort of adventure in tropi'
lands.