New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08


Canal BY Wolfred Nelson, VI. ID. l2mo. PIP.
2S7. Bedford Company.
DR.. Nelson kept his eyes open and his mind
receptive while carrying on his practice at Tan
anna, and the result is volume
which affords n very fair account of
life on the Ishmus, written apparently WIFI
entire frankness and no effort either to extern
uate or set down aught in malice. The general
impression upon the reader is likely to he eX-
tremely unfavorable to Panama as place OF
residence. but that is the view which is sure
to he taken of the place upon sufficient acquaint-
ance Hong Kong has been said to be the dead
lest of all the British colonial stations but,
though four wears is regarded as a long
lime for a European to live there, Panama seems
we'll able TO discount that insantary record
Dr. Nelson. like all the writer's upon tropical
regimen deprecates the use Of alcoholic drinks
in such climate but we can hardly admit
that his facts demonstrated his theory, for they
appear to show, first, that whether man drinks
or not he is certain to have fever, and second,
that those who drink the least are as likely 10
die of il as those who drink the most Inc
doctors implication, however, evidently is that
in Panama there is no safety short OF total an
stincnce. All alcohol in that malaria saturated
atmosphere is poison. and the moderate drlnkcr
when attacked by the fever occupies the same
level as the hard-drinlicr
Escape from the pcrvadng air-poison is de-
clared TO be impossible for strangers. and though
they may become acclimatized if they are very
Tough the process involves a permanent weak
eninC of the constitution. Life under these con-
ditions can hardly be cheerful, though II is pos
sible to get used to anything The people OF
Quito indeed, who live in an earthquake region,
and experience many "temborS as other
communities experience showers Of rain, are SAID
not 10 became accustomed to seismic phenomena,
but TO manifest the same terror on the thousandth
shake-np that the first one caused them. This is
peculiar, hut is probably explained by the fact
that an earthquake by its very nature destroys
all feelings of security. Men. and women too,
can grow used 10 the continual slaughter OF Da-
honey. for instance, to the dreadful unccr
families and horrors of a Reign of Terror They
oan live calmly upon the slopes of an active
volcano. or face annually the peril of death by
starvation as in Labrador. Even the lcpcr set
Element of Molokai falls into the nets Of cOnserva-
1ism. and so we need not be surprised that the
heavy mortality at Panama comes to be regarded
with genuine indifference At last. Dr. Nelson
relates some facts about the burial customs of
Panama which are decidedly curious.
The cemeteries are farmcd to contractors.
who build a structure something the principle
of a safe deposit vault. II is all above the
ground a series of mOrtuary cells built in tiers one
above the other. like the rock SepulchreS of Pal
estne. These cells, each of which will hold several
cofins are rented. and when a funeral takes place
a stone recording the name and date of death of
the deceased is fixed at the mouth of his cell.
But there is no permanence about this disposition
of the dead. Usually after two years the collins
are removed if not by the friends of the dead per-
sons. then by the contractors. and in the latter
4 70 he he
the contents Of the collins in a waste lot, where
DR. Nelson and a friend saw them covering the
ground. Sometimes a frugal contractor picks
over the collins and saves those which are in the
best condition. and these are offered at a bargain
TO equally economical mourncTS. Altogether tho
mortuary arrangements are of kind TO add what
deieterous products of decomposition the
cemeteries afford to the already ovcr-burdened
atmosphere; while the way in which the dead are
treated. without regard to their social position
while living is calculated 10 destroy all sentl-
mental considerations and influences, and to bru-
talize the people generally.
OF order according TO DR.. Nelson, there is rather
more than of law, though the methods of the
State police would perhaps not be appreciated
anywhere else. Thus. when man only suspected
of murder was 70 De arrested, the police took their
Winchester rifles hunted The man down, and
deliberately shot him. rs usual where there IS
no capital punishment "messeurs les assasslns
have things pretty much their own way. The
abolition of adequate punishment for murder had
not put stop 10 murder. ON the contrary,
naturally passionate folk encouraged 10 in
dulge their homicidal procyities. Justice is
capricouS especially where foreigners ale con-
cerned. Dr. Nelson relates several instances IN
which American citizens have been subjected 10
long imp sonmcnts without trial, ana upon irv-
olous or fabricated charges. lie declares also
that the American consul could obtain no redress
in any of these cases a statement which should
interest the Department of State al Washing
ton. one would think OF course Dr. Nelson has
much 10 say about the Panama Canal, and all his
information goes TO confirm the most damaging
reports that have been made on the sub ect. HIS
concluding chapters deal entirely with the canal,
and constitute a decidedly strong Indictment
of the company presided over by VI. de Lesscps.
BY bringing together and comparing the various
declarations assurances and guarantees Of the
company the author cOnvicts IT Of the most rcck-
less Misrepresentation and scif-cOntradc ion. He
is also able 10 demonstrate the almost incredible
Ignorance with which Lesseps entered upon the
undertaking. The history Of the proposed t'cat-
ment of the Chagres River is perhaps the most
striking case in point. and, while this and every
other detail of the enterprise have been exploited
before, the shameless imPudencc, colossal dis
honesty and iaunty mendaclty which have char
acterized its conduct from first TO last have never
been thrown into stronger relief than by these
succiDct and exact statements OF fact