The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-01
In SUICIDE CANYON.
Terrible Experience OF Mexican Railroad
Builders-Without Machinery.


Builders-Without Machinery
OAxAcA, Mexico, Sept. so.-[special. II. H.
Warren, an American contractor, who has
charge of the construction of q portion OF the
Mexican Southern railroad. which is to connect
Vera Cruz with Tehuantepec, is in the city lay
ing in quantity OF supplies for the gangs of
laborers working under him. He related most
startling and remarkable story concerning the
terrible fatal atmospheric influence to be found
IN a deep canyon some distance below this city,
through which the road is now being con-
structed. The ascent of the canyon is the most
practicable route to the vast chain OF Oaxaca
mountains, and to that point the Pacific
slope which the road hopes TO reach The can
yon is weird and picturesque In its depth and
grandeur The story of the mems terrible ex-
perience in this realistic "valley of death" is
best told in Mr.. Warren's own words:
SIT was several months ago.. said he, "that
reached the canyon with my construction force
knew that had difficult piece OF work be-
fore me. Within a few DAYS the entire length of
the deep and narrow gorge was dotted with la
borers' and contractors camps. There was a
peculiar oppressiyeness about the atmosphere
OF the canyon which we noticed Immediately
upon our entrance. In a short time many Of
the Mexicans and Chinese laborers were stricken
down with fever resembling ague, which il
variably ended in the victims being attacked
with suicidal mania. As q result OF this tenn
their life with their own hand during the past
eight months. At times the death rate from
self-destruction was simply appalling. Our
bravest men have weakened while In
the throes of the fever and made terrible at
tempts on their life. The upper half of the can
yon is healthier, for it widens somewhat, recelv-
lug larger amount of fresh air and sunlight
But the camps OF the poor sufferers are
unfortunately below what is grimly called
the dead nne.' / am assured that cannot
escape for very much longer the touch OF the
fever's finger. / console myself, however, with
the belief that will be able to go through the
terrible experience without doing harm to my
self. 1t has, however, brought the fatal madness
TO more than one white man, equally as
determined as I am. and / may also
became victim OF the grim monster. In my
camp, when LETT it, there were four men down
with the sickness, and they will have all prob
ably ended their lives before / return. The
scenes constantly occurring there are horrible
to witness. Only few days ago one poor young
fellow killed himself by putting bullet through
his seething brain. He lay all one day in the
hot, scorching sun near our camp, no one dar-
ing to touch his body for fear OF arrest The law
OF Mexico forbids all such friendly charity.
With the evening came a native officer with
butchers knife to examine into the occurrence.
Such unscientifc havoc did he play with the
poor boys skull that witnesses called upon
him in not very measured terms to desist. More
than year must yet elapse before the railway.
like q seton, will get its threads through this
sore place, for the operation in progress is not
an easy one. We have no difficulty in securing
all the laborers we need, despite the terrible
ravages from suicide that have taken place.
They are attracted there by the pay, which is
larger by many times than the price OF labor at
the hacendas"
Along the graded roadbed of this new rail-
road are to be found splendid opportunities for
studying the Mexican laboring classes. II the
Indian type did not SO largely predomtn-
ate, one might regard them very
mixed race, for all types are to be met
with here, from the regular featured,
courtly, dignified Spaniard, with his pale,
If dark complexion, through all the shades and
grades of the Indian and peon and not infre.
quently marked traces of the negro are to be i
found, especially among the peonage OF the
sugar plantations. The native Indian type
abounds on the railroad work, all of
which is done by hand labor. There are no
horses and mules. Even the wheelbarrow only
recently made its appearance in the work. The
absence OF labor saving appliances is due to the
preferences the natives have of making them
selves beasts of burden. They are not mnscu.
lar race, but are 1.-THE and enduring. The great
difficulties of transportation; the very rock
nature OF the work; the constant blasting by d.
Mantle and powder; the scarcity and high
prices of provender and corn, are other good
reasons why the sub contractors make the most
of native hand labor.