St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-06-04
How a Traveller in Central
America Was Saved by a
Gigantic Ape.
Attacked by Outlaws in a
Country Where Life Is
Very Cheap.
Rescued From Death by an
Animal Which He After
ward Shoots.
Most Singular Adventure
That Befell a Traveller in
the South.

Why l stopped in Panama on my re-
turn from my trip to South America Is
mystery. The quaint Spanish fashion
of the old city interested me, and L
found it difficult TO tear myself away,
says a writer it the New York Dispatch.
When was ready to leave, my brief
soiourn in the country had inspired me
with so much confidence that eagerly
embraced the suggestion of my land
lord to cross the iSthmuS on horseback.
Take it leisurely," he said; "follow
the old road. 1t touches various points
along the canal. You can make the
journey in a couple of days, and you
will not mind spending night IN one
of De Lesseps' villages"
Now the canal was pet hobby of
mine. | was anxious TO see how 1t was
progressing. Beside. l had friend VINO
was one of the contractors, and wanted
to pay him a visit.
The next morning / mounted gentle
mustang, furnished by my host. and set
out for Aspinwall, the Atlantic port,
where l intended to take the steamer.
As l wished to reach the camp of my
friend jackson by midday, L rode rap
idly during the morning.
At one place the road ran along IN
sight of the canal for half mile. Here
| saw a scene not 10 lie matched any
where on earth. Enormous machines
were at work eXcaYating thousands OF
ions of dirt, and countless wagons were
employed removing the loose earth. Ny
riads of Workmen Swarmed everywhere,
iabbering to each other in all the tongues
Of the known world. Among them
were men from all the countries of
Europe-Americans, Africans, China
men, West Indians and Malays. The
fierce looks cast upon me by these fel-
.oYs alarmed ME, but | pretended to be
calm spectator of the animated scene.
One of the contractors was about. and
from him l learned that would find
Jackson about five miles further on.
Are you armed?" asked the coll
tractor.
told him that had revolver.
You will probably need it before
you reach ASpinwail," said he. You
are passing through $4,000 of the worst
eut-throatS that were ever collected to-
gether."
After hearing that had great mind
10 return to Panama, but the dread of
being laughed at maze me decide to
push on. Assuming determined.
business-like look, l put spurs to my
mustang and ambled through the mot
ley gang of laborers until had the sat
isfactiOn of leaving them behind me.
Fortunately, encountered no obstacle,
and JacksOn's camp was made Just in
lime for dinner.
Here | was safe. Jackson was a big
fellow, whose men were nearly all
Americans. He was delighted to see
mo 1 q
ing the two hours that / spent with him
i filed him full of news, and he, on the
other hand, told me lot of wonderful
things about the canal. He made no
secret of his conviction that the enter
prise would drag along for years, but as
he was making bushels of money, the de-
lay played into his hands. AS declined
to stay all night with him, Jackson gave
me some directions about my route, and
at my departure confided to ME pack
age containing $4,000, asking me to de-
post it for him in one of the banks at
Aspinwall. / suggested that there was
danger in carrying such sum of money
through the country, but the StalWart
fellow laughed at my fears. He SAID
that would make the hacienda of Don
Francisco MendeZ at nightfall, where |
would be royalty entertained. By day
light he thought j could take care of
myself.
While this was going on l saw two
brutal-looking MeXicans at short
distance watching us intently and con-
ferring together in low tones.
Il don't like the look OF those rascalS. y
said. '-'''..'--=.
''Hello. there.Pedro, and you, Juan?"
shouted Jackson. "Get to work, you
lazy beggarsm
The MeXicans grOWled. and suddenly
retired.
They are two of the worst men in
camp" said jackson. ''but they are not
likely to bother YOU"
had my doubts. but the prospect of
staying all night with MendeZ some
what treasured me, and started off in
very good spirits. My road took me
through a scene of bewildering beauty.
The tropical foliage round me glittered
with all the hues of the rainbow. I'm
known flowers of gorgeous magniticence
and oVerpoWering fragrance frightened
the roadside.
Suddenly l came upon pond of clear
water in an open space. Hot. dusty and
travel-worn, | could not resist the temp
tatIon. Without counting the conse-
quences, l fastened the mustang to a
sapling and undreSSed in hurry, plac-
the edge of the water. Then | plunged
in and enjoyed refreshing swim.
One thing annoyed me. All along the
way | met with monkeys everywhere.
They were of ali sizes, and the interest
they took in my movements amused me
not little. Sometimes they chartered
at me Indignantly and shook their firsts
almost in my face. At wave of my
hand, however, they fed in precipitate
terror.
AS soon as l entered the lake the
monkeys took fresh courage. They
scrambled abOht in drOves, and abused
me at their hearts content. Among
them was one of species that l had
not seen before. He was a ferocious
looking monster, fully five feet high
and as muscular as a bear. Before |
realized the situation this great long
legged fellow SwOoped down on my
clothes, and started with them for the
woods. Fol moment I was absolutely
paralyZed. 1t was no joke to ride to
Aspinwall in decent rig, but | had no
fancy for the role of Lady Godiva.
There was no time to lose. The
monkey had left my revolver, and as
soon as | could seize it fired. lie gave
howl of rage and dropped everything
but my coat. L hastily jumped into
my recovered garments and gave chase.
1t was useless. The thief sour
Tied up into the top of a tall cocoanut
tree, and in a twinkling of an eye put
on my coat, buttoning it round him, and
then proceeded to hurl coacoanutS at
me with such precision that | was glad
to quickly leap into the saddle and ride
off.
But my troubles had just begun.
had reconciled myself to the loss of my
coat, as Jackson's money was in an in.
side pocket of my waist, but the monkey
showed a disposition to follow me.
After firing at him several times gave
it up. His tough hide seemed bullet
proof, and there was no chance to kill
HIM unless shot him in the eye.
The declining sun warned me that il
was time to seek shelter for the night,
and l knew that in these tropical soil
tudes there was no twilight. [ saw nc
cultivated fields, no houses, no signs OF
the hacienda of Don Francisco MendeZ