The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-08-26
SAVED BY AN APE.
A Yankees Remarkable Adventure
in Central America.

ion of the old city interested me, and /
found it difficult TO tear myself away.
When was ready to leave nv brief So
journ 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 IA night in one of
DeLcsseps' villages"
Now the canal was pet hobby of
mine. / was anxious To see how it was
progressing. Besides, | had 4 friend
who was one of the contractors, and
wanted To pay him visit
The next morning mounted n gentle
mustang, furnished by my host, and set
out for Aspinwall, the Atlantic port,
where / intended 10 take the steamer.
As 1 wished To reach the camp of my
friend jackson by midday, l rode rapid
ly during the morning
At one place the road ran along in
sight of the can al for half mile. Here
i saw a scene not to be matched any
where on earth. Enormous machines
were at work excavating thousands of
tons of dirt, and countless wagons were
employed removing the loose earth
Myriads of workmen swarmed every
where, jabbering To each other in all
the tongues of the known world
Among them were men from all the
countries of the world-Americans, At
ricans Cinnamon. West Indians and
Malays. The fierce looks east upon me
by these fellows alarmed me; but l
pretended TO be a calm spectator OF the
animated scene. One of the contract
ors was about, and from him / learned
that / would find Jackson about five
miles further on
Are YOU armed?" asked the con-
tractor.
told him that had revolver.
''You will probably need 1t before
you reach Aspinwall." said he You
are passing through thirty thousand Of
the worst cut-throats that were ever
collected together"
After hearing that had a great mind
to return to Panama. but the dread of
being laughed At made me decide To
push on. Assuming a determined, busi-
nesslilze look, put spurs 10 my mus
tang and ambled through the motley
gang of laborers until l had the salts
faction Of leaving them behind me-
Fortunately encountered no obstacle.
and JacllSon's camp was made just in
time for dinner.
Here 1 was safe. jackson was a big
fellow, whose men Were nearly all
Americans. He was delighted to see
me and gave me a capital dinner.
During the two hours that i spent with
iIim filled him full of news and he, on
IL L.. - l..,--
ful things about the canal He made
no secret of his conviction that the en-
terprise would drag along for years,
but. as he was making bushels of money,
the delay 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 a package containing ten thou
sand dollars, asking me to deposit 1t Tor
him in one of the banks at Aspinwall.
| suggested that there was danger in
carrying such a sum of money through
the country, but the stalwart fellow
laughed ut my fears. He said that |
would make the hacienda of Don Fran
cisco Mendez at nightfail, where l
would be royalty entertained By day
light he thought l could take care of
myself.
While this was going on l saw two
brutal looking Mexicans at a short DIS
tance watching us intently and confer
ring together in low tones.
Il don't like the looks OF those ras-
Gals 1 said.
Hello, there! Pedro, and you, Juan, I"
shouted jackson. Get to work, you
lazy beggars!'
L.
retired.
They are two of the worst men in
CAMP said Jackson, but they are not
hisciy to bother you"
/ had nv doubts; but the prospect OF
STAYING all night with Mendez some
what reassured 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 ali the hues of the rainbow. I'm
known flowers of gorgeous magniti-
cence and oYerpowering fragrance
frightened the roadside.
Suddenly came upon pond of clear
water in an open space. Hot dusty
and travel-worn. could not resist the
temptation Without counting the con-
sequences fastened the mustang To a
sapling and undressed in hurry, plac-
ing nv revolver under my clothes on
the edge of the water. Then / plunged
in and enjoyed a refreshing swim.
One thing annoyed me. All along
the way / met with monkeys every
where They were of all sizes, and the
interest they took in my movements
amused me not n little. Sometimes
they chattered ct me Indignantly and
shook their fists almost in my face. At
a wave of my hand, however, they fled
in precipitate terror.
As soon as / entered the lake the
monkeys took fresh courage. They
scrambled about in droves and abused
me to their hearts content Among
them was one of a species that l had
not seen before. He WAS ferocloss
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 For a moment ] was absolute
ly paralyzed. IL was no joke 10 ride "a
Aspinwall in a decent rig. but / had nc
fancy for the role OF Lady Godiva-
There was no time to lose. The
monkey had left my revolver, and AT
soon as ! could seize il fired He gave
howl Of rage and dropped everything
but my coat, j hastily jumped into my
recovered garments ami gave chase. II
was useless. The thief scurried mp int
| the top of a tall cocoanut tree, and In
| twinkling of an eye put on my coat
buttouing il round him, and then pro
| ceeded to hurl cocoanuts at me wit
such precision that was glad to quick
| ly leap into the saddle and ride off.
But my troubles had just begun.
I had reconciled myself To the loss of IN
/ coat, as Jackson's money was in an in
side pocket of my waist. but the mon