Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-07-28

A Yankees Remarkable Adventure
IN Central America

any stopped IN Panama On my r.
turn from my trip to South America is
| . mystery. The quaint Spanish fash
ion of the old city interested me, and ]
found it difficult to tear myself away.
When was ready to leave my brief so
5ourn 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 couple of days and you viii
not mind spending q night in one of
DeLesseps' villages"
Now the canal was a pet hobby of
mine. was anxious to see how it was
progressing. Besides. I had a friend
who was one of the contractors, and i
wanted to pay him visit.
The next morning mourted gentle
mustang. furnished by my host, and set
| ont for Aspinwall the Atlantic port,
where intended to take the steamer.
As I wished to reach the camp of my
friend Jackson by midday, Irode rapid
| ly during the morning.
| At one place the road ran along in
sight of the canal for half a mile. Here
saw q SCSnC AOt ~ OC L4aDS44CSA
| where on earth. Enormous machines
| were at work excavating thousands of
| tons of dirt. and countless wagons We're
employed removing the loose e9fth-
| 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,A At
4 ~ Indians and
| Malays- The fierce looks cast upon me
| by these fellows alarmed me; but
pretended to be 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 a revolver.
"You will probably need it before
you reach Aspinwan." said he "You
are passing through thirty thousand of
| the worst cut-throats that were ever
| collected together"
After hearing that had great mind
to return to Panama, but the dread OF
| being laughed at made me decide to
push on. Assuming a determined, bust
nesslike look. put spurs TO my mus
tang and ambled through the motley
gang of laborers until had the salts
| faction of leaving them behind me.
! Fortunately encountered no obstacle,
and Jackson's camp was made just in
time for dinner.
| Here was safe. Jackson was 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 spent with
him 1 filled him full of news and he, on
the other hand, told me lot of wonder
full 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 confded
to me package containing ten thou
sand dollars, asking me to deposit it for
MIN in one of the banks at Aspinwall.
I suggested that there was danger in
carrying such a sum of money through
the country, but the stalwart fellow
laughed at my fears. He said that
would make the hacienda Of Don Fran
| cisco Mendez at nightfall, where
would be royalty entertained. BY day
light he thought could take care OF
| myself.
| While this was going on 1 saw two
! brutal looking Mexicans at a short dis
lance watching US intently and confer
ring together in low tones
81 don't like the looks of those ras-
GALS" said
Hello, there! Pedro. and you, Juan, -
shouted jackson. ''Get to work. you
lazy beggars."
The Mexicans growled. and sullenly
retired.
.'They are two of the worst men in
| camp said Jackson, but they are not
likely to bother you"
I 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 magnif
cence and overpowering fragrance
| frightened the roadside.
Suddenly came upon pond Of clear
! water in an open space. Hot, dusty
and travel-worn. I could not resist the
temptation Without counting the con
sequences fastened the mustang to 6
sapling and undressed in a hurry. plac
| ing my revolver under my clothes on
the edge Of the water. Then plunged
In and enjoyed refreshing swim
One thing annoyed me. All along
the way I met with monkeys every
where. They were of all sizes, and the
interest they took in my movements
amused me not a little Sometimes
they chartered at me Indignantly and
shook their fists almost in my face Al
a wave of my hand, however, they fed
in precipitate terror.
As soon as I 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 had
| not seen before He was ferocious
looking monster, fully five feet high
| and as muscular as bear Before
realized the situation this great long
| legged fellow swocped down on my
clothes, and started with them for the
| woods For a moment was absolute
| " paralyzed- 1t was no joke to ride &c
| Aspinwa11 in decent rig, but had nc
| fancy for the role of Lady Godiva-
There was no time to lose The