The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-26

After the revolution Of 1s4s, which over
threw the King of the French, he returned
to Paris, and was sent by the new republic
can Government to represent It at Rome,
then governed by Mazzfnio. His first con-
ception OF the idea Of the Suez Canal came
With visit to the Egyptian Khedive In 1854.
When De Lesseps visited Alexandra In that
year the Viceroy gave him residence In
that city and enlisted him az companion In
his journey across the Libyan Desert. Dur
ing the journey the project was conceived
1t and granted the first concession in that
year. ''....
A company was formed and subscription
books were opened In Paris November s,
1858. Despite the hostility to the project
shown by England and leading engineers,
the stock was all subscribed for before No
vember 80. ''.' ... -'. ..... b
Subsequent concessions were secured In
1856, 1853, 1854 and two others in 1869 and
1876. Actual work on the canal was not be-
gun until 1859, and In 1869 It was opened to
the world. -.r
Its total length is little over ninety-nine
statute miles Of navigation, Of which sixty
six are actual canal. formed by outing
fourteen miles made by dredging, and eight
miles required. no work, as the natural
depth OF the lake exceeded that of the canal.
The amount Of earth and sand excavated was
80, ,000, 900 cubic yards. The navigable
depth Is Twenty-Five and one-half feet and
the width at the bottom seventy-two feet.
The total cost Of the construction was $780,.
;000, ZOO, much OF 1t due to early British OBJ
sstructlon. ..sr... ..t..s H /.
3 In 1870 the Canal Company found itself ir
.difh culties, and the Khedive advocated plac-
ing England In control OF the waterway. In
1874 negotiations between Lord Derby and
France resulted in the transfer to England
OF 1T, ,642 shares in the canal for $50. .000 900.
For his share In this great undertaking De
Lesseps was decorated BY near!y every Gov
-ernment OF Europe. His own interest in the
;Suez Canal constitutes the fortune that De
Lesseps leaves. It was late In the seventies
that De Lssseps conceived the idea OF
canal across the Isthmus or Panama. Lieu.
tenant Lucien Bonaparte Nyse went to Bo.
gaia and obtained concession tor q canal
across the Is:hmus.
This concession was purchased by the
Canal Company In Paris. 1t was 1881 before
subscriptions for stock were taken, how.
aver. and once opened, the "woollen stock
1ngs" Of France poured forth their boards In
q golden shower. The history OF the canal
and the waning faith Of the French people In
their god, "Le Grand Francais,' Is a matter
OF recent history.
After $3.50, 900 900 had been beguiled from
the "Woolen Stockings" and expended In
bribery and extravaganza OF the widest
sort, the Panama Canal Company In De-
cember, 1883, was declared bankrupt. The
subsequent investigation and revelations
astounded the world, and nearly overthrow
the French Republic. They were followed
by prosecutions OF nearly every person OF
prominence connected with the formation
Of the Panama Canal Company, including
De Lesseps.and mis- son Charles.
That the old Count had himself been cog
infant Of the corrupt use OF money in con-
nection with the affairs OF the Canal Com
pany was not absolutely proven, but he was
90 seriously involved that, with the other
defendants, be was found guilty and
sentenced to five years imprisonment and
to pay fine OF $500.
Before the beginning of the trials, how
ever, Do Lesseps's health had given way
and he was confined to his house. All news
papers were kept from him and he never
knew the facts OF his conviction and
sentence. His sentence was never carried
out and he has remained since his trial q
broken old man oblivlous to everything but
his past.
AT the age of sixty years he married Mile.
de Bragard, who was but nineteen years
old. The alliance was remarkably prolific
Of children. There have been eleven In all.
The last was daughter, born In 1885. De
Lesseps visited this country twice the hrst
time in 1880, when he went to Panama to
inspect the Isthmus, and egain with Bar.
tholdi, In 1886, when the Statue OF Liberty
VINO m IN Pudloa's Ialand