The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-17

Why Development of Latin-America
is Long DELAYED
ON The FAMED SPANISH MAIN
Relation of some of the Experiences
of a Richmondcr Who Penetrated
the Wilas OF the Tropics, and
Bravcd the Dangers There.

~
es ar, engineer attached TO the is1hmian
Canal Commission, MI G. Percy itawes.
Ir son of Col! c. Percy IIa@eS. Is asaln
among his own people. Nj. tia"t3 ielt
last night for new iieid in west virginia
but before leaving gave an Interesting ae-
count of his experiences III iHe WINS "
Latin America
..Ne left New York. and on FEBRUARY
18th reached our destination. Cartasena,
the principal port of the Repueiie OF Coz
omhia." said Air. Halves in relating some
of his cSper;ences land on May Y, we set
sail from tlie same point for the states. IN
the short space OF time intervening inc
corps had learned much OF the practically
unknown portion OF Central America.
I'VE had been sent cut by the govern
ment 10 make complete map oil ihat pd!t
of the grea. continent, and We covered
the ground thoroughly Inc soseifi, i.e en-
is now in possession Of much information oa
concerning the Great Divide. and we are
once more in a civilized country.
on THE SPANISH MAIN.
..syell. cartagena is a typical town OF the
Spanish Main, founded away back III me
early history OF the Americas io-na! 1t
is a town of some thirty thousand inhabi-
fants, and is The principal port Of the Re-
public and of Bagota. the capital. But II
As spanisia in every way. The hafbor IS
projected by massive fortftications, anu
The city is walled. These plans of protec-
ton cost Spain many millions OF dollars,
but to-day the once impregnable forufica-
1ions the massive wall and the strong
citadel are but masses of ruins. iheir
strength crllmbled and was lost with mat
OF the nations that put them there ana
they would fall before an attack such as
IS made IN modern warfare but IL is an
interesting study From an engineering
ooint OF view these cruInbling walls are
10 be regarded as excellent examples OF
engineering skill. The walls. like the tort
and brealswater, are built OF stone, ana
the peculiar part is that no stone Is louhu
near Cartegena. The stone must nave
heen TRANSPORTED from some interior point
AT great cost
..Iha walls are from twenty 10 thirty feet
:n height and taper. on the top is beau
t!ful promenade, but in the centre IS a
division. This is the only means OF en-
trance or exit, for at the base are found
long rows of dungeons IN which many
luckless captive Doubtless met MS 1ale.
Bats and reptiles now make these dun
Eeons their places of habitation, and Tor
decades have held undisputed reign.
1.-THE cathedral still stands, memory
of by-gone days, and next to it the Old
dismantied citadel is now in ruins, but IS
connected Wits the cathedral by a SUD
terranean passageway, through which many
a hapless fugitive sought to gain a refuge
and safety from his enemies La Papa,
the ancient monastery. was once trans
formed into a chaInel-house by the reVolu-
rionists. The monks Sought there peace
and safety. but were slain in Their stalls
like sheen. Peace was supplanted by war;
tranquility by tumult, and their hoiy
robes were dyed a deepest crimson with
their own life's blood. The sword and the
fre-hound together wrought death ana
destruction. After the slaughter the mon
astery was never again occupied by Inc
monks. To-day an ant-house is used as
a signal-tower, and is the only poruon
of the building in service.
tTIIE 1STHMUS.
I'VE left the city and set our course
due west. sailing across the Caribbean sea
to the Cuff of Cartegena. where we land
ed on the Isthmus.
We found 4 wild, desolate country
there was no trace of civilization. Many
narts that we dared penetrate were
known only 10 the denizens Of the forest
Man had never seen them. and TO the
Indians themselves these We're unknown.
Here and there in our long, weary march
es we would come across an Indian trail,
but these narrow paths We're few, indeed
To each OF the six parties. some twenty
five or thirty natives had been assigned
and these men were kept constantly al
work cutting a narrow path through the
dense tropical growth 50 that man
might make his way through il with his
stastly with wild beast and venemous
REPTILES, who challenged our right TO pen
citrate their preserves. From the tangled
underground beneath and from the hang
ing rocks overhead, strolled snakes.
large and small. scorpions. tarantulas and
huge spiders, while hidden in the leafy
meshes of the trees lay in wait and hid
from view the puma and jaguar ready
TO spring upon his prey. The mild-eyed
H. ,-Ia1a- l1n Z iJYliI
stopped for moment ~ catch a glimpse
of the intruder and then away like the
wind. The monkeys-monlSeys of all
kfnds-nimbly leaped from branch 10
branch and. Chartered defiance in pure
S.rniar The scene was one OF incompar-
able beauty.
The deep. rich shades of tropical rege-
5atian MAS frightened by the gorgeous
colors OF its feathered Inhabitants, which
abound everywhere.
I'VE penetrated to a distance of some
twelve miles from the coast, or about one
shird OF the distance across the lsthInus
at that point. From the east the ascent
is RAPID. and is unlike that or the Pacific
side a. the mountain range. There We're
some 25e in tsae party, 10 OF which had
come from the States.
After surveying the territory. we re-
turned TO the city of Cartasena and then
u New York
OPPORTUNITIES WASTED.
mo. though the country is rich and they
resources almost baundleSs, yet they are
undeveloped. The uncertain state of the
various South American States and their
unstable governments, make the irvest-
merit of capital unsafe. These are alone
responsible for t2le aadevelooed condition
OF the States.
Anarchy ana confusion. poverty and
distress, desoaauon and ruin. as has been
said. are the consequences Of civil war
and this seems 10 haze been the heritage
OF the Latin--American republics.
the revolution now in progress sn
Colombia has paralyzed all trade. and
everything is staghant.
THE Car;agena and Masdelent Railroad,
q road of some Go miles III length. con-
meeting cartaeeDa and the town OF Col
ana. is controlled by American capital
lists This cpmpaay operates a line of
river steamers. but when, in October of
Hast year the revolution began, these boats
were seized by the Government and were
covered With some ;a1usty iron. armed with