Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-27

Of the gay French gentlemen Of those times.
Monkey Hin, which was the cemetery for
foreigners, IL the subject Of many grus-
some lines, and apparently the last ride TO
II on the daily morning funeral train was
a regular part Of the program for the
canal builders. Monkey Hill is the second
stopping place on the railroad toward the
interior OF the isthmus, and the train was
run with reckless mirth from the guards
on board. The daily cargo Of corpses met
with very inconsiderate treatement, and
many a rough Joke was cracked over the
senseless freight. At the Monkey Hill sta
tion the rudely made wooden caskets we're
dumped uneeremoniously from the cars
upon the platform and the grave diggers
deposited them hastily In the trenches.
nut Few survived.
The CHASTITY ride to Monkey Hill was the
Inevitable close of every mans perform
ance. The French youths might dance and
laugh and recklessly gamble away their
earnings in Colon, but sooner or later each
one would go as freight to the Monkey Hill
resting place. Crosses OF rotting wood
mark many Of their burial places. but
thousands unblessed by any sign are de-
oaying in Monkey Hill. Tho deadly fogs
AANhA ~ ShhHNN ~ VI hlknNH u
revelry and dissipation at Colon, the last
silent ride TO the Monkey Hill cemetery
were the sure routine Of the gilded youth
of that day.
The few survivors OF the gay time relate
many stories Of the old life at Colon. They
tell with satisfaction how easy" money
came and went. and wonder II "the good
canal days will ever come again. A very
small number Of them still sit each night
In their gambling houses behind idle piles
Of soyereigus, and resolutely wait for
things to open up" az In the time @" the
canal regime. Occasionally a traveller, en-
route from the Panama 10 the Pacific mall
steamers, drops a few of his golden sover-
eigns in these abandoned haunts. but the
nightly throngs OF good customers no longer
hasten to the old town from the villas
Of Christopher Colon. The days Of easy
come, easy CO." are dead.
Causes of Big Death Rate.
Absolute absence OF precaution in a
markedly dangerous climate was the reason
Of the tremendous death rate on the 18TH
mus during the building Of the Panama
canal. Members Of the railway company,
both oficers and various employees in
humber positions. have lived in Washing
ton Colon for many years, and have not
hSlE liNcNp Out are bllll IN
possession Of perfect health. An unwritten
law of common sense rigIdly prohibits them
from visiting the old town when the vapors
OF night envelop 1t. Their manner Of living
Is free from dissipation, and as a conse-
quence they avoid the most dangerous fea-
lures OF a climate Of deadly peril. The
Monkey Hill funeral train Is no longer
considered a daily necessity.
In the ruins OF Colon are ample evil
dences OF the causes responsible for the
failure OF the French. Block after block
OF deserted gambling houses and aban-
doned dance halls give warning to new
corners of the habits that prevailed in the
old days. According to all accounts, Co
Ions sound OF rcvelry by night was only
brought to a close when the hour OF work
on the canal arrived. There was NO such
thing As rest on the program. II was days
Of labor amid frequent tropical showers
standing perhaps knee deep in svamps
then at night. when weaFted and enfeebled
by arduoua tolls. the gilded youth OF France
hurried back to Colon to pass the hours
OF night In wild orgies and dissipation.
The Pitiable END.
Sleep was neglected and the foEs from
the River Chagres, known to be deadly
though they were, were not avoided. II
p" NANS v thO utmOb care IHaL health
can be preserved there, but the French
disregarded all warning. The millions Of
France were won and lost in the dens Of
the old spanish-Amerlcan town, and the
tmprudent living of the laborers was will
fully sacrificed.
Many imported cabriolets did 4 thrivIns
trade for a time. carrying passengers in
the evening from Christopher Colon "a
Colon, but there was no surety of drivins
these back again. Play in the EamblinS
halls OF the old town often delayed them
until morning, and very soon II was tbs
hour to report at the workings. MANY 3
suit Of evening dress was worn by the ray
French gentlemen, hidden beneath a ligh,
oVercoat, and adding to the burden and
heat Of the tropical day. Some, game Il
the last. dragged their shaking limbs t.
Colon for a hnai night Of pleasure, and
turned their feverish eyes on the fascl.
mating numbers OF the roulette wheel
Dying on the benches near the tables from
quantities OF stimulants and exposure
these had no need OF returning to Chris.
TOPPER Colon. A wooden casket was hur.
riedly found for them, and they formed a
last a part OF the cargo OF the morning,
train to Monkey Hill. Tradition tells O
one young French ofhcer who remained
for some years unframed by the sur,
rounding life Of dissipation. but one nigh
be succumbed to the temptations of tn,
tables Of Colon. He lost largely, ther
recklessly blew out his brains. He alst
added to the burdens OF the famous dali,
train. The climate Of the isthmus is ex
tremely dangerous to human life. Will
every precaution and care, mortality car
only be held dow TO alarming rates. Propel
discretion and discipline will MATERIAL,
aid the next builders OF the canal.
IN ALI, Walks Op IHrE