Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-02-01

stands Culebra. the snake as its
name signifies, and before the first ship
crosses the isthmus of Panama this
snake must be destroyed, the mountain
must not only be brought down to a
level with the surrounding country,
hut even its roots must be dug up. In
spite of the millions spent in cutting
its gray sides. Culebra stands to-day
almost as if it had never known the
prick of the labOreT's shovel. Millions
more will have 10 be poured into that
black land of death before the noun
tain disappears from the path of prog
ress and the waters of the Atlantic and
the Pacific unite. This, or a system
river. is said by eminent engineers to
be the only solution of the isthmian
waterway 1t is the Chagres which
makes the country unhealthy. Annu-
ally it oyerAows its banks and rushes
over the low swamp lands, leaving
vegetable and animal matter to decay
under the fierce rays of the tropic sun
and breeding strange and swift death
for the people who inhabit the isthmus.
II is the source of the most dangerous
fever ever known, a fever that even
the native Africans. brought over by
De Lesseps and his company, could not
withstand in the slightest degree.
Thousands and thousands OF them sue
cumbed to it's attacks shortly after
they were landed on the fatal coasts.
The laborer. picking steadily at the
wall of the canal, would complain OF
slight indisposition. and would lean
against the bank to rest a moment
In that position death would strike
him. and there to-day his bones lie.
This is the story of the fever from one
end of the land to the other. When
fresh digglngs are made at the present
time along the half-filled excavations
made 10 years ago. countless skeletons
of these unfortunate creatures ar
found just where they fell when ove~-
taken by the fever. No man once at
tackled has ever recovered.
Panama and Colon and the country
between them form the deadliest spot
in the world. No one ventures out Of
the house after nightfal, if there has
been the slightest fall of rain, or if the
atmosphere is at all damp. 1t is death
Il do so. Within two hours OF such
exposure. or Of getting the least wet,
the dread fever commences, and before
midnight the victim has passed away.
] crossed the isthmuS from ocean 10
ocean on foot, walking along the track
OF the Panama railroad. In no other
way could have crossed. The inter
ior is a mass of underbrush so thick
that nothing but reptiles can penetrate
it. The machete of the native some
time enables him 10 go short distances,
hut TO an American of higher and more
civilized ATTITUDES a passage is impOs-
sible. Only a path about a foot wide
alongside the track of the railroad af
fords foot passage across the isthmus.
This jungle is broken by spaces Gov
cred with water the very appearance
OF which prOvokes a SILVER in the
breast of the behOlder. Green, its sur
face notified with Shiny. darting Great
ureS, StasnanJ, repulSlVe, with reptiles
of loathsome character summing on the
higher spots. one glance at the sight
tells the history of the fate of the
workmen who tried TO dig the canal.
The country is one grand insect nurs-
cry. Everything is named for an ia
sect or a reptile. Cockroaches attain
a size and ferocity that is wonderful.
1t is necessary to protect the hands
and feet during sleep to prevent these
creatures eating off the nails to the
quick. All other varieties flourish, and
their nocturnal visits render the life
Of the visitor burden. 1t took four
days to walk across the AZ miles ~
the isthmus. In that journey I became