Amador ledger., 1908-08-07

on tracks and can be run up
and down on the bed of the canal.
The bed of the canal resembles a
busy railroad yard more than any
thing else at present. There are
several sets of double tracks along
the canal, on one of which is the
steam shovel and on the other the
dirt trains run by endlessly, being
filled by the steam s1ovels as they
pass. All of our machinery is of
modern build and built to Withstand
the heaviest use. This is where
France fell down in her attempt to
build the canal. All of her ma
ohinery was very frail, and piles of
it line the railroad track on either
side-dlscarded, because it was too
light and generally no good. Evi-
IDENTIFY they didn't realize what they
we're up against when they tackled
it. The total amount to be excavat-
ed before the canal will be complet
ed is 120,00U,00 cubic yards, of
which about 2S, 400, 600 has been taken
out. The main machine shops of the
canal are located at Gorgona and
employ about 1000 men. We reached
Christobol out 2:30 p. m. and all
hands went down to one of the
government hotels where we had
lunch, afterwards repairing to the Y.
M. q. A.. where we spent very
pleasant hour with them in the
gymnasium, and singing. dancing,
playing games, and having an all
round good time. The return trip to
La Boca was also very pleasant, leav-
ing Christobol at about 3:3O and
arriving at La Boca about O'Clock,
the total distance across the railroad
being about 50 miles.
On the first Sunday afternoon we
we're there, there was special bull
fight arranged for our entertainment.
About 400 bluejackets attended, and
enjoyed it as much as could be ex
pected in view of the repulsive
features from an American point of
view. There were four bulls killed,
one of them by 'matador senorlta'
(lady matador).
We left Panama about 30 p. m.,
March 81. There was little ground
swell running on the first night out,
but 1t soon Gained duwn so the water
was as smooth as glass. The weather
was fine, the sky clear and Old Sol
working over time. On the third day
out we came to a place where thou
sands of turtles we're laying on the
surface Of the water basking in the
sun and sound asleep. They were
such sound sleepers that we ran into
several with the ship. AS we were
very short on fresh beef, having
been living on Canned Willie'' for
two days we stopped to catch some of
them. Pulling boats went out from
each ship and the turtles were so
sound asleep that all we had to do
was to pull alongside them, grab
them by tiipper, and yank them in
the boat. We got boat load in
about fifteen minutes, and had turtle
a la everything on the calender for
the rest of the run.
We arrived at Acapulco, Mexico,
about l p. M, March %. 1t is
situated in small bay almost en-
tirely surrounded by mountains.
The town is protected by a small
adobe fort that looks like IA 6.pdr.
would knock it clear off the map.
The town is hardly more than a will
age. Everything Is very dirty and
ugly looking, most of the houses
being built of mixture of mud and
grass, with thatched roofs. 1t is
almost unbearably hot here and we
will all be glad to get away, as it is
by far the worst place we have struck
yet. There is a fine beach here,
and about the only recreation we get
is going in swimming after the sun
goes down.
The "Lawrie" was in pretty bad
shape when we arrived here. We
were all out of fresh water, and near
ly out of coal and had to go along
side the Hopkins and get some as
soon as we got in. We certainly had
a close shave from the tow line this
trip. The natives here bring out
poultry and eggs to the ships to sell,
and as the prices are reasonable we
are all making up tor that time we
we're starving on hard tack and
canned willie. Ihey also bring out