The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-05-17
San Sebastian. Isthn1us of Darien.
This Side up--Ha nGle with Care
Keep in a. Cool. Dry Place.
COLLECT.

The slave then pholaed to the only
drayrnan to whom the farmer was not
in debt and had the barrel carried
down to the proper dock for shipment.
Everything went we'll. and the farm
passed into the hands OF receivers.
Balboa reached the isthlmus all
right and lived in his barrel until Sc
curing a job as assistant explorer. ana
he picked up all the tricks OF the trade
so fast that he was soon ready to
start in the business on his OWN hook
fitted out an expedition and struck
west across the neck OF the land to
see. what he could see. What he saw
was a sea SO big. shiny and altogether
inviting that. getting selfish. he ORDER
ed TO halt while he down for the
first wade and to take possession in
the name of Spain's king. Eut the
followers We're nothing loati1 to rest.
for it had been n long. tedious walk
over from the Atlantic. n every one
had a~'culnulated a large assortment
of woodtirkS and cactus tllorns, With
out having time TO give them proper
attention.
Balboa only intended to wade in
ankle deep. hut as he turned TO walk
ashore after speaking his piece. a big
We wave. not realizing the gravity of
! the situation. and on whom the bonds
of Spanish authority had not Yet soak
cd in Very deep. sneaked up behind its
discoverer and got him SO damp that it
became necessary for hin to wiring out
his arnl6r and don A horse blanket
until everything became dry again. So
far so good: here was a big. roolnN
| ocean discovered. but Of what use was
it without ships? The natives spoke,
too, of land rich in golden treasure.
to the south tPeru1.
But there were not eve trees suit
able for ship building o the Pacific
side. and 50 Balboa went back to the
other shore and advertised for 400 OF
500 Indians to do light portering for
! their board. He soon filled IL his list
and then began the gigantic task of
transporting logs and ship building
materials across the istlmus OF the
bare backs of the Indians.
1t was not a route that ven a hard
ened pedestrians club would have
chosen for a hike. and the COR ma
tives. with their enormous burdens
soon decided that it was much worse
than what General Sherman afterward
said war was. They foundered
through swamps hanging on to their
heavy loads so that it was impossible
to slap mosquitoes with either hand
and the Spaniards kindly volunteered
to walk alongside and keep the sting.
ing pests off with heavy whips. a
great Ia mosquitoes were killed in
this manner. besides 1000 Indians
But the taskmakers suffered. too. an6
many a fine Spanish lad in full ar
NOR went cursing deliriously into the
nlurky depths Of h swamps. hoping
to find GOODNESS for his fevered head
under the green-scummed waters.
After many months materials fol
four brigantines had been carried
across and put together. but they were
never TO be used by Balboa. for Gov
ernor Pedrarias. a rival in the eXplor
ing business and intensely jealous o
Balboa's increasing honors had hin
headed and his case set on the cour
calendar for some later date.
Another Spaniard applied for tn
use Of Balboa's ships. but it was de
MED. So. taking the " vessels il
which passage had been made from
Spain, he took them carefully t
pieces. did them up in convenien
bundles. and, with the aid of shaw
straps. carried the whole outfit acros
to the Pacific. over the same roa'
which Balboa had cut.
But while a ship is very easy to TAX
apart. it is no joke to put it togetke
again. with every thing In the prope
place. and the Spaniards must hav,
made some blunder. for both ship
sprang leaks after launching. and tn
crews escaped in their pajamas with
out luggage. And those old ships ar
the ones which will hold previou
claims to first passage yer our dread
noughts, but let us hope that the pres
ent-day craft will nave smoother sail
ing and better luck, one over.
Charles v. of Spain went right 4
work and built a road across the 18th
mus. and it was no easy task by an,
means. Great swamps had to be file,
and rocks turned over under which
lived happy families of scorpions. ia
rantulas and diamond. backed rattle
snakes. Many a workman had his toe
'mashed BY his associate in labor whe,
a healthy specimen Of scorpion friske