Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-04-02
of Charleston, who was lured to Fana-

Iof Charleston, who was lured to Fana-
ma in those days by golden promises,
that the life Of our convicts Is heaven
Ily compared to the treatment he and
all who went there received.
Escape became the one thought and
hope. Most Of his companions sick
ened and died and many more lost
their lives in futile attempts to escape,
but he was more fortunate. He en-
ployed the device of waiting until night
time. He then went into the lake and
placed mud and clods Of grassy earth
upon his head. He kept himself almost
totally submerged and thus. by NOV
ling along by imperceptible degrees. he
made his way from the camp and after
many weary days reached the coast
and shipped on a passing boat for
home and freedom.
Instead of being able to open the
canal, as promised, de Lesseps had to
open a fresh issne Of bonds to meet
expenses Of continuing operations. Out
OF an issue Of 100000 only $500. 900
were fioated. The proposal was with
drawn and the government appointed
commission to administer the affairs
Of the company. When de Lesseps was
thus forced to resign the dictatorship
great anxiety betrayed itself in the at
titude Of the shareholders. The French
minister. hoping to help matters,
brought a bill to suspend for three
months payment for which the COM
pany was liable. It was rejected by a
large majority.
The attitude of the United States
toward the proposed canal may have
had something to do with its failure.
Because, although Uncle Jonathan had
sat by and sawed wood and said moth
ing for publication-like Col. Theodore
loves to do-and while again climate
and labor troubles, coupled with the
fact that adequate machinery for
such a stupendous task had not then
been invented-yet in the year 1883
the senate and house Of the United
States held a secret session and passed
a resolution declaring against Europ-
can control of the canal.
From this time on the troubles OF
the Canal company came thick and
fast. Late in the autumn Of 1892 the
procurer general of the French re-
public took action against the pro-
moters Of the company for breech OF
trust and malversation of funds. War
rants Of arrest were issued against
all concerned in the company and all
implicated in the Panama lottery
loan. The de Lesseps brothers,
Charles and Ferdinand, were the prin-
cipal ones concerned. Ferdinand de
Lesseps escaped arrest on account OF
age. A year later public sentiment
again demanded satisfaction and the
French court of appeals pronounced
Judgment upon the directors Of the
company This time both de Lesseps
were sentenced. They were condemn
ed to five years in prison and to pay
fine Of 5000 francs each. The sem
tence passed upon Ferdinand was
never carried into effect, nor was the
old man in condition to realize the
gravity Of the charges brought against
him. This scandal shook the world
of France. 1t was found that Of the
1,5OO, 100000 francs which investors
had been persuaded to put into this
enterprise more than half had either
been stolen or used to bribe public Of
lficials. De Lesseps died Of broken
heart in 1894. The great brain which
planned and executed the Suez canal
also planned the sister work In the
new world. Success attended him In
his first venture. Glory and riches
and friends were his portion, then.
The failure brought de Lesseps defeat
abroad, at home disgrace, and finally
came death!
Does any one ever remember this
disappointed, disgraced man when
they think of the wonderful canal?
Does any one think-when he Is away
down south in the Panama Zone of the
old, broken Frenchman whose dream
was shattered? Do they ever say to
themselves as they see the result OF
his plans:
And there I sat and wondered why he
died
And watched the weary stars grow
dim,
And how 1 yearned to have him at my
side
III
Well, de Lesseps Is dead, but the
need for the canal grows greater ev-
cry day and hour. This eighth Won
der of the world will be the monu-
ment Of the twentieth century for all
ages to come. Let us prepare our
selves for the coming events, but In
looking forward to the bright future
in store for our port let us not forget
the long dream of which we witness
the fulfllment-a part of the dream
Columbus dreamed when
Behind him lay the great Azores,
Behind the gates Of Hercules;
Before him not the ghost Of shores,
Before him only shoreless seas,
The good made said: Now must we
pray,
For 10! the very stars are gone;
Brave admir'l speak: What shall l
say?"
why say: Sail on! Sail on! Sail
| on"
The sixteenth century dreamed It..
The sixteenth century glimpsed It,.
This giant thought slept through the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
The nineteenth grasped and wrestled
with this struggle with the earth it.
self, but the twentieth century shall
claim the full and complete awaken
| Iing.-News and Courier.
The Uses Of Hypnotism.-A man
who had been in the babit Of taking
drug for some years determined
to cure himself Of the practice. He
had heard that hypnotism was con-
sidered a good remedy, so he went to
a doctor, who had some reputation In
that branch Of science, and put him.