The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-08-20

ing to Esquemeling's story. it con
tanned a vast treasure. The churches
and monasteries were full Of gold and
silver, and in the fire which took place
much gold plate was melted by the
flames. Some of this may be found
in the excavations now making.
After destroying the city and spend
ing some time in a great
spree, the pirates took the treasure
to the Atlantic. They tortured the
Spaniards to make them confess
Wher they had bidder their money.
They twisted cords about their fore
heads SO tightly hat the eyes Of the
victims popped out as big as eggs
and as though like to fall from the
SKULL They put even the women and
priests on the rack and committed all
sorts of barbarities. The number OF
prisoners carried away was 600, and it
took ITS beasts of burden to trans
port the silver and gold. The prison
ers were held for ransom under
threats thai they would be sold into
slavery, and every cruelty imaginable
was used to make them confess where
thew had hidden their treasures.
The New Panama.
For a year after this raid there was
no city Of any size on the Pacific
coast of the isthmus. Then the Queen
Of Spain decreed that Panama should
be rebuilt, and a plan was made
which placed the city where it is now.
The old site was much worse than the
present one, although the latter is
not good. The landing at old Pana-
ma was such that ships could not
come in at low tide, and even today
the large steamers anchor at Balboa.
The building of the present Pana-
ma was begun about 237 years ago
IN ~ ,o-J> ~-n 1ox - I'D h ooCt nro~
nous. 1t was estimated that ten mil
lion dollars were spent upon the
Notifications. A great dea of this
went into the walls which surrounded
the city, some Of which are still stand
ing. These walls were long building,
and a story is told which states hat
the King Of Spain was once observed
looking out toward the west with a
frown on his brow. Hereupon, one
of the knights asked him what he saw.
| The frown changed to a grim smile,
and the king said:
Il am looking for the golden walls
of Panama. They are costing SO
much that we ought to see them even
here in Madrid"
Some Old Buildings of Panama.
There are but few Of those old
buildings now left in Panama You
can trace the walls and you will find
the people living in and near them
today. The cathedral in the plaza in
the center of the city is one Of the
best specimens Of the past. It is
about the Oldest church on the CONT
nent. It was built by a Panam bish-
OPP whose father was a freed negro
slave. This man got his start by sell
ing charcoal, and he left SO much
money that his son. the bishop, was
able to build the cathedral.
Another Ole church here which is
now fast falling to ruins is hat which
has the wonderful arch, proving that
there is little danger from earth
quakeS. This arch is almost straight,
and any great shock would seem to
be able to throw it 70 The ground.
Nevertheless it has stood for centu-
rieS, and it still stands, although the
rest Of the church is in ruins.
In the Footsteps Of Columbus.
1t is interesting to wander over the
historic grounds Of the sthmus. |
have visited the Chiriqui lagoon. where
Columbus is said to have first set foot
on what is now the Republic OF Pan
ama-He came in 1902 and sailed along
the shores OF Costa Rica. He stopped
at Colon in 1903, when he named the
broken mountain range there visible
San Cristobal. It is after Columbus
that We have called the part Of Colon
which now belongs to Uncle Sam
{ Cristobal.
Balboa and His search For Gold.
Another old historic point at Pana-
ma is where Balboa stood when he
) discovered the Pacific. Some of the
) authorities have picked out the spot