The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-10
DAVID D. GAILLARD.
DUG CULEBRA CUT AND CON-
QUERED PANAMA CANAL
SLIDES.
Engineers Death elimination of
Breakdown Following Hard Work
OH Canal.

Baltimore, Nd, Dec. 5.-Lieut. Col.
David Dubose Gaillard, United States
army. who directed the engineering
work in the Culebra Cut, a division OF
the Panama Canal, died at Johns Hop
kins Hospital here today.
Lieut.. Col. Gaillard had been a pa
tient at the hospital since August II
last, suffering from growth in the
head, the result of seven years ar
duous labor in the tropical climate
of the Canal Zone. He failed grad
ually but steadily, and for the last two
months had been in a stae of coma.
due to the pressure Of the cranial
growth upon the brain cells. The
physicians decided some time ago
that an operation was useless and
might hasten his death.
He is survived by his widow and q
son. Lieut.. David p. Gaillard United
States army. Both were at the bed
sidO when the end came.
Lieut.. Col. Gaillard was born at
Winnsboro. S. c., in 1854. He grad
uated from West Point Military
Academy in 1884 and since that time
had won many honors in the engi-
neering service. A bill was introduce
ed i'm congress last month promoting
him to the rank Of colonel in recog-
milton Of his distinguished services
which eliminated in the great engi-
neering feat in the Culebra section of
the Panama Canal.
When Culebra Cut was flooded by
the blasting of Gamboa dixie on Oc-
tOber 10 last Col. Gaillard lay un-
conscious in his bed at the hospital
here.
Col. Gaillard's death is the culmi-
nation of a breakdown incurred by
long hours Of work and exposure in
the Canal Zone, where he pitted his
Skill as an engineer against the shift
ing soil Of the Culebra Cut. To him
had been given the most difficult task
in connection with the canals con-
struction, to master the landslides and
quicksands which extended for eight
miles along the line Of the Culebra
Cut. -,
During the early years of his con-
test with the landslides Col. Gaillard
never knew what a morning was to
bring forth. Over night the NOUN.
tains moved and covered with their
deposit the tracks, and even the cars
which were used to remove material.
The Culebra Cut runs through the
backbone Of the American Continent.
Gaillard dug indomitably until hill
after hill found it's angle of repose
and he checked the landslides save at
Cucuracha and points nearby. There
the sliding was persistent, but had
visibly weakened, when the engineer
was compelled to stop his work and
seek rest.
For the greater period of his work
on the Isthmus Col. Gaillard was
without chief assistant. He wanted
to save money. He gave his atten-
tion not only to the great engineer
ing problems. but to all the details Of
shovel work, train work and drain
age. He checked up on the small
things and once it was computed that
by his careful oversight he had saved
the government s17,O0O,OOO.
Men who worked with him said
that he gave twelve hours of each day
to the Culebra Cut. In addition he
had a voice in all matters pertaining
to engineering work in the zone, to
civil administrator and to the gen.
eral conduct of affairs. The hard
work, the nervous strain, the worry
AMI the tropical climate combined
broke his health at the hour of his
final triumph. There was little left
there to be done but to remove the
soft earth OF the slide at Cucuracha.
Final arrangements for the funer-
al have not been made, but the in
terment will take place in the Nation
al Cemetery at Arlington on Monday
afternoon. 1t is expected that the
body will be removed to Washington