Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-10-16
Removes Last Artificial Barrier
to Water Communication
in Panama Canal.
EVENT HIGHLY SPECTACULAR
Four Thousand Persons Lined
Banks of Cut When Will
son Pressed the
Button.

Panama, oct Giant OiKe "ncn
came into worldwide prominence as the
last artificial barrier 20 actual water
communication between the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans by way OF the Pancma
canal, was rent in twain by an electrical
impulse from the hand OF President
Woodrow Wilson in Washington at 2:Q2
o'clock this afternoon.
between three and four thousand per-
sons from the cities OF Panama and
Colon and various sections of the canal
zone witnessed the demolition Of the bar
rier, and while the event OF destroying
the dixie was spectacular to a degree AMI
successful in its every detail. some dis
appointment was evinced because the
entire dixie was not DESTROYED. Utter de-
molition was not carried out to-day be-
cause of the fear that the conclusion
might damage the railroad trestle cross
ing the cut near the San Miguel locks,
The two remaining sections will be dyna-
mited at some future date.
Thy spectators were early on the
ground. They lined the banks of the cut,
well outside the zone Of danger, occu-
plying the slopes of nearby hills, the roofs
Of buildings, tops of cars and every avail
able vantage point. AS the hour ar
preached when President Wilson in the
White House would press the button and
send the electric spark over the wires to
explode the numerous charges IF q! ma
mite in the dixie a hush of expectancy
fell over all. When the minute hands of
watches passed the hour of two o'clock
the suspense became still grea'rr. ;trd
the ensuing two minutes seemed like as
many hours.
Then, suddeny came the mufle ID roar Of
the discharge of 1900 pounds of dynamite
which sent a shower of water, mud and
rock high into the air, spreading out as 1t
went upward, the whole heavily yelled in
smoke. It was considered among Local
dynamite experts as a remarka1l clean
explosion.
SHOWER OF SMALL STONES.
A section of the dixie 60 feet wide
was lifted bodily out from its bed and
its components parts scattered far and
wide. The small stones ratified a
noisy accompaniment on the tin roofs
of nearby buildings. but none flew out
side the danger zone.
A. water began to pour through the
rent made by the explosion, steam
whistles were tied down and the crowd
set up a great cheer. Not an obstruc-
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r1er iriurv 10 NOT a ser;ous ono
All the heads of the canal departments
were present for the epoch-making event,
as also were all the member of the
cabinet of President Perras. The presi-
dent was unable to he present.
1t was Colonel Goethals's day, and the
chairman OF the Panama canal commits
sion was the recipient of a shower of
CONGRATULATIONS. Half an hour before
the blast was set off Colonel Cocktails
took his stand we'll up toward the dixie.
but as the time neared for the explosion
he drew back a snort distance but still
well out in front and in an unprotected
position There he was when the mass
OF earth ana water shot skyward
fhiilppe Buhau-N aria VINO was en-
Slneer OF the fahama canal company
When the frehch were trying TO dls the
sreat oi'ch' was an interested spectator
throughout ne appea'eu as ehthus'as'ic
as any OIL 'he o'heF spectators Local
acqunin'a"oeH '"'ln,"'e una' nu"au-
Nar'I'a' INV -" "iu' "'e'" III 'ne
sc" .eNel N'"a' " Yo4n
10 'he ~ ''S'V"' as w. ~ Inc
<"
"A"s nv y" WIN "eN'"7 INC
'a""' i" car "'
FlksI b''AlS ~ EN1hf"
The first boat to enter the cut from
the lake was a native canoe manned
by two Americana shortly ~afierwards
three launches successfully negotiated
the rapid water o"rr the gap II the
water covering the rent is deep
enough a oredGc Will he paSoei
through lnto the cut next Monday
The Cucarha silre' tha' huge moving
mass OF earth ana rock covering acres
IN extent IS no" the only barrier IN
the way OF the passage OF II vessel
from ocean 10 ocean "A treheh mas
been dug arouno ms barrier and TO-
night or to-morro" the section OF the
cut south Oh tu's po'h' VIII oeS'h 10