Evening star., 1914-08-15
War Department Steamship
Ancon Began Its Passage at
O'Clock This Morning.
PASSED THROUGH LOCKS
IN SEVENTY MINUTES
Ship Leased to Panama Railroad
Company by Government From
New York and Fully Loaded.

PANAMA, August 15.-The United
States War Department steamship An
con today made the passage through the
Panama canal, and transit through tnt
waterway is now officially open to the
traffic of the world.
The Ancon left her berth at Cristobal al
to the end of the deep water channel
from the Atlantic to the Gatun locks
She went through these locks. which nave
n lift of eighty-five feet, in seventy min
utes She continued through the water
way from deep water on the Atlantic &c
deep water on the Pacific without incl
dent She is due at the Paclnc SIDE al
6 o'clock this evening.
Leaving Cristobal. the Ancon passed
several vessels at anchor in the harDor
waiting to follow her through the canal
and thus make the first commercial use
of the waterway.
The decks of the Ancon were crowded
with guests of the government and ofi-
cjals of the canal administration and the
republic of Panama. The party included
Col Goethals, U. s. A., builder of the
canal and governor Of the zone; Presi'
dent Porras of Panama and Capt. Hugh
Rodman. Z. S. N, superintendent OF
transportation.
In CONFORMITY with a promise made by
Col. Goethals the peace flag of the Amer
lean Peace Society f1uttered from the
foremast of the Ancon. Bneath her
decks, however, were two huge pieces OF
artillery which are destined to form an
important part in the defenses of the
waterway.
Local Celebration Held.
The Canal Zone celebrated to-
day the opening Of the canal.
The festivities. however, were but
local and suggested little of
the international significance of the
event. With the official Panama cole
bration set for next spring, even the
United states was not officially repre-
sented today except by the men who
have long been in the Canal Zone.
The steamship Ancon, owned by the
United States War Department. and
leased to the Panama railroad for serv-
ice in the New York Colon trade. was
chosen as the first big boat to be put
through, Signalling the opening OF
the canal to all ships UP to 10000 tons
register. .ss-
Shortly before o'clock this morning
the Ancon was drawn away from her
end Of the deep-water channel from
the Atlantic ocean to the Gatun locks.
The program called for her passage OF
the Culebra cut at about noon and ar
rival at the end of the deep-water
channel in the Pacific at 6 o'clock this
evening.
Dressed in Spotless White.
All the seventy-four regular officers
ri he n r pd
in spotlessly white uniforms, and the
ship itself glistened with new paint,
over which futtered signal flags and
the flags of all nations.
At the forepeak was the ensign OF
the Panama Republic, while at the
mainmast head f1uttered the house pen
nant of the Panama steamship fleet.
On the jackstaff was the flag of the
United States.
Invitations to be guests on this first
trip had been much coveted. and the
those of the Panama republic, with
the women of their families, as the big
steamer backed away from her berth.
Col. Goethals, builder Of the canal and
bridge beside Capt. Sukeforth. COM
mander Of the steamer. together with
Capt. Hugh Rodman, U. S. N, super
intendent of transportation of the ca
nal, VINO mas OVerSeen the plans 1Or
putting the first ship through.
Other distinguished persons included
President Porras of the republic of
Panama and his staff.
National Anthem Drowned.
The Panama National Band and the
regimental band of the 10th United
States Infantry played ''The Star
Spangled Banner" as the ship pulled
away, but the music was almost
drowned by the whistles of the steam
ers in the harbor.
To assure unimpeded passage for the
Ancon, all of the traffic, including the
working boats in Culebra cut, was
brought to standstill.
The several thousand canal workers
enjoyed a holiday, and with villagers
of all types from the surrounding ter
ritory they lined the banks at various
vantage points. The Ancon was fully
loaded with the regular cargo that she
had brought from New York, the
freight having been purposely left on
board to give the canal full test, with
the ship drawing its full depth of
water.