Norwich bulletin., 1916-02-17
LIFE AT BALBOA.
Described by Second Lieutenant Hor-
ace n. AIIen-WonderfuI Trip
Through Panama Canal.

PANAMA Ndndis
Interesting letters continue TO como
home to friends from Second Lienten-
ant Horace H. Allen, now with the U.
S. mine-planter, Gen. John NJ. Scho-
field. which has reached Balboa, on
the Pacific side of the Isthmus
Writing under date Of Jan. % he
says: Have just arrived at Balboa,
after a very interesting trip through
the Panama canal. 1t is the most
wonderful piece of work that can be
imagined, and 1 am lucky to have the
chance to see it-and get paid for it,
too!
\ government tug and three subma-
rines went through the locks with us,
so we had company all the way. The
islands, of which there are hundreds,
were so thick with ferns, palms. BAN
ana trees. etc, that one cannot look
into it all, and it seemed as though
one could walk right along on the solid
green. There were mountains all
around us and they did look beautiful.
We went into the first Gatum lock
about 7.30, were raised about 25 feet
ct the rate of feet per minute and
went in Lock No. and went up at the
same rate to Lock No. 3 and went up
again, coming out in Gatun lake. There
was a nice little breeze blowing up on
the lake. so it was quite comfortable.
When we were in the last lock, it
seemed strange to look way off and
see Cristobal-which we had left-the
trees and the sea, far below US, and
we afioat above them!
A Made Lake.
Before today, 1 did not know that
Gatun Lake was made by the Unit
ed States. There is a whole village
under VAR; and the top story Of
one of the hotels can be seen, just out
of water. We were sailing right along
over forts. too, and the big tree tops
in places were very near us.
The most wonderful sight was Gull
ebra Cut and the great landslide
there. It seems as though that great
mass of rock and dirt were going to
topple right over on US. 1t does not
seem as though human beings were
able to cut a great mountain in two
like that one was. The pictures do
it.
When we got to the Pedro Magueil
Lock, there was a moving picture man
taking the pictures of our fleet COM
ing through the canal Hope the pic
ture is shown in the states.
They are talking of having US in
the war manouevres with the subma-
rines, so If they do, We'll have some
sport.
We are now in Pacific waters and
it's my first time there. 1 am getting
acclimated and feel o. K.
Mine-Plantinq.
In a letter dated Jan. 81 Mr.. Allen
writes: We planted 81 mines yester-
day in groups Of seven each, and
planted II today, in two groups of
seven. 1t is much warmer over here
on this side than it was on the other
side.
LeEer Colony.
There is a leper colony out quite
near where we plant the mines and
we see their little shaclls every day
as we go by.
Three spaniards came alongside the
boat this noon with fruit. bananas
and oranges. Wish you could taste
some nice fresh oranges right o: the
trees.
They are going to bring a boatload
of pineapples tomorrow.
There is a rumor about here that
there has been another slide and that
it is as bad as the one of last No
vember.
Heat Intense.
A letter takes about nine days to get
here. Dreamed last night that 1 was
sliding down hill and sleighing: and it
even with the electric fan blowing
right on me, full speed, all night.
That last landslide was not so bad
as at first made out: so guess we will
not be detained here much longer then
we expected to be.
Mrs. Lawrence Howard, Of Mantle,
and sends regards to hilip Spelman
and Policeman Smith"
The heat is making all the men lose
flesh, the captain having already lost
| 81 pounds. he writes later, and tells of
| losing IL IL pounds himself
In an interestin manner he de-
| scribes visit to a fort near Balboa
and to the splendid hospital, one of
| the best in the world, which cares for
government employees free. The heat
| is intense and he writes that his ship
| mates say the sun is making him look
! like native. There are lots of Jobs
for engineers in the canal, he says, but
as the thermometer rarely gets be-
low 100 in the engine room, few could
stand the climate the year round.
Leaving Feb. IS.
The Schofield is scheduled to start
on her return trip to Cristoba1 on Feb.
| rs with stops at Guantanamo and Sa-
vannah before running up to Norfolk
In later letter he writes: The hos
| pital sergeant and 1 took a walk up
] through the palms and along the
| beach after supper. We had not gone
| far when we came to a high cliff
all covered in undergrowth. which we