Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-07-24
'a' Il 4 j. !. j. i. !. !. j. i. j.
j. FACTS ABOUT PANAMA. =,
10 i + i + ]. !. !. !. !. f. j. j. j.
(Anderson NIail.)


occurring there, and realizing that
many of Miss Fant's friends would
ike to hear directly from her, the
letter was sent to us to select from
1t the most interesting parts for pub
hcation. Extracts are made from
Miss Fant's Letter.
All Panama Is in mourning over the
sudden death of Mr.. Valdes, their
President. He was taken very i'll
week ago last Monday, and died in an
honr or two. The funeral was the
noxt morning. and the parade was
magnificent. Panama has not SOL
d1ers, but has several hundred fire.
men and several hundred policemen.
In the parade first came the mounted
police, then band, then the firemen
on foot, the fire trucks draped in
black. Then the casket on top of the
biggest fire truck. On the four cor
neTs Of the truck we're punches of
brass alcohol lamps burning, form
ing the funeral torches, with police
men all around it, then members of
the clergy with boys carrying can
dies. The family came next, and the
new President.
The members Of the diplomatic
corps, consuls, ambassadors and min
listers in all Of their regalia were in
the line of march, as were all of the
students Of the colleges Of Panama.
Then the orphans that the State is
raising, and children's band. The
u. S. cavalry and U. S. soldiers, ac-
companied by U. S. band were the
ast of the parade. 1t must have
taken an hour ana half for it to
pass.
There we're some natural flower
offerings, but most Of the flowers
were highly colored porcelain and
metal, and the funny part Of it is
most Of them were rented by the
persons who sent them, and were re-
turned after the funeral to the un-
dertaker. If they were left at the
cemetery they would proLbalv be
stolen.
The tiremen wear cream-colored
trousers, red flannel shirts, black
boots and heavy black hats that
weigh four pounds. Our ianitor is
one Of the firemen, and he told me
that
All Panama had half holiday, so
the people could go to the cathedral
TO pray for the Presidents departed
soul There again the policemen
IN their dress uniforms we're station
cd all around the cathedral, and the
entire building was draped in black.
All the flags are still at half-mast
s--ound the city, and the policemen
will wear bow Of crepe and small
Panama flag pinned on their coat
sleeves for a month. Over in the
Zone the day of the funeral our flags
wore at half-mast, too. and the Of
fees closed for half a day.
Some Politics in Panama.
Tho Panama Republic is divided
Up into different provinces, and over
each province Is a Governor appoint
cd by the President, as are also the
Secretary OF War and state, the chief
OF" police, etc. Just as soon as the
new President took office, as he Is
from an opposing political party, all
the Governors, ETC., were turned out
of office, and new ones appointed.
This new President can only serve
until a real President is elected in a
month or two, and then, the chances
are, all the men will be turned out
again. 1t is too funny, but pretty
bad on the men, isn't it?
Quite bit Of excitement has been
ing our soldiers and sailors to leave
Zone territory, to 90 into Panama or
In Colon. Backing up this order the
civilians and the Federal Employees
Union voted to boycott Panama. The
trouble is that our soldiers could go
into Panama, get anything they want
ed in the way Of drinks or drugs, and
worst Of all the government seems
TO aid and abct the gambling dens
and the red light districts. do not
suppose YOU could find two more sor-
d;dly wicked or dirty places in the
world than Panama and Colon. And
until Panama regulates these things.
and helps to put the restrictions
around our camps that we have in
q tic States, no more soldiers nor sal
Tors will be allowed to 20 into their