The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-05-09
THE PANAMA CANAL ZONE
Bossier Parish Boy Now in the Zone Writes Descrip
tive Letter Of Interest About That Near Tropical
Country for Publication in the Banner.

fixed bayonets shining in the sun. and
then throw themselves like one man
down fiat. to avoid the enemy bullets.
Then there is the fencing combat, in
the new style learned by the army
from British experience at the front.
1t is Il wonderful sight to see the men.
logged out in body protector and mask,
looking for all the world like some out
landish creature of the Imagination.
going after each other with fencing
musketS equipped with flexible bayo-
nets like a fencing foil. The muskets
are not much protection against brui-
Ses when Il nine-pound club is in the
bands OF Il strong man.
THEY WANT TO GO TO FRANCE.
The boys of the :3:Sd are anxious to
get to France. and are Il husky set of
men. They have built Il large portion
of the post in which they live, and.
with the sun at 12O in the shade and
the humidity as high as it is here. it
takes nearly Superhunlan endurance to
work. But it has done the men of the
33d good, and they are as hard and
strong regiment as there is in the
Army. \ large percentage of them
have enlisted since the declaration of
war; and 800 Of them enlisted within Il
week after the country decided to take
up arms against Germany. They are
anxious to get to France. and hence
arc working hard at their drills to fit
themselves for the fray.
THE CLIMATE VERY HOT.
The climate here is hot, but it is not
unpleasant once ones blood has be-
come adapted to it. We have four
months when there is no rain, and
eight months when it rains every day,
1t does not rain all Of every day,
hut small part of each day it is sure
to come. And when it does come ii
comes in torrents. 1t seems as if there
were great food turned loose. At
first there is Il patter. in time to warn
all good citizens to get in doors, and
then Il kissing sound is heard, and then
roar. Everything becomes a river OF
water at once, and this continues unit
the rain is done. when the wetneSs
goes as quickly as it came. Sometimes
it thunders. and lightning flashes, ani
when it does it beats anything evel
heard in the States. The whole SIX,
seems illuminated with the flashe.
until it just seems to glow like mer
curry varors light, and peal OH peal o.
rolling thunder fills the air.
During the dry season. which ex
tends from November to March, ther,
| is absolutely 10 rain, but, strange t.
| say. it is not nearly so hot as durin:
| the rainy season. The humidity il
| higher and there is always StrOn.
| trade wind blowing. giving every on
Il chance to stand still and cool of
Even standing still will set one per
spring during the rainy season.
| SUNSET ON THE ATLANTIC
The Gatun District is remarkably
for the fact that it is the famous plac
where one can see sunset on the At
lantic This fact is due to the curve il
the iStlmus at Colon, and the confOr
nation of Colon HarbOr, which turn
up still more to the west. The Onl
place where we see the Atlantic Ocea
from the hills around Gatun is almos
directly west from us.
FINE FISHING AND HUNTING.
The fishing and hunting is gloriou
around here, especially during the dr.
season. Then there are fewer mos
quitOes in the interior. and the NOR
adventurous spirits often make Ion
journeys into the untrod wilderness i
search Of the game that is 50 aGunt
ant. The fishing is good all the yea
around. The best fish are to lie caugl
in the river below the Spillway. wher
the tarpon run. Each afternoon til
gates are opened slightly to let nor
water and small lake fishes run int
the river. The tarpon come running Il
the river to the apron of the bed OF til
Spillway. and the soldiers and many {
the civilians fish for them with 70
and reel. | have seen some weighin
as high as $50 pounds caught OH ligl
rod. They are fine fighting fish an
it is a pretty sight to see one of thel
when hooked. The water is very sha
low. and you can see their dOrSal Fl
rushing off with the reel tugging bacl
bard. Finally the tarpon. maybe
take ii look at his captor. or in a
effort to shake the hook from HI