Powell's Candies Cigars Tobaccos Smokers' articles Souvenirs Kodaks Kodak supplies The Waterman Ideal Fountain Pen. No. 32, Fifth Street, Next to Canal Building. across the Isthmus in company, to take ship on the other side. They were not heard of again until one day a man came across some bodies half-devoured by the buzzards. An investigation was started, and it was conclusively proven that the seven men had been waylaid and murdered. The men were artisans on their way home, and had with them a chest of tools. This chest from its weight and appearance led one of the numerous gangs of robbers to believe that it contained treasure. They offered themselves as pack-train men, were accepted, and at a certain point on the road the travelers were set upon and killed. Among the effects of the dead men were found a master mason's apron, and other emblems of the order, which increased the desire to run the guilty parties to earth. This was shortly accomplished. The pack-train men were arrested, confronted with the evidence, and confessed. Subsequently they were all taken to Panama and shot. These and similar occurrences aroused the authorities to take some decisive action toward putting down the out rages. All that were caught in robberies were given short shrift. Usually, if found guilty, they were immediately shot. Then too, the returning Californians, being previously advised of the insecurity of the transit, provided themselves against these emergencies, as the robber bands found out to their cost. In one case, a pack-train carrying British bullion from South America was attacked on the trail. The party put up so stiff a defense that several of the thieves were killed, and the remainder put to rout. The record of those times go to show that many a returning treasure seeker never reached home and loved ones again, but left his bones to bleach on the Cruces trail. A couple of years ago, a native living near the trail ran across a quantity of coins, discolored with age. He brought them into Panama and showed them at a local bank. Many of the coins were gold, and all bore dates of the period when the Cruces trail was the main traveled road of the gold hunters of California. They had evidently formed a part of some robber's hoard. Lola Montez "of Paris and Panama." Among the many thousands of persons that passed over the Isthmus from all parts of the world in the mad rush for California, none attracted greater attention on the streets of Panama than Lola Montez, in the zenith of her world-wide fame, and owning to the distinction of being the most wonderful dancer of her day. The fair Lola, known in private life as the Countess Landsfield, left Paris in December, 1851, on an American tour. On the eve of her departure the Paris press said of her: Lola Montez "of Paris and Panama”. 133 "Lola Montez is bidding us farewell, and leaves us for America. Whoever ye be, young or old, rich or poor, it is impossible for you not to have heard of Mme. Comtesse Landsfield, the butterfly known as Lola Montez. The laurels won by Fannie Elssler and Jenny Lind has driven sleep from her eyes. She too wishes to conquer. Farewell then, Mme. Comtesse, may America be propitious to you. If a handful of adventurers under Cortez effected the conquest of Mexico, why should not Lola Montez triumph over the New World." The writers in the Paris press in acknowledging her peculiar and fascinating beauty, said that dancing was not an art with her, but natural, like the singing of a bird. In touring the United States, Loa caught the gold fever, and arrived on the Isthmus on her way to California in May, 1853. She appeared on the streets of Panama in men's clothes. and armed with a riding whip, presented a picturesque and striking figure. On On one occasion, a young man of the town had the temerity to pull the tail of her coat. She turned upon him in terrible anger, and raising her whip struck the offender a sharp blow in the face which left its mark for many a day. Love Me, Love My Dog. While at Gorgona on her way across the Isthmus, she ordered the hotel keeper to fit up a cot in the room she had engaged for the night, for her dog, which was her inseparable companion. The host remonstrated stating that all of his cots were occupied and that many of his guests had to content themselves with sleeping on the floor. "I · think Madame," he said, "that your dog can sleep very well for one night on the floor." "Sir," replied the Countess, removing a Havana from her pretty lips, "I do not care where or how your guests sleep, but I would have you to know that my dog has slept in palaces. Get me the cot immediately and say no more about it." The now frightened hotel keeper obeyed, and the next morning charged five dollars in the bill for the dog's bed. To this the Countess objected, aud on the landlord insisting that the bill should be paid, she pulled out her pistol, and threatened to settle not only the bill, but the hotel keeper as well, for extortion. There was no further argument. A representative of the "Panama Star" interviewed the artiste on May 9, 1853, at the Cocoa Grove Hotel and wrote an account of it as follows: "Instead of meeting a giantess in appearance, and a person of masculine manners as was expected, we were most agreeably surprised when on presentation to the Countess, to find her a lady of ordinary stature, and of rather delicate frame, possessing the most regular and handsome features, with a pair of brilliant and expressive eyes, and withal an exceedingly winning address. We were still more surprised when on extending her hand, to find it so diminutive." "During an hour's conversation with the Countess, we could observe no peculiarity about her, beyond what we would desire to see in any well educated woman, possessing a degree of assurance peculiar to people who have traveled much, thus enabling her to give expression to her thoughts without any of that simpering mock modesty which makes many people appear ridiculous." "It was not until after dark, and as we were about to take our leave, that we had a fair opportunity to judge of the courageous daring of this remarkable woman. One of the guests of the hotel who had been taking a walk about the grounds was attacked and an attempt made to shoot him. Lola Montez immediately went to where it was going on and rendered what aid possible, returning with the guest to the house. In all the excitement, there was no desire to faint, or expression of fear on her part. She cross-questioned the guest thoroughly, but the affair remained a mystery." was not The stay of Lola Montez on the Isthmus of long duration, but she expressed great pleasure over her visit, and it was many a day before the memory her and her queer attire was forgotten. of Oceans Linked by Steel Ribbons, 1855. 135 Oceans Linked by Steel Ribbons, 1855. re The possibilities incident to the construction of a railroad across the Isthmus early attracted the attention of capitalists and others. The first move in this direction was made in 1835 when, pursuant to a resolution offered in the United States Senate by Henry Clay, President Andrew Jackson appointed Charles Biddle a commissioner to visit the different routes on the continent of America best adapted for interoceanic communication, and port thereon with reference to their value to the commercial interests of the United States. Mr. Biddle came to the Isthmus and accompanied by Don Josè Obaldía at that time a member of the Colombian Congress, la'ter visited Bogota where, after repeated delays, he secured from the government a decree giving him the right to build a railroad across the Isthmus. He returned to the United States in 1837, but died before he was able to make a report. In 1847, a French syndicate headed by Mateo Kline obtained an option on the proposed undertaking from the Government of New Granada which, however, was permitted to lapse the following year. The rush of the goldseekers Santiago Rozo LAWYER. Diploma of the National University of Offers his Professional Services to the Public. REFERENCES: Panama Bank'g. Co., lat. Bank'g. Co. Office, No 36, Fifth Street, Panama. Santiago Rozo ABOGADO. Con Diploma de la Universidad Nacional de Bogotá, Colombia. Ofrece sus Servicios Profesionales. REFERENCIAS: Pasama Bank'g. Co, Int. "Bank'g. Co. Oficina, Calle 5a. No. 36, Panamá. |