Panama fever (38 page)
Authors: Matthew Parker
Tags: #History - General History, #Technology & Engineering, #History, #Central, #Central America, #Americas (North, #Central America - History, #United States - 20th Century (1900-1945), #United States, #Civil, #Civil Engineering (General), #General, #History: World, #Panama Canal (Panama) - History, #Panama Canal (Panama), #West Indies), #Latin America - Central America, #South, #Latin America
harles de Lesseps, who urged his father not to take on the challenge of Panama but, seeing that the old man had made up his mind, gave him his unconditional backing.
olón Harbor in 1884. The steamer was king, but much nonperishable freight was still carried by sailing vessel. The following year the town was destroyed by fire after a revolution on the Isthmus.
he beginning of the “big ditch.” In spite of the hopes of the leadership, much of the French canal was dug by men rather than machines.
ules Dingler,
Directeur Général of
the canal, 1883–85, who would pay a terrible price for his devotion to the endeavor in Panama.
he execution of Pedro Prestan in Colón on August 18, 1885.
French ladder excavator. The machines that had triumphed at Suez proved unable to cope with the heavy clays of the Chagres valley. Philippe Bunau-Varilla, French engineer, lobbyist, and plotter extraordinaire.
ottle Alley in Colón. The small town had nearly 150 bars, with 40 in this one street alone.