Memories of Panama Canal 1940
We were very soon in sight of the S. American Coast. It was just how I had imagined it. Tall mountains, thickly forested rising straight out of the sea. As we came closer I could see the really tropical green of the foliage and the damp, hot damp mist which rises continuously from the undergrowth. Soon I could hear strange noises and now and again the screech of a wild bird. But as we continued on, parallel with the coast, towards the entrance to the canal, aeroplanes, or rather flying boats came into action and swooped very low over us. Then we took on the officials who had to inspect the ships papers and also some niggers who tried to sell postcards etc., but were really there for rope handling purposes. As we were here fro some time, I looked around to try and find something extra-ordinary in the scenery, but for some reason or other it was just as I had expected it, but nevertheless, very, very impressive and “large”. Soon we were going through the first of the huge locks that were to raise us 86 feet. This was where one began to see the colossal size of the task that the men had before them.
When you realise that the evil, snake and insect infected forests which abound on either side, used to stretch right across the whole canal, you begin to wonder what made any man ever contemplate such a task.
After two more locks, we came into what is called the lake. And here you begin to wonder again. Because this huge lake, which was all forest, now stretches for miles around, and you wonder how the water got there. Well they flooded it by means of a river, which they made to flow where they wanted it! You can still see the tree tops poking out of the water now, although they are leaf-less! Continuing on across the lake, we come to the actual cut, which is where about a hundred men a day died from malaria carried by the mosquitos.
The greatest cut of all, is through a terrific hill and it is just here that a plate has been let in the face of the rock, in memory of the men who died, in the terrible jobs that they had to do.