Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 263, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1913 — Page 3

When President Wilson pressed a button in the White House 1,277 great charges of dynamite were exploded in the Panama Canal 55hne and the Gamboa Dike was blown to pieces. The muffled roar of the explosion was echoed by the cheers of thousands of spectators and instantly the cables flashed to all parts of the world the news that this climax in the building of the wonderful canal had been reached and passed. No ceremonies attended the event, but the / heart of every American beat high with pride in the achievement of his countrymen. The explosion was a “clean” one, lifting out of the dike a section sixty feet wide. Through this gap rushed the waters of Gatun lake, which at the time were six feet above the level of the water which had been let into the cut through pipes to act as a cushion for the explosion.

Before the blowing up of the Gamboa Dike a certain amount of water was let Intp the Culebra Cut through pipes In the dike, in order to form a cushion for the great explosion.

GOVERNOR AND MRS. METCALF SEE EXPLOSION

Among those who witnessed the dynamiting of the Gamboa Dike were Governor Metcalf of the Canal Zone and his wife.

EXPLOSION THAT DESTROYED GAMBOA DIKE

LETTING THE FIRST WATER INTO CULEBRA CUT

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

COL WILLIAM C. GORGAS

ColoAel Gorgas. who. as head of tha department of-sanitation in the Cana? Zone, j really made possible the build Ing of the canal, has just gone tc South Africa to undertake the task ol bettering the sanitary conditions ol the hundreds of thousands of inlnert employed there. »

The eternal triangle—One obtuss angle and two acute angles.

FIRST BOAT THROUGH THE OPENING IN GAMBOA DIKE

The first boat to enter Culebra Cut from Gatun Lake after the Gamboa Dike was blown up was a native canoe manned by two Americans, who paddled their craft through the new channel almost immediately after the explosion.

These floating islands are frequent in Gatun Lake and are pushed out of the Panama Canal channel by a steam launch, which may be seen in the photograph.

COL. GEORGE W. GOETHALS.

Colonel Goeihals, chairman and chief engineer of the isthmian Canal com* mission, who has bade himself for ever famous as the builder of the Panama canal.

Drawing the Line.

A You risked your life to keep her from drowning." "Of course, I did." “And yet you insisted upon her being thoroughly and satisfactorily Itendifled before you would cash a check for her!" “One can’t be too cautious where money Is at stake."

Pleasures of the Rich.

“Mrs. Van Million is back from Europe." “And what is she puffed up about?" “Seems she smuggled in two packages of foreign cigarettes."

The Explorers.

Knlcker —It must be thrilling to tread where man never trod before. Bocker —It Is. Try tracking up your wife's pet rug.

FLOATING ISLANDS IN GATUN LAKE

Like a mountain torrent the waters of Gatun Lake poured into Culebra Cut through the sixty-foot gap 1n Gamboa Dike made by the explosion of 1,600 pounds of dynamite. At Gold Hill the flood was partially dammed by the Cucaracha slide and within an hour and a half the cut was filled to lake leveL

WATER POURING THROUGH GAMBOA DIKE

Shrieking whistles and cheering crowds greeted the first rush of. water through the huge rent in the Gamboa Dike when that last obstruction in the Panama Canal was blown up with dynamite. Well In front of the throng of spectators stood Colonel Goethals. silent, but visibly gratified at the moment which marked the virtual completion of his mighty ♦■rs

RUSH OF WATERS INTO CULEBRA CUT