MEMORIAL OF C. W, HAYES 105 



His field of operations was in time extended over the entire length of 

 the canal ronte^ where he had a number of parties engaged in drilling 

 along the zone. Hayes was almost constantly traveling during the nine- 

 teen months devoted to this field. A few extracts from his journal will 

 give a conception of his life, though most of the writing is a record of 

 his geologic observations : 



"This morning resumed the building of camp. Detailed gangs of workmen 

 for particular tasks, as cutting palm leaves for thatch, poles for flooring and 

 rafters, and vines for lashing. ... I start with O'Reardon south from 

 camp, running a traverse line. In crossing a deep creek O'Reardon slipped off 

 log and went completely under. I could see his pink shirt through the clear 

 water and, reaching down, pulled him out. He was a comical sight, but showed 

 good nerve and held on to the gun he was carrying. . . . During trip saw 

 folloMdng animals : Ijots of monkeys, two alligators, one over ten feet long ; a 

 manitee, a sloth hanging on a limb over the river, an iguana, a lizard in a 

 tree-top, three feet or more in length; also a large number of cranes, herons, 

 and other birds. . . . Find a rubber tree on bank; tap it, and O'Reardon 

 covers his canvas compass can, making it thoroughly waterproof. . . . Make 

 a map of drilling operations on both sides of river; measure and level up all 

 the holes and locate two new ones. . . . We are roused by the steamer 

 whistle before daylight and pack up hurriedly in the gray dawn. Have coffee 

 and bread on board — the latter a great luxury. . . . Get a dugout canoe and 

 two natives and go back to the mouth of the San Francisco. . . . We cook 

 breakfast — coffee, baked beans, and hardtack. . . . The men were alone 

 under the tarpaulin. One of them claimed he saw a panther (tiger he called 

 it) and raised the alarm. All set up an agonized screeching. . . . Found 

 the men pale with fear. During the remainder of the night A. fired his re- 

 volver at frequent intervals, claiming he could smell the beast. . . . This 

 party lives on a raft, on which a tent has been erected. It is rather close 

 (luarters for four oflBcers and twelve mozos. I have to swing my hammock be- 

 tween two posts when I make them a visit. We had quite an exciting time 

 coming over the rapids a few days ago. This was not so difficult as stopping 

 in the swift water below. We broke several lines before we succeeded in moor- 

 ing the 'ark' to the bank. It is not quite as much of an ark as it was before 

 they disposed of most of the livestock, and now have left only one dog, one 

 monkey, and two parrots." 



Hayes's difficulties were not only due to physical obstacles, for he 

 records in his journal : 



"The men having been paid off today have been loading up, and after supper 

 begin to raise Ned. B. gets silly drunk, and after quarreling with L. comes 

 weeping to my tent and threatens to drown himself. Says everybody in camp 

 has combined to injure him and wants to leave. He presents an indescribably 

 ludicrous appearance. . . . We reach the San Francisco and find it swollen 

 with a strong current. Have a hard pull coming up, . . . and find the only 

 way to make progress is to do all the steering myself. . . . We reach the 



