Pages That Mention Miraflores Locks
E.S. "Gordon" Lacey - Diary 1
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stretch of water like a river then we arrived at the first locks called Miraflores Locks. they are wounderful arrangements built of concrete first we sailed into a lock like a dock. Then the great doors were closed and water was pumped in and the ship gradually rose until she was on a level with the water in the next lock. Then the gates ahead of us opened and cables were run ashore, two from the bow two amidships & two from the stern. These were fixed to electric cars that run on rails laid on
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Gatun Locks. These are the largest set of locks of the three. We sailed into the first lock which is on a level with the lake. The water is pumped out and we sink down to the level of the next lock, and so on until we are down on the sea level again. All along the edge of each lock crowds gathered to see us pass. On the edge of Miraflores Locks a small crowd of soldiers collected, and of course as soon as we came in they started to cheer and before long showers of coins badges and other souveniers were being exchanged between the yanks & our chaps. When we arrived at the Pedro Miguel Locks our eyes were gladdenend by the
E.S. "Gordon" Lacey - Diary 2
Page 20
everybody sleeps up on deck, and it is funny to see the rush for good positions, as soon as the hammocks are given out. 6 A.M. 1st Sept the pilot came aboard and we started for the mouth of the Canal. The approach to the first set of Locks is something like a river. The first set of Locks are called Miraflores Locks. Everything is
Page 23
the ship was towed through into the next Lock, where the whole process was repeated. Steaming out of the Miraflores Locks we came to a small lake, and after crossing this we came into the mouth of the great Culebra Cut. This is a fine piece of work. In places the Canal is cut through a regular
Page 26
The storm passed off quickly and the shone as brightly as ever. Our next stop was at Gatun Locks, the largest of the three sets. Here things were directly opposite to what they were in Miraflores and Pedro Miguel, Instead of pumping water in, it was pumped out and the boat sank down until at last it was on the sea