panamarailroadcompany

Gatun Lake (Sp. Lago Gatún) is a large artificial lake situated in the Republic of Panama; it forms a major part of the Panama Canal, carrying ships for 33 km (20 miles) of their transit across the Isthmus of Panama. Newsworthy because the Panama Canal was opened on 15 August 1914.

SS Ancon was an American steamship that became the first ship to officially transit the Panama Canal in 1914. Ancon and her sister ship Cristobal played a crucial role in building the canal, bringing workers and supplies, notably massive amounts of cement, from New York to Panama for the construction project The steamer began life as the SS Shawmut, built for the Boston Steamship Line in 1902.[1] About 1910 she was purchased by the Panama Railroad Company to provide shipping required for the construction of the Panama Canal. The name was changed to Ancon after Ancon Hill and Ancon township in Panama, home to the head of the Canal Commission. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Ancon

Thanks to you both for the added information about the canal and the ship. We'll add it to the record the next time we update.

"It is reported that the British foreign office has received an unofficial message that German mobilization has been ordered (...) Service between New York and Europe was suspended by the Cunard line and the International Mercantile line" — Telegraph-Herald, 31 July 1914

I need to get me one of those awesome hats