Subject
Panama Canal (Panama) -- History -- Juvenile fiction Books
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Victor Appleton
The moving picture boys at Panama : $b or, Stirring adventures along the great canal
"The Moving Picture Boys at Panama; Or, Stirring Adventures Along the Great Canal" by Victor Appleton is an adventure novel written in the early 20th century. This installment follows the escapades of two young protagonists, Joe Duncan and Blake Stewart, who are known as the "Moving Picture Boys." The story begins with them enjoying a vacation at a farmhouse before they get entangled in a dramatic rescue involving a runaway horse and carriage, setting the stage for their upcoming adventure in Panama. At the start of the book, Joe and Blake are excitedly discussing their recent exploits and hoping for news from their employer regarding their next filming assignment. Their peaceful vacation takes a thrilling turn when they witness a runaway horse pulling a carriage towards a broken bridge. They swiftly decide to take action and race their motorcycle to try and save the occupants of the carriage, leading to a daring rescue. This opening chapter not only establishes their friendship and teamwork but also foreshadows their future adventures, which will involve filming movements and events surrounding the construction of the Panama Canal.
J. W. Duffield
Bert Wilson at Panama
"Bert Wilson at Panama" by J. W. Duffield is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows Bert Wilson and his friends, Dick Trent and Tom Henderson, as they embark on an adventurous journey to Panama to witness the opening of the Panama Canal. Their excitement soon turns to peril when Dick is captured by a band of ruthless guerillas, leading his friends into a desperate race against time to save him and confront the notorious bandit leader, El Tigre. The opening of the novel sets the stage for this thrilling adventure, introducing the characters and their camaraderie against the backdrop of a war-torn Mexico. After a hold-up and subsequent abduction of Dick by bandits during their journey, Bert and Tom are propelled into action, armed with determination and bravery as they set out to track down Dick while overcoming the challenges and dangers of the wild terrain. As they navigate uncertainty and danger, the stage is set for an intense confrontation with the bandits, highlighting themes of friendship, courage, and resilience in the face of adversity.
Victor Appleton
The movie boys in peril : $b or, Strenuous days along the Panama Canal
"The Movie Boys in Peril: or, Strenuous Days Along the Panama Canal" by Victor Appleton is a juvenile adventure novel written in the early 20th century. It follows moving-picture operators Blake Stewart and Joe Duncan as they head to the Panama Canal to capture dramatic scenes—especially the feared Culebra Cut landslides—while a courteous but puzzling Spanish companion, Vigues Alcando, joins them to learn the trade. Expect travel, engineering spectacle, and light intrigue woven into brisk, boyish action. The opening of the book finds Blake and Joe on vacation when they spot a runaway horse and buggy headed for a broken bridge; after a high-speed chase on their new motorcycle, they pull the wrecked carriage back from the brink, saving driver Hank Duryee and a young Spaniard, Vigues Alcando. A delayed special-delivery letter from their employer, Mr. Hadley, reveals plans for the boys to film the Canal and a possibly imminent big slide at Culebra Cut, and Alcando—eager to learn moviemaking—asks to accompany them. In New York the boys get instructions from Hadley and Ringold, while Alcando’s behavior occasionally raises questions (a windblown note mentioning “big guns,” a secretive visitor, and a brass-bound ticking “alarm clock” he won’t explain). The trio sails for Colon; after a voyage marked by small suspicions and Alcando’s insistence on gratitude and helpfulness, they arrive in Panama and prepare to begin their filming.
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