We drove languidly on down
the avenue and up into Ancon, where I heaved a genuine sigh of
relief as we crossed the unmarked street that made my badge good
again. The prisoner was soon behind padlocks and the money and
cigars in the station safe. These and him and the transfer card I
took again with me into the foreign Republic in time for the
evening train. But he seemed even more anxious than I to attract
no attention, and once in Empire requested that we take the
shortest and most inconspicuous route to the police station; and
my responsibility was soon over.
Many were the Z.P. facts I picked up during the next few days in
the swivel-chair. The Zone Police force of 1912 consisted of a
Chief of Police, an Assistant Chief, two Inspectors, four
Lieutenants, eight sergeants, twenty corporals, one hundred and
seventeen "first-class policemen," and one hundred and sixteen
"policemen" (West Indian negroes without exception, though none
but an American citizen could aspire to any white position); not
to mention five clerks at headquarters, who are quite worth the
mentioning. "Policemen" wore the same uniform as "first-class"
officers, with khaki-covered helmet instead of "Texas" hat and
canvas instead of leather leggings, drew one-half the pay of a
white private, were not eligible for advancement, and with some
few notable exceptions were noted for what they did know and the
facility with which they could not learn.
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