Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-02-06
EXCITING ADVENTURE on THE
RIVER MADEIRA.

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EXCITING ADVENTURE on THE
RIVER MADEIRA.
Col. George e. Church. President OF the
National Bolivian Navigation Company,
whites to director in Providence II letter
which is published by the Journal, ana
from which we copy as follows:
Nearing the rapid Madeira We crossed
TO the mouth Of the river Benz This joins
the Mamore at a sharp angle, Canoes, In
passing to the Madeira river, reach this
angle and thence curve to the northeast,
through numerous hr0ken, rocky ridges,
Just above the water, and many high Islands
covered with beautiful foliage and large
trees. There is, perhaps half league oil
such transit through currents and broken
waters, and, although not very dangerous,
the impression given is one OF awe. The
vast masses of wafer, much greater 10 vol
ume than the Mississippi at New Orleans,
mingle to form the river Madeira, aud
appear like an ocean surrounded by bound
less solitude of forests. Que feels OF little
account launched in the midst OF this silent
waste, In a trail craft not five incaeI above
the water. So felt !, as entirely alone, our
canoe passed through these Islands; for we
had lost sight of all the other cialts during
Oui IApNOlhAlohef uuh Nih NV husW - euNJ
were above or below us.
Suddenly the mournfu roar ofthe Madeira
rapid increased, aud we caught sight Of the
long, broken line OF water which indicated
the gigantic dam Of Dackened rocks through
and over which the combined tides of the
Benz aud MamOre were carrying passage
We hugged the tight shore, each moment
fearful that the currt nls might take com
mand Of the canoe despite our efforts. Our
Canichana Indian captain and his assistants
did not appear 10 lie certain OF the channel
we ought 10 follow; the crew, | also noticed,
were a little demoralizod. We shot an in
leiior rapid Just wide enough .or our pas
sage, but nearly stove our canoe against the
sunkon rocks, On cur lett wai an island,
and 'iule beyond, IN the same direction,
The roar was teiTihc. In the front was
much broken water, and, one hundred yards
beyond, the river gave wild leap among
the rocks that showed US We were completely
uapped in mos desperate position. 1hc
Que sole friend | saw was the trte little
Island on our left. II was reached with the
greatest difficulty, although not twenty leei
from us.
We Lrenthedl Each man looked at the
others in a vague uncertain manner, rs Il
he had lost hope. Our captain and bis as.
siatanls stared about; there was no command
or self reliance in their faces then. Where
were the other canoes? We saw nothing OF
them along the shore below the rapid. II
among the islandi. waiting for US up stream,
they would not descend until they found US.
| If, by any means, We might reach VIC loot
Of the cataract and not aud ihem, we might
starvc 10 death; Tor we had no provisions In
our canoe and no cabUtO drag lcr up stream
sSap 5eI II a, Ms vs9 sR9erssnGy Ivy %aHSag %aHSaaga uARR
inc head Of the rapid, ~ thal at ltasl, Os-
! loiy descending, we OuRl " be sure II lhey
wert above Or below.
! Brt could W. etc"ad @. u We tried it,,
'rnined eve u.uscl. iil t ave way, ana
were lace --K % Dll .sment ON INC
rochs. Ju.l trn $40 caught sighl OF one
If cul LAuI.s hei4t taUled up along lhe
rive, mpr-I il uur relief They had seen
us iu e0i ,vr!lnus position ana had set on u
nelp us. if possible. Vain hope! Ihey
could not reach Us by u thousand lect, and
there they halted. 1t was growing dark
every moment lost made matters worse
There remained but ono chance, lorlorr
hone. | looked at Ross, my companion
He was cool, b i said nothing. IL was eVl
dent that he fully realized the situation
WWe must Iun The desperate chance o
crossing the first rapid, and, said !, point
ing TO the moaning whirlpool, Just Oeyon
"reach the shore il We can" gave th'
order 10 the captain and the men. Ihel
looked at me In a vacaat, glaslly manner
ns If had real their death sentence. hal
10 repeat the command and with force.
We pushed of hom the rock. Like
fash the current caught and whired us on
ward. Montenegro ana his crew, from thei
position, could see the rapid better than We
= they raised a long, wild shout and madl
, waved Their hats for TO 20 to the lett, gay
a the orders for the captain To steer In the di
l rrclion constantly indicated by Montenegro
t but he was completely demoralizeIi ior
/ looked as II such a course would send US
i eternity over the main lall, only hunIle
n wards further down the nam stream. ho'
h and | were standing On seat front OF o'
II nalm leaf cabin aud the captain behind
could not be reached. The canoe now leapt
harvard like race horse. l caught sight
= fall not a hundred feet in advance.
N glanced at Montenegro, now lear us. II
- 9ave the last wave of his lat and his la
= shout' "To tho leltl" then threw up bo
y hands. turned rale rs ghost, and looked
- he aid not exclam, "Losll AT that M
ment we struck the edge OF the iall win
~ crash that threw us forward Inc loul
. little craft rode up on ii Tor nail her lengl
ID poised herself for moment, then impell'
u by the waves asiern, To ne ieePi pl9nB
I'd b1w under, surged heavily forward al
Is faced tue main cataract, into whose cure
y, she was rushing like rocket.
TO Our men appeared slupehed-not one
them dipped paddle. l grasped my rev
H. ver shouting, "WhO dis0beJ. an order
oy ceivss a bullet. Paddlel and you, captain
Il. ms aimed the pistol at him, steer Tor I
n shore Tie crew bent 10 their work.
10 barely escaped the great lall tnat wo'
nj bayc dashed Us to pieces. The cal
" .oucl,d The shoic, and by tie time the b
enae was Out upon ttt rocks, she was nta
We mi Of water, her lotion laily torn
La pieces. ..,,..,
ne That night, as tie Don broke thIoug
re- mass of mufky clouds, aud lrailed ner 81
me ..rs aei.s IS tie islam is IN tie Madeira
ID .hr,uph tie fOlaae above us, tsll
us ,I,telV Moi1 Indian, Captain Felicia
zen nttss, r.l ltii z the nauuw escape irOul Ie'
the A hall IL huudreu Of lis cOui ades hs.e
me, ,ttrptiyely 10 his iacouic, bat impira
i've spccch. Then, after beudiGg their kne.
llly pralc th m ide the forests echo 10 ig
iem low claut OF thanks 10 God 70. safety y
nee the perls Of tn day.
ery Oh the Isl ol Noylmber We bloke gio
sed uion tic Madeira and Mamoie haiWa
n "A tic san Antonio terminus.
,ev A Most Exaggerated Outrage
lefe Was committed on Friday in Flatoush
mi, in ihc external and little inhabited pol