The New York herald., 1873-06-19
DEATH OF A BRAVE EXPLORER.
An American Pioneer on Brazilian Rivera
Terrible Massacre by Amazonian In
dians-Pluck and Constancy
Rewarded by Murder.
PARA, Brazil, June 8, 1878.

PARA, Brazil, June s. 1878.
Many OF your readers in America. particularly in
| California, will remember the sensation produced
| some time since when the report came from the
| Upper Amazon that Mr.. Ashel Danna Piper, Of
pioneer lame in the Far West and his whole party
OF explorers on the Purus, in Bolivia, had
been murdered by Indians, and his personal
friends aud all friends OF science, civilization
and American enterprise greatly reJoced when the
report was proven untrue. He was then known
to be in good health and steadiastly prosecuting
his explorations in the Purus, in the Upper Brazil
ian and Bolivian territories. 1t is however, our
sad duty to announce the fact that TINS intrepid
has at last met his death at the hands OF these
for whose good he was laboring.
The most undeniable and positive information is
now public property here OF his murder, In March
last, 10y Indians.
CHARACTER OF THE EXPLORER.
The personal friend of some OF your great mon In
America, identified with California since 1S47;
first class member OF the Pioneer Society OF that
State, he must have been a man of charac-
ter, influence and Importance In his own
country We in Para here knew him
as modest, unassuming and unosten-
tatious gentlemaI-a man OF quiet life,
and OF but few words but wonderfully enthusiastic
in his great scheme of opening up to civilization
1
terprise engaged hls attention and persistent
exertions for many years past, and, lamcntablc to
report. 1t has eliminated in the sacrifice Of his
own life and that of his companions.
The American steamer Merrimack, which leaves
this port tomorrow for New York, takes to her
home in America his bereaved widow.
Hoping almost against hope that he might still be
alive, the report OF mis- DEATH which was received
here some weeks ago. has been carefully preserved
from his wife until within a few days ago, and she
is now fresh in her great sorrow. From her have
learned the history OF her husbands last unfortu
| nate and i'll starred enterprise.
In 1870, after many years Of weary waiting. he
secured from the Bolivian government the privi-
EXPLORATIONS UP THE RIVER PuRus,
and in consideration OF the good to accrue from 1t
being opened to the world special privileges, COM
mercial and honorary were decreed to him. TO
fulfil his obligations he purchased vessel and,
| equipping her, sailed from Boston November IL,
1870, taking with him his wife-a woman fully i'm
bued with the faitn and spirit of her husbanG-and
o company OF twenty-five persons, as assistants
and colonists. Alter stormy passage Of thirty
.ney r ~ sns polt m aaed M @ or
Mano. on the Amazon.
Arriving there; he remained nes until, until March aS,
seRsa y or f i'csis s there ere
BY arrangement with the Bolivian government
twenty canoes were to be in readiness to take
TO the discontinue Of his people.
| NOT A CANOE WAS TO DE SEEN,
addition, the Inhabitants urged them strongly to
desist from further advance IN this to the white
man terra dncognfta Influenced BY the dis. DIS
coiored reports OF the natives OF the danger
ahead, his people determined to abandon the en-
it alone they returning to Para. Nothing daunted
and firm in his discrimination to "do or die" he
| set sail IN O common ships boat
/ ACCOMPANIED ONLY WIFE,
Three. days after leaving ltiche they came up
peaceaple and friendly, and succeeded finally Sc
curing boats crew. With these Indians-the
Pamar,es.tney the travelled d one month until they
and cnns the In ana making sqs pner
now 500 miles from the mouth Of the river and
coming into new country their Indians fearful
returned TO their homes They were thus lett alone
again. The same day, however, some OF the Hipu-
friendship and assistance, and again. sue
ceeded in securing boats crew, and was
taken ss taIa with Their weng ss
/ canoes Tor tour days on this journey. They were
the first white people ever yer seen IN the country
excited to the highest point the surprise and curl
! THIS WHITE COLOR WAS NOT A PAINT
| they brought vessels OF water and washed their
| feet.
Arriving at the river Accure, In Bolivian terri
| tory, they went on shore, and Mr. Piper built by
AID OF the Indians, house, in which he remained
until the next year. During this time he occupied
himself In surveying the river and taking soundings
ut all stages. Having satisfied himself OF the
OF steam navigation he returned to Para in April.
1872. He renamed here arranging Tor q steamer
and new company Of coonists, and on the 7th OF
September sailed in his own steamer, the Pioneer,
and in December reached the last settlement in the
Paras and, we might add, the terminus OF civlli-
! zatl0n ahd steam navigation on that river.
Here Mr.. Piper left the heaviest portion OF his
equipments, stores, &c, and sailed on the 24th
OF establishing settlements in Bolivian territory
and the company, aided by the Indians were to
se co1n nsnns the the
was to make monthly trips from Hi
ana TO the Of the lower
with Manaos and Para. Thus far the programme
seemed practicable and no extraordinary risk was
supposed to exist In the execution OF this aulabe
industry. The steamer was expected at Hytaunian
on her return trip about the 23d of February, 1873
safety. sn ~ Ap'" - 'A'''A' ~ 'e"'s = '''''
the April steamer from that locality brought the
HALF-wILD INDIANS
had been seen In clothing which they could not
well obtain by legitimate MEANS and fears were
lor the first time entertained for the safety OF Mr.
Piper and his party. Later on we received news
that Indians mad come down the river stating that
4 Mr.. Piper and his party had been murdered by the
Ipurana Indians. their effects carried of and the
steamer gu X.
these ana other Indians Lately armed, arrested and
an investigation made, which went to show that
THE STEAMER HAD BEEN ATTACKED
4 near the mouth OF the Acre River, within three
days OF civilization, by great number of Indians,
! while fast 10 the bank Of the river. The people on
board were butchered, and the steamer was carried
on to lake at some distance where IL is still sup
/ posed to remain There are many other versions OF
\ the case, all conflicting with each other, and only
\ corresponding in the assertion of the sorrowful
/ fact have preferred to give you the only ofcial
| information thus far existing.
Immediately upon receiving the confirmation OF
/ the facts the American Consul at this place
addressed upon the subject and through him and
parties at Mana0s the President OF the Province OF
! the Amazonas, within whose territory the dark
! deed was supposed to have been
j mi ind 1Ya9 rnd a. Ln sfan in