The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-27
Daring Voyage Down the Tagus
from Toledo to Lisbon.
SWEPT OVER A HUNDRED WATERFALLS.
How Boyton Startled a Pair of
Arcadian Lovers.


to the 18th of February passing lo2 waterfalls vary
ing in height from few feet to twenty-five meters,
besides nnumerable rapids. Hardly anything has
hitherto been published respecting this voyage. !
shall therefore allow the intrepid coyagew to tell his
story again.
1T most difficult voyage" says Captain
Boyton II could not get any information about the
river, and none Of the maps correct. Many and
many town is marked on them being on the river
that is not it, wrote to mayors Of the Spanish
and Portuguese towns on tho banks, asking for in
formation and enclosing stamp but i'll most cases
the Spanish mayors did not reply. Only two OF
them replied, though all the Portuguese mayors did
/ stayed in Madrid during the ceremonies and
festivities attending the Kings marriage, and then
got thinking had been three or four weeks with
ont going voyage and so determined to make
start down the Tagus. Toledo found. was the only
place could start from. Everybody said the thing
was quite impossible. Not single person who
knew the river to be found. II IS not navi-
gable and had been descended. We were
told it was all canyons winding through the noun
tains got pretty well tired out staying there doing
nothing, and l started from Madrid at night, ar
irving at Toledo about midday. That was the 3Oth of
January was met at the station by officer sent
by the Governor of Toledo.
TAKING WATER.
II took the water little below the mandatory of
the celebrated Toledo blades with my little voyage
boat in tow. knew there was q long trip ahead of
me. knew nothing of the river and the map had
was bad. In about hundred yards lost sight Of
the party who me of. After dropping over
small waterfall kept running all that day. The
sun always made the weather tolerable in the day
time. but at night it was piercing cold. wanted to
make a place called Puebla de Montalban. 1t took
me thirty hours to run there with quick current.
There frequent breaks and falls but continued
running all that day. The country there is but little
inhabited. You may see here and there man plough
ing, but the Of them you see are herding sheep
The first adventure had was with couple of print
lively clad Shepherds who hearing my voice and see
ing strange form in the river. ran away with all
speed but fortunately leaving their frugal meal.
which they had been preparing before came round
the bend of the river
EXCITING NAVIGATION.
II ran along them for some time without seeing
hardly human being. You can see here and there
men mounted on bulls, and accompanied by fierce
dogs There lots Of great black bulls the hills,
waiting to be driven into the arenas. was pretty
hard work getting along with my boat Every water
fall we came to had to pick her up and go with
her in my The river went winding about
good deal, and during the day passed number OF
mills where the passage would be only two three
feet wide The country now became quite desolate.
the only thing like civilization in view being
it, These dipped into the river and lifted the water
into sluice, which carried it to irrigate the
capped mountains right ahead Of me- Then they
would appear at side and again at the other SO
extraordinary was the winding OF the river: | ran
all that night. The falls were something terrible.
l used to shut my teeth and go ahead Sometimes 1
would go smoothly enough. and at other times
would bring up sharp against rock The current
going SO quickly that was afraid OF coming full
tilt against the rocks At three o'clock in a the morn
river running among jagged rocks
cLUTcHING AN ISLAND.
1T seemed impossible to go through them in the
dark 80 made a grab at little island of rock and
landed Here could see the water running and
swirling all round me. remained on the
was awfully cold. You must remember that
the river at Toledo is 5000 feet above the
and this is the distance it falls from Toledo to
Pucbla. But the windngs of the river had deceived
me and it not until three O'Clock that afternoon
that reached that place. There was met by large
crowd of people, and by the g,tarfid cica who had
received instructions to receive and protect me,
Similar orders had been sent to those officials all
through the Spanish territory. and the governors
and alcades had been instructed to give every
sistance and courtesy in their power.
Just below Puebla struck portion of bridge
(which had been blown mp during the first Carlist
war;. and injured my dress. The sharp stones cnt
| ing u patch on it. / there abandoned my boat,
taxing in its place tin tube, in which put all my
papers. well remember little incident that oc-
| Cured there. The Mayors little daughter came to
me and asked me IL l were going down to Lisbon.
l said Yes She answered in her childish way,
.You will get there am sure-it is danger
ous When got to Seville received aletter inform
| ing me that the child was dead.
A NOVEL AMUSEMENT
ION leaving Seville an interesting sight pre-
scented on the ellis above me. Men and women
| flying about on mules, the men with their spanish
cioaks and the with their picturesque red and
| yellow skirts When had got under way pretty
well it began to snow. and the only amusement
could find to try to catch big flakes ON my
| The next town met with was Cevaa, which place
passed in the dark. and the people shouted to me
Look out for the mills, and knew my old friends,
the mills, were about, and short time atterward
saw light looming up on the other side Of the river.
Here there was suce in the river. and went dash
ing right past and got out safely Until eight o'clock
the next morning never experienced such cold
weather. arrived at Tallavera on Sunday morning
about midday. procured something to eat. and
was received by the Syndic and others. then got
in the water again and was soon shooting waterfalls
at the rate OF two three kilometer. They
came out to me shoot fall below Tallavera.
Just as was coming to 1t out OF mere bravado
stood up and thrown forward head foremost II
| had struck rock would have been killed. The
people shouted Viva. thinking always took water
falls that way. but was glad to get out OF 1t.
All that night, and fearful night IT was.
THE INEVITABLE MILLS
Not a dog barked. The country was dreadinily
shooting the dams. In some places the river fairly
went down stairs--one fall followed another like
steps At the end the river seemed to be stopped by
q huge rock right across the channel thought 1T
goes underground could not stop. braced
myself to 20 under with II. when / saw that after
striking against the rock the water gathered up and
of ut right angles. The Tagus was not high
when went down. and the rocks here showed the
marks TO which the water sometimes to height
of thirty forty meters Pieces Of rock juttng out
into the water were carved and cut into the
most beautiful shapes 10y the water. There
spirals and rounded columns that you would hardly
think water could form. There were some OF the
most wonderful things ever saw. After going
through this ravine came out into large slopng
valley and then was shot into another canyon again.
SHOOTING THE RAPIDS
IL went flying through amid rocks polished by the
WATER and over fall after another. The river
then began narrow in, aud as IL was getting
late was afraid should have to stop In this place
all night. kept descending, and got some fearful
| blows from stones, but ut last got through. Then
| heard terrible 1t came from great dam.
made q shoot for that aud got into the same kind of
place Mt Florence, but by working against the
stones got out safely There are two great towers
| here, like two piers OF bridge. could not make
out what they for. They seemed Moorish. After
| passing the towers came to Pucntc del Arzobspo
| Two gua,.iia civit rose up on the bank. ! hailed
L axl.u