Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1878-07-19

lcaptaln, we got aground on small
island little way above Para. Aftel
d while we got off, but owing to the
laundering Of the pilots and the inter
ference of the captain similar acct
dents became frequent, and it seemed
as though we should never reach ouI
destination. Under these circumstan
ces the chief engineer, accompanied
by Captain Semmes, brother of Ala
bama Semmes, took the steam launch
and with two sailors started mp the
Amazon river on their own hook
The remainder of the passengers be.
came very discontinued, and after we
had got aground several times the civ
il engineers came to the conclusion
that they would charter ono of the
river steamers, because they became
convinced that the Mercidita would
not reach her destination. An agree
ment was made with a river steamer
to convey the passengers to San An
tonic, near the fall OF the Madeira, on
condition that each passenger would
pay the sum of $l0O The civil engi-
neers then left with about twenty
eight of the mechanics This party
arrived at their destination within ff-
teen days, while the passengers who
remained on board the Mercidlta did
not arrive for over two months, owing
TO the frequency witt which she got
aground. When she did arrive she
was out OF coal and provisions and
the passengers were Obliged 10 cut
wood TO make her way back to Para.
Her frequent stopping along the nn-
healthy banks Of the Amazon lead to-
the outbreak of fever among the pas
sengers, who arrived in a very bad
state.
Owing TO he want Of provisions the
passengers on their arrival found them
selves without supplies aud were COM
PEELED to live on mush, bread and salt
horse Neither tea, coffee, rice nor
beans were to be had, and, as result,
there was great deal of discomfort
among the men Fortunately, one OF
the regular Amazon river boats came
up, and from 1t were obtained some
live beef, which kept us from starva-
ton, but did not prevent considerable
suffering. The same want of fore
thought was shown in preparing shell
ter. 1t was the middle of the RAINY
season when we arrived, and the latter
was most oppressive. There was very
little shelter except what was afforded
by the abandoned buildings of the Eng.
lish company. and they were in very
bad state. To add to our suffering
we were attacked by immen swarms
of gray ants which nearly ate us up.
1t was impossible to keep them off,
and their bites nearly drove the men
mad. Talk of mosquitoes! They are
nothing. A man can live with mos
quitoes, but no man can stand those
terrible gray ants, which cut a man
up. Some of the victims looked as if
they were suffering from the small
pox. In order to protect ones self it
was necessary to tar the poles and
ropes where the hammocks were
swung to prevent them climbing aud
attacking the men while asleep. Then
there are the vampire bats. These
come in the night and settle on sleep
ing man and suck his life out. While
was there | saw six men left sense
less from loss of blood, owing to an
attack Of these vampires while the
men were asleep. The forests also
are full of tigers, and the men are
obliged to carry revolver and knife
to protect themselves. When the
work of cutting down the brushwood
began new enemy was encountered
in the scorpions, who made the work
very dangerous.
A great many of the men became
and desired to return home.
For this purpose they feigned sic kness
and tried to get a doctors certificate
which would enable them to leave.