The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-03-10

Toledo, In Spain, and. padded down
through that country and Portugal to
the Atlantic ocean, distance OF $50
miles. For 700 miles it is not naviga-
BILE for vessels, but winds in an erratic
and-to me- annoying manner through
the most weird scenery that Spain pos
sesses. Between Toledo and the ocean
its descent is 8, 800 feet. At its source
and for short distance down its shores
are lined with luxuriant trees and
grasses, but soon these utterly disap-
pear, giving way to arid and stony
banks, which in turn grow into preclp-
itous mountain sides. For the first
three days I padded along satisfactor-
lily, but as the number OF days since
began my Journey increased my troubles
augmented. Then my, course wound
through continued series Of canyons,
whose gloomy walls were In places so
high and steep that they almost met and
nearly hid the sunlight from the yawn-
ing chasm beneath. Toward night it
required no great stretch of fancy for
me TO imagine that was being swiftly
carried along through mysterious pas
sage. The river was studded with
powders, hurled from the mountain tops
by fearful storms, and often as I was
bowled along under the pressure of the
roaring wind and rushing current was
thrown against one of these obstacles
and my senses nearly shaken from me.
To increase my peril the river was
full Of falls and rapids of unusual vio-
lence. In places a shallow current would
dart toward the rocky mountain side and
then turn at sharp angle and merge in
to deep and peaceful sheet of water.
blessed these Ravens for they afforded
me a chance of taking much-needed
rest. Looking into their clear depths
could see hideous fish darting about,
but the bottom was fathomless pit.
Words are wanting to picture the lone
illness of my situation. For ten days
saw not shrub, not blade of grass,
not single sign of mans abode. My
diet was nauseating and / felt with
alarm that | was gradually losing my
strength.
One day, it was the twelfth of my
journey, as l was floating on the bosom of
a sort of lake, suddenly was plunged
head-first over fall and struck with
such force against the precipitous wall
Of the canyon that / lost consciousness.
Happily my rubber suit saved me from
what would have been otherwise GER
tain death. recovered my senses after
an interval, / know not how long, and,
with prayer on my lips, was about to
resume my voyage, when to my horror
[ found that my tender was lost 1t
had been sucked into whirlpool, prob.
ably, and the current was rapidly bear
ing me away from the scene. I was
nearly frantic. Ny tender was gone,
my hopes were blasted, my life was not
worth straw The contents OF the lit
tie float were at that moment as precious
to me as all the wealth that King could
bestow.
81 padded on for several hours,
trusting to find way out of the river.
If l could only find shepherd generous
enough to share with me his frugal meal
| was saved. But my hopes were vain.
Encountered by my rubber armor, with
waning strength and tremuIous move
ments | made many futile attempts to
Chamber the slippery mountain sides,
but in every case [ tumbled back into
the river exhausted. For three days ]
was ushered on. knew not how, by the
impetuOus waters. / was rayenous with
hunger, my limbs quivered like aspens,
a chill sweat oozed all over my body,
and my brain was delirious. / swore
like mailman, heaped maledictions
upon the Tagus, and at times sang wild
snatches of song. To this day cannot
account for the supernatural strength
given me during those seyenty-two
hours of agony. The bowling of wolves
and the hooting of owls during the
nights heightened the somber current
of my reflection. On the morning of
the third day, just after daylight, | en-
tered the canyon of Casaras. / swal-
lowed a pint or two of water and stood
upright in my rubber suit. [ listened
for the tinkling Of bell, or some sound
that would give token of habitation.
Nothing broke the silence but the dis
tant fall of waters. AS ] sank back into
the river, in despair, to my JOY I
thought saw thin veil of smoke COM
ing over the edge of the high plateau
and falling en- the water. My heart
beat rapidly as [ padded ON for five
minutes In the direction of the smoke.
At last saw the blush haze rising from
behind q gigantic rock. With accel-
Grated steps I left the river and
clambered along the rocky bank. Sew
eral times I slipped and fell, receiving
numerous bruises.
was compelled to make many de-
tours to reach the plateau, but finally
oily fo41
peered around the edge of the large
rock that l had observed and saw the
fire which caused the smoke. A large
pot was suspended from tripod over a
fire kindled with sticks and matted
grass, The pot contained what I now
believe to have been mess hardly fit
for dogs, but which [ then Judged from
the greasy odor to be hardly second to
the dish of the gods. Two men, in
active conversation, stood near the fire,
with their backs toward me, and one
of them stirred the savory mess while
he talked. They were dressed in the
garb of mountaineers, and were most
probably shepherds. Both were clothed
in faded garments, but all the colors of
the rainbow were there, more or less
obscured by the dirt of years. Ny
hunger was keen, 50 I introduced myself
without the tedious ceremonials so high
ly appreciated in Spanish society. I
inflated my dress. and, standing forth
in full view, let nv paddle fall to the
ground. Startled by the noise, the
men turned about and gazed at me in
superstitious terror. With shrieks of
fear they swiftly turned about and scam
pered off at the top of their speed.
Then went over to the pot and raven
ously devoured its half-cooked con-
tents, scorching my throat and spill
ing half of the food. L never saw
my impromptu hosts after, nor did
/ care to see them, in fact. After my
repast | disrobed of my armor, and,
stretching at full length on the sward.
was soon sIumbering. When L awoke I
hid my rubber covering and walked for
a few miles, when l came to farm
house and managed to buy another lot
of greasy bread and indigestible hard
tack. From this point to its mouth the
river was naviqable and 7 never more
was troubled about food. On the eight
eenth day arrived at my journey s end.
was met by the Governor OF Casaras,
his suite and many ladies and gentlemen
who had anxiOuSIv been exnactiny ma