Wichita eagle., 1888-05-20
UP THE ORINOCO.


ton fitted out by Redfo!, the English natur-
slist and taxidermist, and ne had the full con-
sent Of the Venezuelan authorities TO navi-
gate if possible to the head waters of the
stream Our party was composed of Mr..
Redfol, an English sportsman named Grant.
a Scotch doctor and sportsman named
Mcdonald, two young men named Ward and
Baker, who were assistants to the naturalist,
al engineer, fireman. cook, steward,
two deck hands and myself | was taken TO
act as an interpreter, having passed several
years on the coast and in the interior. l
was also to assist the professor in securing
and caring for specimens, and in helping 70
supply the party with fresh meat.
The launch had been built in England
especially for this trip. She was fat bot
toned, screw power and of light draught
Her engines were very powerful, and her
CRATES arranged for either coal or wood.
While room and comfort had been sacrificed
to secure strength and power, our accom-
modations were still ample and convenient
We had large supply OF small arms and
ammunition, and two six Founders were
mounted on carriages so as to be used ct the
gangways. Ali the upper cabin windows
were provided with bullet proof shutters, and
the woodwork was strong and heavy. There
was no doubt that we should meet with hos
tile natives, and it was only common pru-
dence to be prepared for them.
The English brig Duke took the launch
from England to Trinidad, where she was set
up and fitted out, and it was from that island
we took our departure that September morn
ing, carrying Gs much coal as we could pos
sibly stow away On the second day after
getting into the Orinoco we were beyond all
settlements, and although the stream is much
used by native boatmen, it was only at long
intervals that any craft came in sight There
is TO river il the world, not even the Ganges,
which is more infested by crocodiles. We
saw them almost from the moment we en-
tered the stream, and every mile passed over
the number seemed to increase. They were
SO bold and numerous as TO be a serious
menace to the native craft, and we had
been asked by government officials TO kill
as many as possible. During the after
noon of the second day three of Us killed with
our rifles at least fifty of the monsters. Wher-
ever there was a sandy beach the reptiles
could be found by the dozen, and some of the
sand bars in the river were hidden from
sight by the scaly bodies. The engines were
slowed down and the launch kept as near the
shore as safety would permit, and we were
often within pistol shot of our targets Few of
the crocodiles seemed alarmed at our appear
ance, and some came swimming off from
islands and sand bars to inspect us. l have
seen the crocodileS Of India and Africa, where
they are supposed TO attain their largest size,
but they cannot compare with those of the
Ornoco About o'clock on the afternoon
of the second day, as we swerved into the
mouth of a creek on the right hand bank to
escape some driftwood coming down, every
one uttered an exclamation of astonishment
at sight of a monster saurian lying among
the weeds. He was, as all agreed, fully
twenty-five feet long, and his bulk at the
middle was that of horse. He lay with his
head away from us at first, but on being
made aware of our presence be whirled
about, opened his jaws wide enough to take
in an oil barrel, and took his time about en-
tering the water. Our astonishnent at his
size was so great shat none of us fired shot.
After proceeding five miles further up the
stream we crossed to the left bank, entered
the mouth OF another creek, intending to
make our first exCe~sion on shore from this
SPOT. Several crocodiles followed in the wake
SOIAlc VI ZIG
that the big fellow was among them. We
ran into the creek about four times our
length and made fast to a tree on shore, and
ia short time night shut down over the
forest
Here was great highway which had been
more or less naviEated for a score of years,
and along the banks Of which were many set
Elements, and yet the presence Of man had
not made the slightest inroad into the wilder
ness and the savageness of nature Scarcely
had the darkness come down when We were
besieged on all sides. For the mosquito pest
we were prepared Had we not been no man
could have lived an hour. They came down
upon Us in such swarn1s that "A man outside
of shelter would have been eaten alive.
Every door and window was defended by
wire cloth, but the insects settled On tho
glass outside and upon every object on deck
until it was hidden from sight. The croco-
dies came down the creek aad IL from the
river in such numbers that the swell kicked
up kept the launch IN motion a doze1 times
over we felt their teeth taking hold OF the
iron screw and slipping OF, and it seemed as
il men IN an open boat would have stood 10
show whatever against the monsters.
Night also brought ou. thousand sounds
from the primeval forest around Us. Frogs,
birds and beetles raised a frightful medley,
and there we're moments when al conver Sa-
ton had 70 be suspended. We were now high
enough - be among the jaguGrs and black
panthers. and the screams OF these savage
beasts reached cur ears before we .Uraed n
TO sleep. Indeed, as We sat smoking il the
cabin after supper, we heard and felt an eni-
mai Of the cat tribe spring aboard and walk
back and forth over our heads As we we're
entirely shut IN there was no danger 70 be
feared The engineer Jet had plenty Of
steam. and when he was communicated with
he blew such blast on the whistle a. startled
our visitor out of his Wis and br0ugh. Us
graveyard stiffness for the next half hour.
Next morning while the professor ard bis
assistants landed % scouT TIE woods about
and sscu-e specimens, I gave tbs crocodiles
ali NY attention rad an En-llsh Tnuzzle
loading rife o: large c.-l6re. end | shot I've
OF tie reptiles IN the creek behind ths beat.
= bullet behind TIE fore leg Or n the ere
reached their life at once. While tia report
OF tho rife alarmed the birds and anirsls Of
the forest the c-ocoStlles paid ntt.e attention
70 It Jl-st above vas long, sauty bach.
aa3 by . O'Clock IL tie morning THIS beAet
was a sight 70 see We hzd I full nllie of i
under cur eyes, and the number OF eroco3sIes
which had c-awled Up OF tls saadz CO 80
nos have been short CT ~. They ware 81
sizes, from the EttIs chap 10 longer t.as
your arm 10 TIE Cd sitter, alo8sz.de .
which 8 twen-y foot pcle -o-1ld have been
laid / galzsd Up 20 the thie< Of thezn G-sd
began blazing away. Those reptiles within
q space Of forty feet hurried iEbo Tie water
81 tks reporr, bzt IL vks ozly 20 land again
above and below, ard IL wHs fully three
hours before the game becane 80 sET thai
abandoned the sport TIE