The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-07-06
Written for The Prison Mirror.
PART V.


PART V.
Fifty miles up the Jurua River the
Flying Spray came to anchor in front
of a large Indian village, situated on
the west bank. The presence of so
large a vessel and the white men, so
rarely seen in this region, had the effect
of creating the greatest excitement
among the natives. They ran about
like Kansans looking for cyclone dug
out, all the while jabbering among
themselves in dialect, which, to the
Privateers, was Greek, gone one better.
Upon making inquiry of Antonio, that
functionary said the demonstration
was not at all hostile, but on the con-
trary, he understood from occasional
bits of conversation, which he was able
to separate from the general hubbub,
that the natives were inclined to be
very hospltable. Soon after coming to
anchor, Antonio put off in the launch
for the village. The natives came
crowding down the beach to the waters
edge, some of the boldest swimming
out about the launch. When a few feet
from the shore, Antonio stood up in
the bow and made an address to the
people, haranguing them in their own
language. He told them that the big
ship and the three great men, who were
on board of her, had come long jour-
ney, from the land of the rising sun,
that these men had many things to tell
them, and that they had brought many
beautiful presents, and wished to be
friends with their brothers of the
forest He also told them that the
three great men would not come ashore
until tomorrow, at sunrise, but that
when the sun had gone down behind
the trees and darkness had come over
the land, that they would speak with
their brothers, and show them many
wonderful things.
Returning to the vessel Antonio pro-
cured the main sail, cross jack and four
spars. With these he put ashore and
with the assistance of two of the sail
ors, he rugged up great screen, upon
which the stereopticon was to do it's
work. The steropticon had been equip
ped with kinetoscope films, and this in
connection with the big phonograph,
was relied upon to greatly impress the
natives with the Importance of their
visitors.
When it had become quite dark, ex-
cept for the cucujos or great fire flies,
that darted about like so many thou
sands of Will-o'-the-wis the vessel
was towed by the launch to position
directly opposite the screen, and about
100 feet from the beach. When all was
in readiness, few Roman candles were
put off to the accompaniment of red
fire, as curtain raiser. The first pic
ture to appear was one of Kiralfys best
ballets, done to the music of the Marine
Band. Then came "the passing regi-
ment," New YOrk's dandy Seventh,
headed by Cappa's band, the strains of
which the phonograph faithfully repro
duced. During this time no sound had
come from the 1000 natives that Occu-
pied the shore. Evidently the plot was
too deep for the crude understandings
Of these children of the jungle. An.
tonic suggested, that if there was any,
thing of the outside world that might
gain their recognition, it would be
cock-fght, as few corners of Latin
American have not been invaded by
this exciting sport. Accordingly, amid
much Growing of roosters and the cack-
ling of hens, two game cocks sprang
upon the screen and Immediately began
to do battle. The Privateers were not
prepared for what followed. The ma
tives at once threw themselves into
frenzy of excitement, they howled and