Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-22
'RE HAD MANY ADVENTURES
MOUNDsvILLE MEN ENDURED MANY
HARDSHIPS wHNE IN SOUTH
AMERICA.
HE WILL RETURN HOME TODAY
Poorer in Purse, But Much Richer In
observation-disclosures I'D as "a Spy and
Thrown Into Jail in Argentina.
The Many Obstacles In the Way of
Prospecting for Gold.

Charles N. Simpson, of Moundsville,
who was once in the sand business in
this city and is we'll known here, will
be with his relatives and friends to-
day, after nearly year of exciting adj
ventures in South America. He started
a prospecting tour with large sum
of money, and returns with none at all,
but with experiences such as most
people would not meet with in life
time. He has partially revealed his
experiences in letters to his friends,
and in conversation with them since
his return to America.
He left Moundsville March 5th, 1900,
less than a year ago. on tour of ad-
venture, carrying with him about
$500, to which he expected to make
5uustantie! additions before his return
He remained in England but few
weeks, when he took passage from
Southampton for Buenos Ayres, krgen-
tina. His object in going to South
America was to prospect for gold
among the mountains Of the west coast
and his stay in Buenos Ayres was
therefore very brief. With a compan
ion,, who had Joined him in Southamp-
ton he started for the Andes Noun
tains and travelled by rail to Mendoza
a small city on the east coast of the
Andes, where civilization has not
not made many inroads. Mr.. Simp-
son remained there for about three
weeks, getting a camping outfit ready
and early in May began journey over
the mountains.
Before he reached the Chilean boun-
dairy he was arrested by secret service
men employed by the Argentine Repub-
lie and thrown into Jail as a spy He
tried in vain to prove his innocence Of
the charge and was in danger of be-
Ing tried and executed as spy when
Catholic missionary came TO his res
cue and succeeded in convincing the
authorities that Simpson was an Amer
lean citizen bent on finding gold. =
hotel bill made to Simpson by the
splendid" Hotel, of Buenos Ayres, in
which Sampson is charged S17.30 for
one days lodging and meals. was bit
Of evidence that finally convinced the
government agents that he had come
from the East and not from the Chilean
border
1t was terribly cold in the mountains
and the travellers endured hardships
that threatened to end their existence
many times. but after weeks Of suffer
ing they reached Valparaiso and secur-
ed the friendly assistance of United
States Consul John w. Caples. who in
terested himself in their case to the eX-
tent Of securing passage on the steamer
Scraps for them. Simpson left the
ship at San Diego, and has since been
working his way home. He arrived in
Cincinnati, bought new clothes cut of
what little money he had left and took
passage on the Queen City for home.
"Ive had enough of South America"
he said ut is good country to stay
away from. | started out with plenty
of money as l thought, but it didn't
go far down there. And as for pros
pecting. there is no use trying. A man
is hampered in so many ways by the
government spies and secret service
men, the cost Of living is so high and
the transportation facilities are so
meager that it requires a fortune to get
started. I've had enough"